USA
ModerateCoyote Gulch to Hurricane Ridge — Olympic Peninsula High Country Circuit via Obstruction Point Road
Olympic's roughest road ends at the sky.
Surface: Rock
Arizona
ModeratePinery Canyon Road — Chiricahua Mountains Sky Island Crest via Onion Saddle
Sky Island spine. Jaguar country. Zero crowds.
Oregon
ModerateSawmill Road to Breakneck Meadow — Siskiyou Mountains High Divide via Grayback Mountain
Siskiyou ridgeline. Elk. No cell service.
Colorado
DifficultCrooked Creek Road to Mount Evans Backcountry — Arapaho National Forest High Country Traverse via Georgia Pass
Quiet Divide crossing above South Park's big sky.
Oregon
ModerateLonesome Highway — Siskiyou Crest Road to Ashland via Mount Ashland Spine
Two states, one crest, zero crowds.
South Dakota
ModerateCuster Peak Road — Black Hills High Country Drive to Fire Lookout via Deadwood Backcountry
Northern Black Hills summit with 360-degree payoff.
Colorado
ModerateHalfmoon Road to Mount Massive Trailhead — Sawatch Range Subalpine Approach via East Fork
Base camp road for the Sawatch giants.
Montana
DifficultLonesome Highway — Pryor Mountains Wild Horse Range to Crooked Creek via Bighorn River Benchlands
Wild mustangs, limestone canyons, and zero crowds.
USA
ModerateSkyline Drive to Big Meadows — Shenandoah Backcountry Spine via Rapidan Camp and Swift Run Gap
A president's hidden fishing camp in the Blue Ridge.
Arizona
DifficultGold Basin Road to Sugarloaf Mountain — Tonto National Forest Mazatzal Wilderness Edge
Mazatzal basalt and zero guardrails.