Idaho
DifficultLonesome Highway — Sawtooth Ridge Road to Deadwood Summit via Banner Creek Divide
Idaho's forgotten divide above the Payette.
Surface: Rock
Arizona
ModerateSawmill Road to Prescott National Forest — Mingus Mountain High Road via Jerome Backdoor
Jerome's back side, Arizona's best ridge.
New Mexico
DifficultSawmill Road to Gila Lower Box Canyon — Mogollon Rim Desert Gorge via Apache Creek
Basalt walls, river crossings, zero crowds.
USA
ModerateOnion Creek Road to Fisher Towers — Colorado River Red Rock Canyon Bench
Red canyon, creek crossings, tower country.
USA
ModerateZion Canyon Overlook Road to Smithsonian Butte — Virgin River Rim and Red Cliffs Desert Circuit
Zion views. No park fee. No crowds.
USA
DifficultLonesome Highway — Comb Ridge to Cedar Mesa via Moki Dugway Backdoor and Valley of the Gods Loop
No guardrails. No tour buses. No apologies.
USA
ModerateChimney Rock Road to Vedauwoo — Wyoming High Plains Granite Spine via Pole Mountain
Granite domes and big Wyoming sky.
Nevada
DifficultLonesome Highway — Jarbidge River Canyon Road to Murphy Hot Springs via Owyhee Plateau Rim
The lower 48's most remote canyon run.
California
DifficultCoyote Wells to McCain Valley — Anza-Borrego Desert East Bench via In-Ko-Pah Mountains
Desert bench run where California turns Sonoran.
USA
ModerateLonesome Highway — Centennial Road to Tensleep Canyon via Shell Creek Road
Wyoming's west face drop from high timber to desert basin.