Longest Dirt Road in USA?

[umingmaq]

Hey guys,

I know this isn't an expedition build, but I didn't really know where else to post it. Does anyone know what the longest continuous stretch of dirt (unimproved) road is in the contiguous 48 lower United States. I would guess somewhere in the southwest, but I was just wondering if anyone had any guesses.
I don't know, so this is not a trick question, I'm just wonderiing if there is a road that might be an expedition in and of itself here in our backyard? Let me know where and how long you think your candidate is. I'm not talking rockcrawling, I'm talking slow off-raod driving for as long as you can without seeing pavement and camping along the way. Include maps if you got'em. Looking forward to your responses

Cheers,
Matt

[hks3sgte]

My guess would be:

Saline Valley Road.

http://www.treknow.com/california/ba...ine_valley.htm

[Brian894X4]

When you get into Southeastern Oregon, you can be on dirt roads for a hundred miles. I think a requirement would be that the the distance is in between when the road makes a connection with a paved road...even if it continues on.

[JO MAOMA]

maybe i don't understand what you're after but you can get from
almost any two points in the west on dirt roads with a minimum
of pavement. you can drive from the canadian border to mexican
border with less than 250 miles of pavement. i've done mexican
border (outside yuma) to death valley with less than 50 miles of
asphalt including a stop in primm nevada....

[dmc]

Originally Posted by hks3sgte

My guess would be:

Saline Valley Road.

http://www.treknow.com/california/ba...ine_valley.htm

there are at least 12 roads in utah longer than that road.

I've driven the entire length and width of Utah primarily on dirt roads. North to South we traveled approximately 400 miles with never hitting pavement. If we are talking a dirt 'road' and not combinations of roads both the Lincoln Highway and the Promentory RR grade run from the Wasatch Front in Utah well into Nevada continuously. I would imagine they both run over 500 miles but i've never followed them that far. Linking roads i've done almost 1000 miles with just a few dozen of pavement in utah alone.

If we are talking USA the Dalton HWY in AK is about 500 miles of dirt from Fairbanks north. Considering you have to go up and back it's 1000 miles. it is remote. it is desolate. it is covered in bugs and caribou. i recommend everyone do it. if you time it right (summer solstace) you can do the whole thing and never have the sun set. pretty cool but makes you loopy as hell to not sleep for 60 hours.
dmc

[Brian894X4]

Originally Posted by dmc

If we are talking USA the Dalton HWY in AK is about 500 miles of dirt from Fairbanks north. Considering you have to go up and back it's 1000 miles. it is remote. it is desolate. it is covered in bugs and caribou. i recommend everyone do it. if you time it right (summer solstace) you can do the whole thing and never have the sun set. pretty cool but makes you loopy as hell to not sleep for 60 hours.
dmc

Is there gas available anywhere along that route or are you pretty much on your own the whole way?

[mtntoys]

Originally Posted by Brian894X4

Is there gas available anywhere along that route or are you pretty much on your own the whole way?

This is leaving Prudhoe Bay (the end or most northern part of the Dalton highway / hall road).



Awesome trip, especially if you archery hunt and fish.

[dmc]

all my pics from that trip are on my home pc and i'm on the road right now for work. i carried enough fuel so that i could get fuel in coldfoot, make it to deadhorse and back to coldfoot. i had my taco at the time and got better economy so i only had to carry about 15 gallons.

mtntoys, how long did you spend on the road? it's amazing up there. i lived in juneau for a few years and have a love for the alaskan coast but the north slope was indeed a cool place.
dmc

[mtntoys]

A buddy of mine moved to AK (a little north of Eagle River) a while ago. My dad and I went to visit him 3 years ago. During part of that trip we spend 10 days on the Dalton highway. It was by far the best trip of my life.

We ran into one guy that when through 3 tires just on the way up. Granted he did have a camper in the bed of his truck. Our truck had POS road tires that were all eaten up and some how we managed to get by with out any flats. I think it depends a lot on your driving style. As far as gas goes, at the time it was $3.50 or so a gallon in Prudhoe Bay. I’m sure it a whole lot higher today. The furthest you have to go between fill ups is 240miles between Cold Foot and Dead Horse (Prudhoe Bay).


Here a pic of the road at its best. The worst parts are comparable to old forest service roads. We never used 4wd.



Night was this for 3 hours



Musk ox


Grayling



Sagwan River



Hunting ptarmigan with bows is great sport.





Wild fires





The Pipeline generally follows the Dalton highway. Some times is a mile or so away.



Yukon

[hks3sgte]

I always wanted to travel on Dalton highway... someday I will ...

[e9999]

that top pic of the Dalton hiway looks better than most Los Angeles Freeways...

[nat]

Damn, those are nice pics..................definitely starts my wanderlust.

[tntoyota]

Originally Posted by mtntoys

pucker factor ... pucker up buttercup!

[atoyot]

My first thought was Alaska also but the question was lower 48. http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=220338

I have no Idea. It's sad really. So much asphalt. The lower 48 is narrowed down to short expeditions if you are staying completely off asphalt.

[Huhwhye]

Originally Posted by mtntoys

This is leaving Prudhoe Bay (the end or most northern part of the Dalton highway / hall road).



Awesome trip, especially if you archery hunt and fish.

Try it on a motorcycle!!! In the rain

[eleblanc]

I did this road some time ago, unfortunatly it was paved. 384k next gas station! 614k to the end of the road to the biggest underground dam ever built.

http://jamesbayroad.com/jbr/virtualt...ualtour01.html

[H8PVMNT]

I would also check out eastern Montana. When you get way out in that country it feels like you're on another continent. You can drive all over the eastern half of the state with little or no pavament. Ft. Peck Lake area has alot of dirt two track perimeter type roads that seem to go on for ever. That is some really remote and unique country. Bring extra gas!

[Jomama]

Jarbidge-Owyhee country in NE Nevada along with the bordering SE Oregon area may be up there with some serious lengths of dirt road to explore. The shuttle drive to raft the Jarbidge river was at least 90 miles of dirt, thru a bombing range..

Same with the Utah/Neveda border area out of Ely...

[inthewall]

Originally Posted by Jomama

Jarbidge-Owyhee country in NE Nevada along with the bordering SE Oregon area may be up there with some serious lengths of dirt road to explore. The shuttle drive to raft the Jarbidge river was at least 90 miles of dirt, thru a bombing range..

Same with the Utah/Neveda border area out of Ely...

X2 I can leave elko 90 south of idaho border go north into oregon idaho corner and go another 100 -125 miles not seeing a sole. Distance is determined on the amount of gas I can pack. Also Its possible to travel the whole state of nevada north to south just crossing pavement.

[wyomingben]

I've lived in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico. NW New Mexico comes to mind for the most unmarked dirt roads that criss cross each other out in the oil fields, I been out there at night very, very lost. NE Wyoming and Eastern Montana have some pretty good lengths of dirt roads were it could be weeks before someone comes along. I imagine Nevada takes all but have never been in the outback there..

-Wyo

[DirtyLittleSecret]

Oregon Backroads Discovery Trail about 950 miles
From Cave Lake California to Walla Walla Washington can be done almost entirely unpaved. Planning to take a few days this summer to check it out.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=168621

http://www.cycoactive.com/obdr/default.htm

Nothing extreme, but some kewl cruisin'.

[Old#7]

I would love to go for a nice long drive through Nevada on dirt roads. There is something strangely beautiful about the desert.

[nat]

Originally Posted by Old#7

I would love to go for a nice long drive through Nevada on dirt roads. There is something strangely beautiful about the desert.

I would agree. This spring I really want to do a wildflower photography expedtion.

[Texx]

Trans America Trail. Google it or check on www.advrider.com.

[NVFJ60]

I live in Nevada and have ridden my dirt bike 100's of miles through the desert with out even crossing pavement. I also know of a crew of local jeepers that have gone from the Cali border near Markleeville to Utah and only had to cross over paved roads. No actual hiway driving at all. The catch though is no services. You have to drive on pavement to get to town for fuel,food,etc. They did it with a chase truck that met them at pre determined spots for repairs and fuel. Get a good GPS unit and download the best maps you can. There are so many roads out there that you could get lost real quick. Oh ya and don't forget about Area 51. You really want to stay away from there. That is unless you would like an all expense paid trip to the south of Cuba! seriously get some good maps. I've been out here my whole life and it is a lot bigger on the ground than it looks like on the map. My Garmin has saved my butt a few times chukar hunting. Good luck.

[JB740i]

Originally Posted by eleblanc

I did this road some time ago, unfortunatly it was paved. 384k next gas station! 614k to the end of the road to the biggest underground dam ever built.

http://jamesbayroad.com/jbr/virtualt...ualtour01.html

What is an underground dam and do you know what page it's on in the photos?