Best Overlanding Trails Across North America
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The Ultimate Guide to Overlanding Trails Across North America
If you’re chasing dust, mountains, and miles of open road, this guide is your map. Below are some of the most rewarding overlanding routes across North America—from quick, beginner-friendly loops to multi-week epics. Choose a route that matches your skills, vehicle, and time window, and start writing your next adventure.
Valley of the Gods Road | Utah
Location: North of Mexican Hat, UT
Distance: 17-mile loop
Trip Time: 2 hours – 2 days
Best Season: March–June | September–October
Accessible dirt and gravel, huge scenery, and easy logistics. Link it with nearby Monument Valley or Bears Ears for a longer getaway.
Cathedral Valley Loop | Capitol Reef, Utah
Location: Near Torrey, UT
Distance: 58 miles
Trip Time: 1–2 days
Best Season: Spring or Fall
A hidden gem inside Capitol Reef National Park, this loop offers cathedral-like sandstone towers and remote desert solitude. A high-clearance vehicle is recommended, especially for the early river crossing at Hartnet Road.
The Alpine Loop | Colorado
Location: Ouray → Silverton, CO
Distance: ≈ 63 miles
Trip Time: 5 hours – 2 days
Best Season: Late June – September
This historic mining-road circuit climbs over Engineer and Cinnamon Passes, topping 12,000 feet with dramatic views of the San Juan Mountains. You’ll need 4WD, and nearby Black Bear Pass provides an optional challenge for experienced drivers.
Smoky Mountain Road | Utah
Location: Big Water → Escalante, UT
Distance: ≈ 78 miles
Trip Time: 6 hours – 2 days
Best Season: Spring or Fall
Crossing the Grand Staircase–Escalante National Monument, this rugged road offers panoramic views and solitude. Steep climbs, no service, and loose surfaces make it demanding. Carry extra fuel and supplies—the Kelly Grade overlook is unforgettable.
White Rim Trail | Canyonlands National Park, UT
Distance: 110-mile loop
Trip Time: 12 hours – 4 days
Best Season: Late Spring through Fall
A Utah classic with deep canyons, slickrock, and spectacular red-cliff views. Permits are required, and it’s best split into several days for camping under the stars.
El Camino del Diablo | Arizona
Location: Ajo → Yuma, AZ
Distance: ≈ 130 miles
Trip Time: 1 – 2 days
Best Season: February – April | Fall
Known as “The Devil’s Highway,” this Sonoran-Desert route crosses the Barry M. Goldwater Range and Cabeza Prieta Wildlife Refuge. Brutal heat and isolation make preparation critical. Bring water, spares, permits, and a satellite communicator.
The Mojave Road | California
Location: Mojave National Preserve
Distance: ≈ 147 miles
Trip Time: 2 – 4 days
Best Season: Spring or Fall
Following a historic wagon route, the Mojave Road mixes sand, rocky climbs, and sweeping desert views. Expect challenging terrain and zero support—carry full recovery gear and beware of the cactus fields.
California Backcountry Discovery Trail
Location: Northern California
Distance: Variable (~1,000 miles total)
Trip Time: 3 days – 3 weeks
Best Season: Late Spring – Late Fall
This network connects five national forests—Mendocino, Plumas, Lassen, Modoc, and Six Rivers. It’s a choose-your-own-adventure mix of dense forest, open ridges, and quiet backroads perfect for exploring Northern California’s wild side.
The Georgia Traverse | Georgia
Location: Burrells Ford, SC → Chattoogaville, GA
Distance: ≈ 390 miles
Trip Time: 4 days
Best Season: Spring – Fall
Stretching across Georgia, this route blends forest service roads and rural highways. Mostly moderate but can turn muddy fast after rain. Ideal for East-Coast travelers seeking a multi-day overland route.
Dalton Highway | Alaska
Location: Livengood → Deadhorse, AK
Distance: ≈ 414 miles
Trip Time: 3 – 5 days
Best Season: June – Mid-July
Running alongside the Trans-Alaska Pipeline to the Arctic Ocean, this remote route offers tundra, steep grades, and few services. Bring fuel, spares, and a satellite communicator—it’s the edge of civilization.
Dempster Highway | Yukon & Northwest Territories, Canada
Location: Dawson City, YT → Inuvik, NT (optional to Tuktoyaktuk)
Distance: ≈ 457 miles (736 km)
Trip Time: 3 – 6 days
Best Season: June – September
Canada’s only all-season road to the Arctic Ocean. Expect gravel, mud, tundra, and rapidly changing weather. Remote, wild, and breathtaking—this is northern adventure at its finest.
Baja Peninsula | Mexico
Location: Mexicali → Cabo San Lucas
Distance: ≈ 775 miles core route
Trip Time: 2 weeks – 2 months
Best Season: January – March
Desert tracks, mountain passes, and endless coastal trails make Baja a bucket-list destination. Carry passports, insurance, and patience for checkpoints. Baja rewards careful prep with unreal scenery and freedom.
Enchanted Rockies Trail | New Mexico → Colorado
Distance: ≈ 1,200 miles
Trip Time: 1 – 2 weeks
Best Season: Late June – Early October
Spanning nine national forests and two parks, this route links New Mexico’s desert to Colorado’s alpine peaks. Mostly moderate but can get technical after rain or snow. Bring recovery gear and expect dramatic shifts in terrain.
Trans-America Overland Trail | USA
Location: Cape Hatteras, NC → Port Orford, OR
Distance: ≈ 5,000 miles
Trip Time: 1 month+
Best Season: Year-round (weather permitting)
The coast-to-coast legend that connects backroads across America. Thousands of miles of gravel and dirt link the Atlantic to the Pacific. Follow official maps to avoid private land and get the true experience.
Pan-American Highway | Alaska → Argentina
Distance: ≈ 19,000 miles
Trip Time: 9 months – 2 years
Best Season: Start mid-summer to align climates
The world’s longest road and the ultimate overlanding test. From Arctic tundra to jungle to Andean peaks, it demands patience, preparation, and grit—but delivers the adventure of a lifetime.
Final Thoughts
From Utah’s sandstone canyons to Canada’s frozen tundra and Baja’s coastal deserts, every trail tells a story. Start small, prepare well, and travel responsibly—your next unforgettable journey is already waiting.