Arkansas
ModerateTrans-America Trail — Bee Branch to Gilbert via the Ozark National Forest River Valleys
Ozark dirt, the Buffalo River, and no traffic.
Feature: Scenic
Mauritania
ExtremePiste de Tichit-Oualata — Tichit to Oualata via the Aoukar Depression Ancient Caravan Road
Two UNESCO ghost cities. Zero margin for error.
Arkansas
ModerateTrans-America Trail — Gilbert to Heber Springs via the Ozark National Forest Interior
Ozark two-track the way Correro drew it.
Libya
ExtremePiste de l’Erg Murzuq — Germa to Umm al-Maa via the Fezzan Oasis Lakes and Sand Sea
Garamantian ruins to lost desert lakes.
New Mexico
DifficultTrans-America Trail — Silver City to Alpine via the Gila Wilderness High Divide
Geronimo's country, America's first wilderness, zero cell bars.
Algeria
ExpertPiste de Timimoun — Adrar to Timimoun via the Grand Erg Occidental Red Oasis Corridor
Red oasis cities and a sand sea that swallows tracks whole.
Texas
ModerateTrans-America Trail — Hico to Meridian via the Texas Hill Country Limestone Plateau
Texas ranch roads the GPS forgot.
Morocco
ExpertPiste de l’Erg Chebbi Sud — Merzouga to M’Hamid via the Saharan Dune Corridor and Draa Valley
Real Sahara. No tourist camps past this point.
Arizona
ModerateArizona BDR Southern Segment — Nogales to Safford via the Sky Islands and Pinaleno Mountains
Desert floor to alpine spruce — the Sky Islands in one run.
Tajikistan
DifficultZulümart Pass to Murghab — Pamir Highway High Plateau via Karakul Lake (M41)
The Roof of the World — Karakul to Murghab above 4,000 m.