Colorado
DifficultAlpine Loop — Lake City to Ouray and Silverton via Engineer, Cinnamon, and Animas Forks
Three 13,000-ft passes. One legendary loop.
Trail Type: Scenic Drive
Bolivia
ExtremeCamino de la Muerte — La Cumbre to Coroico via the North Yungas Death Road
64km of cliff track with 600-metre drops and no guardrails.
British Columbia
DifficultChilcotin Plateau War Road — Williams Lake to Bella Coola via the Chilcotin Highway and Freedom Road Descent
Built by settlers with dynamite. Still scares people.
South Africa
ModerateOuteniqua Pass to Montagu Pass — Western Cape Mountain Traverse via George
1847 convict-built pass. Stone bridges. No crowds.
Japan
ModerateTateyama Kurobe Alpine Route — Nagano to Toyama via the Northern Japan Alps High Crossing
Japan's 20-meter snow walls in late spring.
Antofagasta Region
ModeratePaso de Jama — San Pedro de Atacama to Susques via the Puna de Atacama High Desert Crossing
4,230m — where the Atacama meets the Puna.
Argentina
ModeratePaso Pehuenche — Malargüe to Chilean Border via the Andes Volcanic Divide (Argentina Side)
Patagonia's loneliest Andean crossing.
Alberta
EasyIcefields Parkway South — Lake Louise to Saskatchewan Crossing via Bow Lake and Crowfoot Glacier
Glaciers, turquoise lakes, and zero bad views.
Namibia
ModerateFish River Canyon Rim Track — Hobas to Ai-Ais via the Southern Namibian Canyon Desert
Africa's great canyon from the rim down.
Alberta
ModerateHighwood Pass Road — Kananaskis Country High Alpine Traverse via Peter Lougheed Provincial Park
Canada's highest road. No guardrails. No crowds.