California
ModerateChimney Peak Backcountry Byway — El Paso Mountains to Cinder Cones
Mojave volcanic country nobody bothers to visit.
Surface: Rock
California
ModerateModoc Volcanic Scenic Byway — Lava Beds to Medicine Lake Highlands
Lava, obsidian, and no crowds. True Modoc country.
Oregon
ModeratePoker Jim Ridge Road — Hart Mountain Antelope Refuge High Desert Run
Pronghorn country at 7,000 feet — no crowds, no signal.
California
ModerateOnion Valley to Kearsarge Pass Road — Inyo Mountains Eastern Sierra Approach
Straight up the Sierra's eastern wall.
USA
DifficultLockhart Basin Trail — Moab to Needles Overlook via Bears Ears Country
Moab's forgotten canyon corridor.
California
ExpertRubicon Trail — Georgetown to Tahoe City via Eldorado National Forest
California's hardest granite gauntlet.
USA
ModerateWhite Rim Road — Canyonlands National Park Loop
100 miles of canyon ledge road. No shortcuts.
Oregon
ModerateSteens Mountain Loop Road — Frenchglen to Alvord Desert
Glacial gorges above a desert playa. One road.
Canada
ModerateSouth Cooking Lake Road — Whiteshell to Caddy Lake Narrows Backcountry Circuit
Shield rock and tight pines — eastern Manitoba's secret.
Canada
ModerateBannock Point Petroform Road — Whiteshell Provincial Park Interior Circuit
Ancient granite and sacred stone on the Shield.