Route Index / Western United States / 2026
A practical route library for weekend escapes and multi-day backcountry trips—organized by time, access, vehicle requirements and the decisions that matter before you leave pavement.
01 / Featured Route
Alabama Hills is the current beginner entry point: close to Lone Pine, anchored to a mapped 2WD-accessible designated campsite and supported by clear official planning sources.
Published GuideCalifornia · Weekend · Beginner
One night near Lone Pine, an optional Whitney Portal out-and-back and a final stop at Manzanar. This route is built around a legal designated campsite rather than a generic map pin.
02 / Route Index
Showing all published routes.
Published GuideNevada · Multi-Day · High Clearance
Gerlach staging, Black Rock Playa dry-surface decisions, a Night 2 public-land site that must be verified before travel, and High Rock Canyon exit alternatives with long no-service stretches.
Published GuideOregon · Multi-Day · Mixed Access
A 2–3 day high-desert mountain loop planned around Frenchglen, major overlooks and seasonal access on the Steens Mountain Loop Road.
Published GuideCalifornia · Multi-Day · High Clearance
A historic desert traverse planned around NPS road guidance, undeveloped camping, dry-lake hazards and high-clearance 4WD preparation.
Published Guide
Arizona · Weekend
A flexible 1–2 day Arizona BLM route combining Badger Springs Wash and Bloody Basin Road, with dispersed camping, Pueblo la Plata and conditions-dependent dirt-road access.
Published Guide
Colorado · Weekend
A two-day, one-night self-drive camping route from the Grand Junction side of Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area, with an overnight near Big Dominguez and a second-day visit to Escalante Canyon and the Potholes before exiting toward Delta or returning to Grand Junction.
Published Guide
Wyoming · Weekend
A two-day Wyoming high-desert route linking Boar’s Tusk, Killpecker Sand Dunes and free BLM camping north of Rock Springs.
Published Guide
Utah · Weekend
A 1–2 day point-to-point drive through The Wedge, Buckhorn Draw, the Buckhorn Panel and San Rafael Swinging Bridge, ending at I-70 Exit 131.
03 / Browse by Style
Route categories are based on time, remoteness and road complexity—not only mileage.
One- or two-night trips with clearer staging, nearby services and practical exit options.
Trips requiring multiple nights, deliberate fuel planning and stronger bailout decisions.
Lower-complexity access, fewer technical sections and shorter distance from services.
Rough, remote, sandy or rocky sections where tires, clearance and recovery planning matter.
04 / Compare
This table helps users and search engines understand the main differences without opening every guide.
| Route | Status | Duration | Vehicle | Complexity | Primary risk | Guide |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Hills | Published | 2 days / 1 night | 2WD in dry conditions | Beginner | Heat, campsite availability | View the Alabama Hills itinerary |
| Black Rock Desert | Published | 3 days / 2 nights | High-clearance 4WD | Moderate driving; high-consequence remote travel | Wet playa, tire damage, no-service exit decisions | Plan the Black Rock Desert route |
| Steens Mountain | Published | 2–3 days | Mixed; high clearance on rough sections | Moderate | Seasonal closure, weather | Open the Steens Mountain route |
| Mojave Road | Published | 2–3 days | High-clearance 4WD | Moderate–advanced | Deep sand, dry lakes, isolation | Open the Mojave Road route |
05 / Verification
Official facts, planning calculations and field-verification status are kept separate.
BLM, NPS, USFS and local agency pages are prioritized for access, permits, closures and safety.
Agency-published facts are distinguished from CIWILD mileage totals and trip-planning estimates.
Published routes link to complete CIWILD guides, while any future unfinished routes must remain clearly marked and must not link to incomplete pages.
Readers can see when rules, fees, roads and closures were last checked.
Official-source review and field verification are not treated as the same thing. Each published route should state its own verification status.
Fast-changing road, weather and fire information stays with the authoritative agency source.
06 / Official Sources
Check these sources again immediately before travel.
07 / FAQ
Published routes aim to include mileage, vehicle requirements, legal camping, permits, seasonal risks, fuel and water planning, emergency details and official source links.
Alabama Hills is the current beginner choice because it stays close to Lone Pine and uses a mapped 2WD-accessible designated camping anchor.
No. Alabama Hills is planned around 2WD access, while Black Rock Desert and Mojave Road require substantially more remote-road preparation.
Published route cards link to the complete CIWILD guide and may also include the responsible public agency source for current conditions and rules.
Use the campsite directory to compare individual locations by state, road access and camping type.
