Backcountry Discovery Route

The Backcountry Discovery Route threads 2,400 miles of dirt from the Mexican border to British Columbia, staying off pavement wherever possible through five states of raw Western landscape. Starting in Crazy Cook Monument’s Chihuahuan Desert, the route climbs through New Mexico’s Gila Wilderness, Utah’s slickrock country, Idaho’s Sawtooth Mountains, and Montana’s Bob Marshall Wilderness before hitting the Canadian line. Each section demands different skills — from navigating wash crossings in the Southwest to high-altitude alpine passes that close with October snow.

This is serious backcountry requiring self-sufficiency and navigation skills; GPS tracks are essential since much of the route follows unmarked forest service roads and mining tracks. Adventure motorcycles and capable 4WDs handle most sections, but some narrow single-track segments favor two wheels. Plan weeks to complete the full route, or tackle individual state sections. Fuel and resupply points are mapped but sparse — carry extra gas and water. The payoff is an intimate tour through America’s most remote and spectacular country.