Montana
DifficultSheldon Lake Road to Beach Creek Lookout — Hells Canyon Wilderness Edge via Imnaha Rim
Tundra, shale, and sky above 10,000 feet.
Surface: Gravel
Oklahoma
ModerateLonesome Highway — Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge Back Road to Quanah Parker Lake via French Lake Loop
Bison, granite domes, and Oklahoma's oldest rock.
Kentucky
ModerateWilderness Road to Lonesome Pine Ridge — Daniel Boone National Forest Red River Gorge Backdoor via Sky Bridge Road
Sandstone arches and hollow roads deep in the gorge.
New Mexico
ModerateCoyote Ridge to Pecos Wilderness — Santa Fe National Forest High Divide via Cowles and Panchuela Creek
Pecos high country on a dirt shelf above 10k.
Idaho
DifficultSwamp Creek Road to Wilderness Gateway — Clearwater River Canyon Rim via Selway Corridor
Rim of the largest wilderness left in the Lower 48.
Arizona
ModerateForest Road 500 — Kaibab Plateau North to Jacob Lake via East Rim Viewpoint
Grand Canyon's North Rim without the tour buses.
California
ModerateNacimiento-Ferguson Road — Coast Range Divide to Plaskett Creek via Santa Lucia Crest
Big Sur's sharpest ridgeline — no rails, no mercy.
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.
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.