Why the Southwest
The American Southwest is overlanding at its most elemental — vast desert landscapes, red rock canyons, high alpine passes, and long stretches of solitude that remind you why you built the rig in the first place. The terrain ranges from graded gravel roads to technical rock crawling, and the scenery is consistently world-class. Here are 10 trails worth planning a trip around.
For any remote Southwest trail, carry a satellite communicator like the Garmin inReach Mini 2. Cell service is nonexistent on most of these routes, and the distances between services can be extreme. Check our best GPS devices guide for navigation options.
1. Mojave Road — California/Nevada
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate | Distance: ~140 miles | Time: 2-3 days
The Mojave Road follows an ancient Native American trade route across the Mojave Desert from Afton Canyon to the Colorado River. The terrain is primarily sandy desert with rocky sections near the mountain passes. Most of the trail is manageable in a stock 4WD vehicle, though sand sections near Soda Lake can be challenging — air down and maintain momentum. Dispersed camping is available throughout.
Best season: October through April. Summer temperatures regularly exceed 110 degrees Fahrenheit and make this trail dangerous.
Permits: None required. The trail crosses BLM land and the Mojave National Preserve.
2. White Rim Trail — Utah
Difficulty: Moderate | Distance: ~100 miles | Time: 2-3 days
The White Rim Road follows a bench of white sandstone 1,200 feet below the Island in the Sky mesa top in Canyonlands National Park. The trail itself is mostly graded dirt, but the scenery is staggering — sheer cliffs, the Colorado and Green Rivers far below, and desert towers rising around you. The difficulty comes from a few steep, rocky switchbacks (Hardscrabble Hill and Murphy Hogback) and the remoteness.
Best season: March through May, September through November. Summer is brutally hot with no shade.
Permits: Required. Backcountry permits must be reserved through the NPS, and they fill up months in advance. Plan ahead.
3. Hole in the Rock Road — Utah
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate | Distance: ~57 miles one way | Time: 1-2 days
This road in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument leads to the historic site where Mormon pioneers lowered wagons through a crack in the canyon wall to cross the Colorado River. The road starts as graded gravel and deteriorates as you go further. Side trips to Devil's Garden, Peek-a-boo and Spooky Gulch slot canyons, and Dance Hall Rock make this more than just a drive.
Best season: March through May, September through November.
Permits: None for the road itself. Day-use permits may be required for certain slot canyon hikes — check current BLM regulations.
4. Cottonwood Canyon Road — Utah
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate | Distance: ~46 miles | Time: 1 day
Another Grand Staircase gem, Cottonwood Canyon Road runs from Highway 89 near Big Water north to Cannonville. The highlight is Cottonwood Narrows — a section where the road passes through a narrow slot canyon with towering walls on either side. When dry, this road is manageable in most 4WD vehicles. When wet, the clay surface becomes impassable. Check conditions before you go.
Best season: April through October, avoiding monsoon season (July-August) when flash floods are a real risk.
Permits: None required.
5. Shafer Trail — Utah
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult | Distance: ~19 miles | Time: Half day
The Shafer Trail drops from the Island in the Sky mesa top down to the White Rim via a series of exposed, narrow switchbacks carved into the cliff face. It is not technical in terms of obstacles, but the exposure is real — a sheer drop on one side with minimal guardrails. The road connects to Potash Road along the Colorado River, making it a popular day loop or the start/end of a White Rim trip.
Best season: March through May, September through November.
Permits: None for the Shafer Trail itself (permits required if continuing onto White Rim).
6. Lockhart Basin — Utah
Difficulty: Difficult | Distance: ~55 miles | Time: 1-2 days
Lockhart Basin is one of the more challenging trails near Moab, connecting the Needles area of Canyonlands to Highway 191. The trail includes steep, rocky descents, ledge driving, and several sections where picking the right line matters. A spotter is recommended for the more technical sections. This is not a trail for stock vehicles — expect to need skid plates, rock sliders, and good tires at minimum. Carry recovery boards and a full recovery kit.
Best season: September through November, March through May.
Permits: None required for most of the trail. Permits needed if entering Canyonlands NP boundaries.
7. Trans-America Trail (Southwest Section) — New Mexico/Arizona
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate | Distance: ~600 miles (SW section) | Time: 5-7 days
The TAT crosses the entire country on dirt roads and trails, and the Southwest section through New Mexico and Arizona is among the most scenic. High desert grasslands, volcanic formations, pine forests, and small western towns punctuate the route. Most of the trail is graded dirt road passable in a stock 4WD, but the sheer distance requires careful fuel and water planning.
Best season: March through May, September through November.
Permits: None for the main route, though some forest roads may have seasonal closures.
8. Alpine Loop — Colorado
Difficulty: Moderate to Difficult | Distance: ~65 miles | Time: 1-2 days
The Alpine Loop connects Lake City, Silverton, and Ouray via Engineer Pass (12,800 ft) and Cinnamon Pass (12,620 ft) in the San Juan Mountains. The scenery is breathtaking — above-treeline alpine meadows, abandoned mining towns, and peaks towering on every side. The trail is rocky but not highly technical, though the altitude and exposure add challenge. Shelf roads with significant drop-offs are part of the experience.
Best season: July through September. These are high-altitude passes that stay snowbound well into June.
Permits: None required.
9. Rimrocker Trail — Colorado/Utah
Difficulty: Easy to Moderate | Distance: ~159 miles | Time: 2-3 days
The Rimrocker Trail runs from Montrose, Colorado, to Moab, Utah, crossing the Uncompahgre Plateau, La Sal Mountains, and red rock desert. It transitions from alpine forest to slickrock desert over its length, offering remarkable variety. Most of the trail is manageable in a stock 4WD, with a few rocky sections that benefit from higher clearance. This trail works well as a first multi-day overlanding trip.
Best season: May through October, depending on snow conditions at higher elevations.
Permits: None required.
10. Chicken Corners — Utah
Difficulty: Moderate | Distance: ~28 miles round trip | Time: Half day to 1 day
Chicken Corners is a shelf road above the Colorado River near Moab that offers some of the most dramatic views in the area. The trail follows a narrow ledge carved into the canyon wall with a steep drop to the river below. The road surface is generally smooth, but the exposure makes it feel more challenging than it is technically. The turnaround point at "Chicken Corner" — where the shelf narrows and most people turn back — is an unforgettable lunch spot.
Best season: March through May, September through November.
Permits: None required.
General Southwest Overlanding Tips
- Water: Carry a minimum of one gallon per person per day, plus extra for vehicle cooling system emergencies. Water sources are rare to nonexistent on most of these trails.
- Fuel: Top off at every opportunity. Some of these trails are 100+ miles from a gas station.
- Tires: Air down for sand and rocky sections. Carry a full-size spare and a plug kit. Read our trail tire repair guide before you go.
- Flash floods: During monsoon season (July-September), avoid camping in washes and narrow canyons. Flash floods kill people every year in the Southwest.
- Leave No Trace: Pack out everything. Stay on designated trails. The desert ecosystem is fragile and recovers slowly from damage.
The Southwest rewards preparation and punishes complacency. Do your homework, bring the right gear, and you will find some of the best overlanding on the continent.