New Mexico
ModerateGila Cliff Dwellings Back Road — Silver City to Gila Hot Springs via NM-15 and Inner Loop Road
Ancient cliff rooms, hot springs, real canyon country.
Feature: Scenic
Oregon
ModerateLonesome Highway — Steens Mountain Loop Road via Kiger Gorge Overlook and Blitzen Valley
Oregon's highest drive, wild horses included.
Colorado
DifficultPawnee Pass Road — Roosevelt National Forest High Plains to Indian Peaks Wilderness Edge via Left Hand Canyon
Indian Peaks from the dirt side, no crowds.
California
ModerateNacimiento Road to Pozo Summit — Los Padres Central Coast Range High Divide
Coast Range grit, cold beer at the end.
Arkansas
ModerateOuachita National Recreation Trail — Athens to Talihina via the Arkansas-Oklahoma Ridgeline
The South's forgotten mountain spine.
California
ExtremeRubicon Trail — Georgetown to Tahoe City via the Sierra Nevada Granite Spine
The trail that built the 4x4 hobby.
Nevada
DifficultElkhorn Ridge Road to Crystal Peak — Toquima Range Desert Spine via Monitor Valley (Nevada)
Nevada's forgotten range, earned mile by mile.
Arkansas
ModerateForest Road 68 — Ouachita National Forest Talimena Backcountry to Wilhelmina Summit via Black Fork Mountain
Red clay ridge-running in the Ouachita high country.
California
DifficultCoyote Flat to Bishop Pass Backdoor — White Mountain High Desert Approach via Coyote Ridge
Sierra's volcanic backdoor above 10,000 feet.
USA
DifficultHatfield McCoy Trails — Logan County Backbone Circuit via Rockhouse Creek
Feud country. Real dirt. No shortcuts.