New Zealand
DifficultOld Ghost Road — Lyell to Seddonville via the Victorian Range Spine
A 19th-century goldfield ghost route across the West Coast spine.
Surface: Rock
Mauritania
ExpertPiste de l’Adrar — Chinguetti to Ouadane via the Mauritanian Saharan Plateau
Ancient caravan route across the raw Saharan plateau.
USA
ModerateEscalante Hole-in-the-Rock Road — Escalante to Lake Powell via the Grand Staircase Slickrock Corridor
Mormon pioneer slickrock — 1879 grit, still no easy way.
Northern Cape
ExpertRichtersveld Sendelingsdrift to Ai-Ais — Orange River Canyon Desert Traverse via Helskloof Pass
Helskloof doesn't forgive bad decisions.
Marrakech-Safi
DifficultOurika Valley to Oukaimeden — High Atlas Ski Station Desert Climb via Tizi n’Ait Imguer
Berber villages to Africa's highest ski run.
Algeria
ExtremePiste de Gao — Tamanrasset to Agadez via the Trans-Saharan Desert Corridor
Six centuries of caravans. Zero guarantees.
Colorado
DifficultSlumgullion Pass to Silverton — Alpine Loop High Spine via Cinnamon and Engineer Passes
Two 12,000-foot passes. Ghost towns. Real exposure.
Australia
ModerateFlinders Ranges Brachina Gorge Geological Trail — Wilpena Pound to Blinman via the Pound Wall and Brachina Creek
Drive through 600 million years in an afternoon.
Algeria
ExtremePiste du Hoggar Ouest — Tamanrasset to In Salah via the Atakor Volcanic Plateau Western Descent
The Sahara's western descent — unforgiving and vast.
England
DifficultHardknott and Wrynose Passes — Eskdale to Little Langdale via the Lake District’s Hardest Road
England's steepest road — no room for mistakes.