California
ModerateFish Creek Wash — Anza-Borrego Desert Slot Canyon and Badlands Circuit
Ancient seafloor, slot canyons, and deep desert sand.
Trail Type: Backcountry
USA
DifficultCoyote Gulch Loop — Grand Staircase-Escalante Slickrock and Canyon Circuit
Arches, slickrock, and soft sand. Earn it.
California
ModeratePinecrest Lake to Emigrant Wilderness Road — Stanislaus High Country Circuit
Sierra granite at 8,000 feet. No crowds.
USA
ModerateBeef Basin Road — Bears Ears to Ruin Canyon via Elk Ridge
Ancient towers and canyon rims with no crowds.
California
DifficultOwens Peak Wilderness Road — Indian Wells Valley to Chimney Peak via Nine Mile Canyon
Sierra meets Mojave in a canyon nobody knows.
Oregon
ModerateHart Mountain to Frenchglen — Warner Valley Desert Rim Road
High desert rim, hot springs, and pronghorn country.
USA
ExpertCanyonlands Maze District — Flint Trail to Doll House
Utah's hardest gate into its wildest canyon.
USA
ModerateNotch Peak Road — House Range Desert Wilderness Approach
North America's biggest cliff. Zero crowds.
Oregon
ModerateLakeview to Fremont-Winema — Oregon Outback Volcanic Plateau Run
High desert Oregon. Big sky. Nobody watching.
Oregon
ModerateCascade Lakes Highway Backcountry Spur — Crane Prairie Reservoir to Cultus Lake via Deschutes National Forest
High Cascade lake country on pumice and pine duff.