Best Overlanding Routes in the American West for 2026: What Experts Actually Recommend

ByWyatt Brooks

Five routes appear on every serious overlander’s shortlist for the American West. One more keeps turning up in 2026-specific coverage as the crowd-beating alternative. Here is what independent reviewers actually say about all six.

The Short Version

The White Rim Trail in Utah and the Mojave Road in California draw the broadest consensus as high-reward routes accessible to well-prepped stock rigs. The Rubicon Trail in California is the West’s undisputed technical benchmark. Colorado’s Alpine Loop is where most sources send first-timers. For 2026, Aluminess makes the case for the Arizona Strip and Oregon’s Steens Mountain as the strongest picks for experienced drivers who want solitude over status.

Routes at a Glance

Route Location Distance Difficulty Season Sourced From
White Rim Trail Canyonlands NP, Utah 100–124 mi Moderate–Challenging Mar–May, Sep–Nov The Dyrt, NPS, Overland Trail Guides
Mojave Road Mojave Desert, California ~150 mi Moderate Nov–May The Dyrt, MPower Lights, Aluminess
Rubicon Trail Sierra Nevada, California 22 mi Extreme Jun–Sep The Dyrt, Overlandsite
El Camino del Diablo Sonoran Desert, Arizona ~130 mi Epic / Challenging Oct–May Adventurous Way of Life, Overland Trail Guides
Alpine Loop San Juan Mtns, Colorado 63 mi Easy–Moderate Jun–Oct Four Wheel Campers, MPower Lights
Arizona Strip North of Grand Canyon, AZ Multi-day network Moderate–Advanced Mar–Jun, Sep–Nov Aluminess

What the Reviews Agree On

White Rim Trail, Utah

No route in the West generates more consistent enthusiasm from overlanding reviewers than the roughly 100-mile loop beneath Canyonlands’ Island in the Sky mesa. The NPS classifies the road as challenging, flagging the Shafer Trail switchbacks, Murphy Hogback, and Mineral Bottom descent as sections unfit for novice drivers. The Dyrt and Overland Trail Guides both list it among their top Western picks; Overland Trail Guides notes the full circuit spans 124 miles past sculpted hoodoos and viewpoints of both the Colorado and Green Rivers, with the Musselman Arch as a standout stop. The permit situation is the first thing every source raises: overnight backcountry permits are required by the NPS, spring and fall windows are heavily oversubscribed, and booking through Recreation.gov months ahead is the only reliable approach. High water on the Green River can close the west-side loop in May and June.

Mojave Road, California

The Mojave Road is the one route that appears in every outlet surveyed. The Dyrt, MPower Lights, and Aluminess each name it independently, without any of them suggesting a comparable moderate-level desert route is a stronger choice. The roughly 150-mile corridor through Mojave National Preserve combines dry lake crossings, lava tubes, abandoned mines, and Joshua tree stands between the California interior and the Nevada border. MPower Lights singles out the Traveler’s Monument as a cultural waypoint. Aluminess captures the general feel: “following a line through time” rather than a technical challenge. All sources agree on November through May for timing and two to three days for pacing.

Rubicon Trail, California

The 22-mile Rubicon in California’s Sierra Nevada is the West’s standard for technical difficulty. No reviewer argues otherwise. Overlandsite’s updated 2026 guide sets the minimum build: front and rear lockers, 33-inch tires with three-ply sidewalls, skid plates for the transfer case and gas tank, rocker guards, and a winch rated at twice vehicle weight. The Dyrt ranks it consistently among the most demanding trails in the country. Key obstacles include the Little Sluice Box, Granite Bowl, and Cadillac Hill; trailheads open around Memorial Day at 6,331 feet. The Jeep Jamboree organization enforces a minimum vehicle spec list before allowing participation in its annual events here — a practical gauge of how serious the route is.

El Camino del Diablo, Arizona

The 130-mile route from Yuma to Ajo crosses lava fields, Teddy Bear Cholla forests, and the Tinajas Altas natural water tanks through Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge. Overland Trail Guides rates it “Epic.” Adventurous Way of Life reviewers Ron and Tyler found hard-pack sections manageable but needed multiple sand recoveries in a capable vehicle. Their clearest takeaway: “DO NOT do this trail alone.” A free permit through Luke AFB’s iSportsman system is mandatory for the Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range crossing — skipping it is a federal offense. Summer is off-limits; temperatures regularly exceed 110°F.

Alpine Loop, Colorado

For newer overlanders or stock-rig drivers, Four Wheel Campers and MPower Lights both point to Colorado’s 63-mile Alpine Loop. It connects Silverton, Ouray, and Lake City in the San Juans, topping out above 12,800 feet past 1880s ghost towns and old mining claims. Most of the loop handles in a high-clearance 2WD; the Engineer and Cinnamon Pass spurs require 4WD. Season runs June through October. Permit pressure is nothing like White Rim’s, and two to three days beats one.

Where They Disagree

How challenging is Mojave Road?

MPower Lights and The Dyrt both use “moderate” as the primary rating, though The Dyrt qualifies it as harder in specific sections. Aluminess sits softer, framing the experience as historical rather than technical. The variable every source underweights is post-rainfall conditions: dry lake crossings become a different obstacle when wet, and accounts of post-storm attempts describe significant bogging regardless of vehicle preparation. No outlet agrees on whether a lightly modified stock 4WD completes the full route without a recovery situation. The Mojave National Preserve visitor center posts current road conditions. Worth a call before any run.

The Rubicon: full traverse vs. partial runs

The Dyrt frames the Rubicon as spanning “beginner to expert” depending on which sections a driver chooses, implying partial runs are a genuine option for less-equipped vehicles. Overlandsite’s 2026 guide does not share that view. Its equipment list makes clear that the core obstacles demand a built rig; attempting them in a stock SUV is a breakdown waiting to happen. Community accounts on Expedition Portal align with the stricter standard. The practical guidance: stock-capable rigs can access the flanking roads from Georgetown, but the full traverse requires the full build.

The 2026 crowd-avoidance picks

Most outlets name the same five or six routes year after year. Aluminess is the outlier for 2026, explicitly recommending Oregon’s Steens Mountain — a fault-block range reaching nearly 10,000 feet with glacial gorges and alpine desert — and Nevada/Oregon’s Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge as destinations offering genuine solitude without demanding expert driving. Neither route appears in any other outlet surveyed. Steens Mountain’s 59-mile loop road, open June through October, is a moderate high-clearance circuit with bighorn sheep and the Alvord Desert dropping thousands of feet below the east ridge. For drivers whose spring White Rim permit came back empty, or who find the Rubicon’s summer crowds unappealing, both picks are worth pulling up on a map.

FAQ

Do I need a permit for the White Rim Trail?

Yes. The NPS requires backcountry permits for all overnight trips on White Rim Road in Canyonlands National Park. Day-use permits are also required. Spring and fall windows are heavily oversubscribed — book through Recreation.gov months in advance. High water on the Green River can close the west-side section in May and June.

What vehicle does the Rubicon Trail require?

Overlandsite’s 2026 guide lists front and rear lockers, 33-inch three-ply sidewall tires, full skid plate coverage, rocker guards, and a winch as the minimum build for the full traverse. A capable stock 4WD can access the flanking approach roads but not the core technical obstacles. Expect minor body contact even in properly built rigs.

What permit does El Camino del Diablo require?

The route crosses the Barry M. Goldwater Air Force Range, which requires a free permit through Luke AFB’s iSportsman system. The Cabeza Prieta NWR section has its own entry requirements. Both Adventurous Way of Life and Overland Trail Guides flag permit compliance as non-negotiable before departure.

Which route suits first-time Western overlanders?

Four Wheel Campers and MPower Lights both recommend Colorado’s Alpine Loop. It tops 12,800 feet, passes historic ghost towns, and most of the circuit is manageable in a high-clearance 2WD. No permit lottery, no extreme build required. Two to three days is the right pace.

Is the Mojave Road safe in summer?

No. Temperatures between June and September routinely exceed 110°F across the Mojave. Every source surveyed recommends November through May. After rainfall at any time of year, dry lake crossings can become impassable regardless of vehicle capability. Check current conditions with Mojave National Preserve before any run.

Sources


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