Texas - Big Bend Park
For those who wish to get away from it all, the park offers 67 primitive campsites along backcountry roads. These sites are located in the most remote desert areas of the park. Some require hours of challenging driving to reach. A sturdy high-clearance and usually 4-wheel drive is necessary to safely reach most of them.
Primitive roadside campsites offer nice views, solitude, and a small flat gravel space to set up camp next to your vehicle. No shade, toilets, or other amenities are provided. The use of generators is prohibited in the backcountry.
These are small primitive backcountry sites and only a few can accommodate large RVs and trailers. Plan accordingly.
There are strict vehicle length and capacity limits for each campsite.
A backcountry use permit is required to camp at any of these sites.
Colorado - Alpine Loop
The Alpine Loop leaves pavement and people behind, crossing the remote, rugged, spectacular heart of the San Juan Mountains. It's demanding—the two 12,000-foot passes (Cinnamon and Engineer) require a high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicle — but the well-prepared motorist reaps unparalleled rewards: pristine mountain views, hiking and biking trails, great camping opportunities, and ample solitude.
These rocky roads were first used by 19th-century miners, who carted their ore off to Silverton, Ouray, and Lake City in mule-drawn wagons. Spend an afternoon exploring abandoned town sites, structures, and other former mining haunts—if you want to commune with ghosts of Colorado's rich past.
Arizona - El Camino del Diablo
Because this is a point-to-point trail you can start at either end. We completed the trail in an east to west direction, starting in Ajo and ending in Yuma. To start the trail you’ll need to get to Ajo. From Phoenix, head west on I-10 to Highway 85, then continue south.
Pass through Gila Bend and continue south to Ajo. Once in Ajo, you’ll want to top of your tank, activate your permits / pick up map if needed, and continue about 3 miles southeast of ‘downtown’. Just after a large tailings pile on the right, turn right onto the unpaved Darby Well Road. The trail crosses a cattle guard and begins immediately.
On this rugged and historic trail, traverse 130 miles of remote and scenic desert between Ajo and Yuma. You’ll pass numerous historic spots near the Mexican Border and have to be completely self-sufficient on this multi-day trip.
California - Mojave Road
The Mojave Road is an east-west route, roughly 150 miles long, that traverses the desert between the Colorado River and the Mojave River near Wilmington, Los Angeles, CA. Most of the Mojave Road is within the boundaries of the Mojave National Preserve. The road enters the park near Piute Spring on the east side and on Soda Dry Lake near Zzyzx on the west. The road is not regularly maintained, and some sections are rough and sandy; 4 x 4 is recommended. If visitors wish to drive the entire length of the road, usually 3 days are required. There are opportunities for undeveloped camping along the route of the Mojave Road. There is no registration fee. All campsites are first come first serve.
California - Death Valley
At 3.4 million acres, Death Valley is the largest national park in the contiguous United States. The park straddles portions of the Great Basin and Mojave deserts, in a land of unforgiving extremes. Not only is Death Valley one of the driest places on earth (avg rainfall is less than 2 inches), it also holds the record for hottest ever recorded temperature (134 F). The parched desert landscape creates quite the juxtaposition with the various subranges of the Basin Ranges within the park, and the rugged Mt Whitney and domineering eastern sierra looming over the desert to the west. During your time at the park you'll have the opportunity to see and experience lava flows and craters, rugged jeep trails, picturesque mountain peaks, ghost towns and abandoned mining times, eclectic art displays, petroglyphs, salt flats, wandering burros, hot springs, and so much more.
Arizona - Northern Arizona Traverse
The northern portion of the Arizona Traverse extends 188 miles from the town of Dewey-Humboldt to the edge of the Grand Canyon. It is a relaxing drive through this portion of the state, as most of the track is composed of smooth forest roads with stunning vistas and interesting wildlife. Highly technical terrain can be found nearby, but all of this route can be completed in a standard soft-roader during summer months.
Maybe not the most rugged trail but the Northern Arizona Traverse may be the most beautiful in the state with incredible views of beautiful forests, majestic rock formations and more on this 188-mile track that will take you to the Grand Canyon. Elevations range from 3,800 to 7,500 feet on this easy-to-navigate trail that will feature rock, pavement and dirt.
