Idaho
ModerateLonesome Highway — Centennial Road to Challis via the White Cloud Peaks Backdoor and Patterson Creek
White Clouds without the permit lottery.
Surface: Mixed
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.
California
ModerateMojave Road East — Government Holes to Piute Spring via Fort Piute Wash
Civil War ruins and desert petroglyphs.
Arizona
ExpertNellis Wash to Pakoon Springs — Grand Canyon North Rim Volcanic Plateau
Arizona Strip solitude. No rescue coming.
Arkansas
DifficultSawmill Road to Hells Hole — Ouachita National Forest Fourche Mountain Divide via Rich Mountain Road
Arkansas clay ridge — no crowds, no mercy.
USA
DifficultLonesome Highway — Centennial Road to Tensleep Canyon via Nowater Creek and the Red Wall Bench
Red walls, dry creek beds, and Wyoming's big empty.
USA
ModerateLonesome Highway — Cisco Desert Road to Westwater Canyon Rim via Bitter Creek and I-70 Frontage
Ghost town to canyon rim across Utah's forgotten desert.
Oregon
ModerateLakeview to Plush — Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge Desert Crossing via Warner Valley
Free hot springs, pronghorn, and zero crowds.
USA
ModerateSwamp Canyon Road to Kodachrome Basin — Grand Staircase Rim to Chimney Rock Desert Circuit
Stone spires and slickrock where no pavement goes.