Idaho
ModerateLonesome Highway — Centennial Divide Road to South Fork Payette via Deadwood Ridge
Idaho granite ridges most overlanders never find.
Surface: Dirt
California
ModerateNacimiento-Ferguson Road — Coast Range Divide to Big Sur via Santa Lucia Crest
The Santa Lucias' only coast-to-valley crossing.
Colorado
DifficultYankee Hill Road — Black Hawk to Nederland via the Gilpin County Mining Divide
Gold country shelf road above 10,000 feet.
USA
ModerateLonesome Highway — Centennial Road to Tensleep Canyon via Shell Creek Road and Medicine Lodge
10,000 years of history, zero crowds.
California
ModerateBradshaw Trail — Chiriaco Summit to Blythe via Mecca Hills Desert Crossing
1862 wagon road. Still earns respect.
Idaho
DifficultMagruder Corridor Road — Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Edge via Red River Divide
101 miles. No guardrails. No shortcuts.
USA
ModerateLonesome Highway — Centennial Road to Tensleep Canyon via the Bighorn Mountains North Slope and Battle Park Road
The Bighorns' quiet north slope — all yours.
Idaho
ModerateLonesome Highway — Centennial Road to Challis via the White Cloud Peaks Backdoor and Patterson Creek
White Clouds without the permit lottery.
Arizona
ModeratePicketpost Mountain Road to Superior Backcountry — Tonto National Forest Desert Spine via Telegraph Canyon
Sonoran Desert canyon country, no crowds.
USA
DifficultLonesome Highway — Centennial Road to Tensleep Canyon via the Bighorn National Forest Hazelton to Paintrock Creek Road
Limestone narrows, creek crossings, zero crowds.