California
ModerateMineral King Road — Sequoia National Park’s Switchback Gauntlet
698 curves into the Sierra's most remote valley.
Surface: Gravel
USA
ModerateCoyote Buttes North — The Wave Permit Road
Lottery-gated slickrock in the Vermilion Cliffs.
Oregon
EasyLakeview to Glass Buttes — High Desert Obsidian Country Road
Obsidian hills, sage desert, and zero crowds.
Oregon
DifficultOwyhee Uplands Backcountry — Jordan Valley to Rome via Three Forks of the Owyhee
Oregon's emptiest canyon — go prepared or don't go.
USA
ModerateChicken Creek Road to Boulder Mountain Summit — Dixie National Forest High Plateau
Utah's highest timber plateau — almost nobody's up here.
California
ModerateOnion Valley to Horseshoe Meadows — Eastern Sierra High Country Traverse
Sierra fault scarp, Alabama Hills, no crowds.
Oregon
EasyFort Rock Valley Road — Christmas Valley to Fort Rock State Natural Area via High Desert Basin
A volcano rising alone from Oregon's ancient lake bed.
Oregon
ModerateLakeview to Quartz Mountain — Fremont-Winema High Lake Country Connector
High ponderosa lake country above Oregon's driest city.
California
ModerateChimney Peak Backcountry Byway — Canebrake Road to Chimney Peak via Lamont Peak Divide
Southern Sierra desert ridge with zero crowds.
Oregon
ModerateSheldon National Wildlife Refuge Loop — Nevada-Oregon High Desert Rim
Oregon's forgotten plateau. Pronghorn. Hot springs. No signal.