Idaho
DifficultLonesome Highway — Sawtooth Ridge Road to Deadwood Summit via Banner Creek Divide
Idaho's forgotten divide above the Payette.
Feature: Scenic
Arizona
ModerateSawmill Road to Prescott National Forest — Mingus Mountain High Road via Jerome Backdoor
Jerome's back side, Arizona's best ridge.
California
EasyLonesome Highway — Modoc Plateau Rim Road to Lava Beds via Tule Lake Wildlife Refuge
California's empty quarter — lava, birds, and war history.
Colorado
ModerateBunker Hill Road to Slumgullion Earthflow — Gunnison Gorge Rim to Blue Mesa via Curecanti Backcountry
Deep San Juan canyon to a forgotten wilderness rim.
Texas
ModerateBrokeoff Mountains to Cornudas — Guadalupe Escarpment Desert Back Road via Salt Flat
West Texas playa crossing to volcanic plugs.
Montana
ModerateLonesome Highway — Gravelly Range Road to Centennial Valley via Snowline and Wade Lake
Montana's quiet plateau above the swan valley.
New Mexico
DifficultSawmill Road to Gila Lower Box Canyon — Mogollon Rim Desert Gorge via Apache Creek
Basalt walls, river crossings, zero crowds.
USA
ModerateOnion Creek Road to Fisher Towers — Colorado River Red Rock Canyon Bench
Red canyon, creek crossings, tower country.
USA
ModerateZion Canyon Overlook Road to Smithsonian Butte — Virgin River Rim and Red Cliffs Desert Circuit
Zion views. No park fee. No crowds.
USA
DifficultLonesome Highway — Comb Ridge to Cedar Mesa via Moki Dugway Backdoor and Valley of the Gods Loop
No guardrails. No tour buses. No apologies.