New Mexico
ModerateOwl Bar Road to Tres Piedras — Rio Grande del Norte Rim Desert Traverse via Ute Mountain (New Mexico)
Volcanic rim above the Rio Grande gorge.
Trail Type: Scenic Drive
New Mexico
ModerateTable Mesa Road to Rim Vista — Black Mesa Plateau Desert Spine via Angel Peak Badlands
Badlands geometry at the edge of the Colorado Plateau.
Montana
ModerateLonesome Highway — Bighorn Canyon North District to Barry’s Landing via Devil Canyon Rim
Montana's deepest canyon, no crowds, no signal.
California
ModerateBodie Ghost Town Road — Bridgeport to Bodie via Cottonwood Canyon High Desert Approach
California's deadest boomtown, still standing.
California
DifficultLonesome Highway — Owens Valley to White Mountain Peak via Barcroft Road
Highest drivable road in the lower 48.
Montana
ModerateLonesome Highway — Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway South via Mono Creek and Antelope Creek Divide
Montana ghost towns and granite sky, no company needed.
Colorado
ModerateWest Elk Wilderness Road — Gunnison to Crested Butte via Kebler Pass and Anthracite Creek
Colorado's great aspen back road, no crowds.
Kentucky
ModerateCumberland Gap Backcountry Road — Middlesboro to Virginia Line via Ridge Road and Pinnacle Overlook
Boone's Gap, still rough after 250 years.
California
ModeratePothole Dome to Tuolumne Meadows — Tioga Road Backcountry Spur via Glen Aulin High Sierra Camp
Granite sky country above 8,600 feet.
USA
ModerateZion Plateau Road to Kolob Terrace — Red Butte and Lava Point Backcountry Drive
Zion from above — no crowds, all payoff.