Oregon
DifficultBlackrock Desert High Rock Canyon Emigrant Trail — Winnemucca Lake to High Rock Lake
800-foot walls, wagon ruts, and zero cell bars.
Surface: Rock
USA
DifficultShafer Trail Road — Canyonlands Rim to Potash via Island in the Sky
1,400 feet of exposed switchbacks off the rim.
California
ModerateChimney Peak Backcountry Byway — El Paso Mountains to Cinder Cones
Mojave volcanic country nobody bothers to visit.
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.
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.