A GUIDE TO MY U.S. BACKCOUNTRY TOURS: WHAT MAKES EACH ONE UNIQUE

Over the years, the question I get asked more than almost any other is: “Which of your tour locations is your favorite place to go overlanding?”

It's a tough question to answer because I hand-picked every single one of our routes for a specific reason. My initial interest in these places almost always started through the lens of a photographer. The dramatic views are what first caught my eye, but after spending years returning to them season after season, I’ve learned there is so much more to them than just scenic vista points.

Each area has its own subtle character. Sure, there is overlap when you're looking at arid basins, pine forests, or deep canyons, but every location has a distinct personality that keeps drawing me back...whether I'm guiding a group of clients or out exploring on my own.

If you are trying to decide which trip fits your style of travel, here is how I break down what makes each destination special.

Here's my Top 5 Overland Tour Destinations:

1. Death Valley: The Ultimate Variety in Terrain

If you backed me into a corner and forced me to pick just one, Death Valley would probably take the top spot simply because of the sheer variety of terrain packed into a single park. In a single day, you can go from salt flats below sea level to high-clearance mountain passes, narrow slot canyons, and open dunes.

The downside? Popularity. The crowds can get heavy during peak season, which means you have to be deliberate about when and where you travel if you want real solitude.

Explore the Trip: Learn more about our Death Valley Overland Tours

2. The Grand Canyon: Immensity and Depth

Everyone knows the Grand Canyon, but standing on the rim never gets old. For me, it isn't about an adrenaline rush from the sheer drop-offs; it’s about the feeling of immensity.

The depth, the carved layers of stone, and the way the light shifts across the canyon walls at sunrise and sunset are unmatched. Navigating the remote rim trails gives you a perspective on the canyon that the crowded tourist overlooks simply can't offer.

Explore the Trip: Learn more about our Grand Canyon Expeditions

3. Mono Lake: Delicate and Surreal Geology

Out of all the backcountry regions we travel through, Mono Lake strikes me as the most fragile. It's a surreal landscape, but it requires a light footprint.

There are areas around the lake where a careless step or a single touch could topple unique limestone tufa formations that took hundreds or thousands of years to grow underwater. It’s an incredible place to visit, but it's also a stark reminder of why responsible trail ethics matter if we want these places to stay intact for the future.

Explore the Trip: Learn more about our Mono Lake Overland Tour

4. Mojave National Preserve: Packed with History and Contrast

The Mojave Desert is legendary, but the Preserve itself holds some of the most diverse terrain within that entire desert ecosystem. Packed into a relatively compact area, you have massive sand dunes, expansive dry lakebeds, and Joshua tree forests tucked up against rugged mountain ranges.

Beyond the trails, the human history here is rich—from ancient Native American petroglyphs and old trading routes to historic mining camps and pioneer roads. There is an incredible amount to take in over a short weekend.

Explore the Trip: Learn more about our Mojave National Preserve Tours

5. The Black Rock Desert: Austere Beauty and Big Sky Solitude

I often call Black Rock my most austere location, but that raw simplicity is exactly why it's so compelling.

Between the massive, barren expanse of the open playa, unique geothermal hot springs, and historic emigrant trails, the Black Rock Desert gives you a true "Big Sky" feeling of total isolation. For me personally, it remains one of the absolute best places on the planet for shooting moonlit night landscapes.

Explore the Trip: Learn more about our Black Rock Desert Trips

Those are my Top 5 Overland Tour Destinations, what would you add to the list?