Idaho
DifficultPhantom Lake Road to Hancock Summit — Owyhee Plateau Desert Spine via Jordan Creek
Owyhee plateau — big, silent, unforgiving.
Trail Type: High Clearance
California
ModerateBorrego Mountain Wash to Arroyo Salado — Anza-Borrego Badlands Desert Circuit via Seventeen Palms
Badlands, palms, and painted clay at the edge.
California
ModerateHole-in-the-Wall Road — Mid Hills to Wildhorse Canyon via Black Canyon Wash
Volcanic desert bench between two iconic camps.
Montana
ModerateLonesome Highway — Gravelly Range Road to Wade Lake via Centennial Valley Rim
Montana's forgotten ridge above the Centennial wild.
Arkansas
ModerateLonesome Pine Road — Ouachita National Forest to Caney Creek Wilderness via Rich Mountain Fire Tower
Ouachita ridge road with a fire tower payoff.
California
DifficultCoso Range Road — China Lake to Coso Hot Springs via Wild Horse Mesa
Volcanic range, 100,000 petroglyphs, zero shade.
Oregon
ModerateLonesome Highway — Steens Mountain Summit Loop via Kiger Gorge and Big Indian Gorge
Oregon's rooftop, wild horses, and a 5,000-ft drop.
California
ModerateMojave Road East — Soda Dry Lake to Kelso Depot via Lava Tube and Government Holes
Ancient desert road through lava and silence.
USA
ModerateBurr Trail Road — Boulder to Bullfrog via the Waterpocket Fold Switchbacks
Utah's Waterpocket switchbacks earn their legend.
Texas
ModerateSanta Elena Canyon Rim Road — Castolon to Santa Elena via Rio Grande Desert Bench
1,500-foot canyon walls at the Rio Grande.