--- title: "Ten Roads to Confidence — EV Backroads" description: "Choose one road near you. Practice one skill. Build from a first gravel drive to a remote expedition." canonical_url: "https://www.evbackroads.com/stories/ten-roads-to-confidence" last_updated: "2026-08-09" --- ![A Tesla Cybertruck with recovery boards on McCarthy Road in Alaska](/api/cms-media/evb-media-10-960-v1.webp?v=2026-08-10T01%3A27%3A15.216Z) A ten-skill field course # Ten Roads to Confidence Choose one road near you. Practice one skill. Build from a first gravel drive to a remote expedition. Ten roads across the United States teach tire placement, energy checks, exposure decisions, offline travel, and self-sufficiency. ## Start at the first skill that you do not know You do not need to drive all ten roads. Choose a road near you. Use the road to practice one skill. The road numbers show a skill progression. They do not show a technical difficulty rating. Do not select a later road only because its number is higher. Check the land manager and the current Trails Offroad report before travel. Do not enter a closed road. [Open the Backroads Map](/map)[Browse all stories](/stories) PLANNING ALERT ## A route in this story is not a promise that the road is open. Check the land manager, weather, road condition, and required charging stops before travel. Stop the plan if one source does not agree. [Open the planning sources](/resources) FIND ONE NEAR YOU ## Ten regions. Ten practice roads. Choose a road near you. Start with the first skill that you do not know. 01 ### Currahee! Georgia · Southeast Short graded gravel road Learn the vehicle on gravel [Open the road profile](https://www.trailsoffroad.com/US/georgia/scout-routes/1933-currahee) 02 ### Pole Line Green Pennsylvania · Northeast Beginner route in a private off-road park Put each tire in the correct place [Open the road profile](https://www.trailsoffroad.com/US/pennsylvania/scout-routes/1642-rausch-creek-off-road-park-pole-line-green) 03 ### Meridian Road Michigan · Great Lakes Forest road with soft sand Manage soft sand [Open the road profile](https://www.trailsoffroad.com/US/michigan/scout-routes/1583-meridian-road-aka-the-sand-bowl) 04 ### Shafer Trail Utah · Mountain West Shelf road with switchbacks Make a decision before exposure [Open the road profile](https://www.trailsoffroad.com/US/utah/trails/596-shafer-trail) 05 ### Spearfish Mountain South Dakota · Northern Plains Short forest road with a fixed end point Work without a mobile signal [Open the road profile](https://www.trailsoffroad.com/US/south-dakota/scout-routes/2436-spearfish-mountain) 06 ### Old Ore Road Texas · Southwest Remote desert road through Big Bend Check energy use at fixed points [Open the road profile](https://www.trailsoffroad.com/US/texas/trails/3287-old-ore-road) 07 ### Bethel Ridge Washington · Pacific Northwest Seasonal ridge road with changing conditions Use a turnaround limit [Open the road profile](https://www.trailsoffroad.com/US/washington/trails/3930-bethel-ridge) 08 ### Mojave Road California · Desert West Long remote desert route Plan a trip with more than one travel day [Open the road profile](https://www.trailsoffroad.com/US/california/trails/1043-mojave-road) 09 ### Owyhee Uplands Backcountry Byway Idaho · Interior West Remote backcountry byway of approximately 103 miles Use checkpoints in remote terrain [Open the road profile](https://www.trailsoffroad.com/US/idaho/trails/8504-owyhee-uplands-backcountry-byway) 10 ### McCarthy Road Alaska · Far North Remote 60-mile wilderness road Make every critical system independent [Open the road profile](https://www.trailsoffroad.com/US/alaska/scout-routes/5222-mccarthy-road) ![A Rivian R1S at the entrance to Currahee Mountain in Georgia](/api/cms-media/evb-media-1-960-v1.webp?v=2026-08-10T01%3A26%3A58.331Z) ROAD 01 · Southeast · Georgia ## Currahee!: Learn the vehicle on gravel The route is a short drive on graded gravel. Trails Offroad states that four-wheel drive is not necessary in normal conditions. ### Why this road Start on a road that gives you time to learn. Listen to the tires. Feel the steering. Watch how regenerative braking changes on loose gravel. ### Practice this skill 01 · Set a low speed before the gravel starts. 02 · Make small steering movements. 03 · Check the energy display at the start and at the end. 04 · Stop in a safe place if the vehicle feels different. ### Continue when You can keep a steady speed and keep the tires in the track that you select. Source photograph: Trails Offroad. AI-edited EV edition. [Open the Trails Offroad road profile](https://www.trailsoffroad.com/US/georgia/scout-routes/1933-currahee) ![A Tesla Cybertruck on Pole Line Green in Pennsylvania](/api/cms-media/evb-media-2-960-v1.webp?v=2026-08-10T01%3A26%3A59.970Z) ROAD 02 · Northeast · Pennsylvania ## Pole Line Green: Put each tire in the correct place The park route has controlled beginner obstacles. It includes descents and water crossings. ### Why this road Use a controlled area to learn tire placement. A camera can help you. A spotter can also help you. One spotter must give all signals. ### Practice this skill 01 · Stop before each obstacle. 02 · Walk the obstacle if park rules permit this action. 03 · Select a path for all four tires. 04 · Move only when the spotter signal is clear. ### Continue when You can select a tire path before the vehicle moves. Source photograph: Trails Offroad. AI-edited EV edition. [Open the Trails Offroad road profile](https://www.trailsoffroad.com/US/pennsylvania/scout-routes/1642-rausch-creek-off-road-park-pole-line-green) ![A Rivian R1T on the sandy Meridian Road in Michigan](/api/cms-media/evb-media-3-960-v1.webp?v=2026-08-10T01%3A27%3A02.038Z) ROAD 03 · Great Lakes · Michigan ## Meridian Road: Manage soft sand The road has areas of soft sand. Trails Offroad warns that two-wheel-drive vehicles can have difficulty. ### Why this road Sand can increase energy use. Sand can also reduce tire grip. Learn how the surface changes the vehicle before you use a remote sandy road. ### Practice this skill 01 · Use only a tire pressure that the vehicle maker permits. 02 · Record the tire pressure and battery charge before the road. 03 · Use smooth acceleration. 04 · Stop if the tires start to spin. 05 · Set the correct tire pressure before highway travel. ### Continue when You can identify soft sand early and keep the vehicle moving without tire spin. Source photograph: Trails Offroad. AI-edited EV edition. [Open the Trails Offroad road profile](https://www.trailsoffroad.com/US/michigan/scout-routes/1583-meridian-road-aka-the-sand-bowl) ![Two electric trucks on the lower part of Shafer Trail in Utah](/api/cms-media/evb-media-4-960-v1.webp?v=2026-08-10T01%3A27%3A03.958Z) ROAD 04 · Mountain West · Utah ## Shafer Trail: Make a decision before exposure The road is known for steep switchbacks and large views. The exposure can be difficult even when the road surface is easy. ### Why this road Technical difficulty and driver comfort are different. Make the exposure decision before you enter the shelf road. Do not use the road to test your fear limit. ### Practice this skill 01 · Review the road images before the trip. 02 · Set an exposure limit with all passengers. 03 · Use a legal pullout if you must stop. 04 · Do not stop in a blind switchback. ### Continue when You can stop the plan before exposure becomes a hazard. Source photograph: Trails Offroad. AI-edited EV edition. [Open the Trails Offroad road profile](https://www.trailsoffroad.com/US/utah/trails/596-shafer-trail) PLANNING ALERT ## Shafer Trail access alert Shafer Trail is closed because of washouts and flood damage. The National Park Service updated this status on July 22, 2026. [Check the current NPS road status](https://home.nps.gov/cany/planyourvisit/road-conditions.htm) ![A green Rivian on Spearfish Mountain in South Dakota](/api/cms-media/evb-media-5-960-v1.webp?v=2026-08-10T01%3A27%3A06.587Z) ROAD 05 · Northern Plains · South Dakota ## Spearfish Mountain: Work without a mobile signal The road has erosion and a rocky section. A private gate marks the end of the public route. ### Why this road A short road is a good place to test an offline plan. Save the route, the return road, and the charger location before you leave the mobile signal. ### Practice this skill 01 · Download the route and the return map. 02 · Save the charger address and the charger telephone number. 03 · Tell another person your route and return time. 04 · Do not continue through the private gate. ### Continue when You can find the road, the legal end point, and the return route without a mobile signal. Source photograph: Trails Offroad. AI-edited EV edition. [Open the Trails Offroad road profile](https://www.trailsoffroad.com/US/south-dakota/scout-routes/2436-spearfish-mountain) ![A Tesla Cybertruck on Old Ore Road in Big Bend National Park](/api/cms-media/evb-media-6-960-v1.webp?v=2026-08-10T01%3A27%3A08.206Z) ROAD 06 · Southwest · Texas ## Old Ore Road: Check energy use at fixed points The route crosses remote desert terrain. Surface and weather changes can make the road much more difficult. ### Why this road The range estimate does not describe the road. Use recent energy data. Compare the actual battery charge with the plan at fixed points. ### Practice this skill 01 · Record the battery charge and temperature at the trailhead. 02 · Select battery check points before the trip. 03 · Compare the actual charge with the planned charge at each point. 04 · Turn around when the vehicle reaches the return reserve. ### Continue when You can use measured energy data to continue or to turn around. Source photograph: Trails Offroad. AI-edited EV edition. [Open the Trails Offroad road profile](https://www.trailsoffroad.com/US/texas/trails/3287-old-ore-road) PLANNING ALERT ## Old Ore Road access alert Old Ore Road is closed after recent thunderstorms. The National Park Service updated this status on July 29, 2026. [Check the current NPS conditions](https://www.nps.gov/bibe/planyourvisit/conditions.htm) ![A Tesla Cybertruck below a large sky on Bethel Ridge in Washington](/api/cms-media/evb-media-7-960-v1.webp?v=2026-08-10T01%3A27%3A09.763Z) ROAD 07 · Pacific Northwest · Washington ## Bethel Ridge: Use a turnaround limit The seasonal route can have water holes and erosion. Weather can change the surface quickly. ### Why this road A turnaround limit removes debate from a difficult moment. Set the battery, time, and weather limits before the road. Use the first limit that you reach. ### Practice this skill 01 · Write the battery limit. 02 · Write the time limit. 03 · Write the weather limit. 04 · Turn around immediately when you reach one limit. ### Continue when You can turn around without delay when a written limit tells you to stop. Source photograph: Trails Offroad. AI-edited EV edition. [Open the Trails Offroad road profile](https://www.trailsoffroad.com/US/washington/trails/3930-bethel-ridge) ![A Tesla Cybertruck and a Rivian R1T on Mojave Road in California](/api/cms-media/evb-media-8-960-v1.webp?v=2026-08-10T01%3A27%3A11.420Z) ROAD 08 · Desert West · California ## Mojave Road: Plan a trip with more than one travel day The historic route crosses remote desert terrain. Sand and washes can change after weather events. ### Why this road A long route needs more than one good charger. Confirm the entry, exit, water, camp, and communication plan. Give each critical item a second option. ### Practice this skill 01 · Confirm the last charger before the road. 02 · Confirm the first charger after the road. 03 · Select a primary exit and a backup exit. 04 · Carry water, tire repair equipment, and a satellite communicator. ### Continue when One charger, one exit, or one communication failure does not remove your safe return plan. Source photograph: Trails Offroad. AI-edited EV edition. [Open the Trails Offroad road profile](https://www.trailsoffroad.com/US/california/trails/1043-mojave-road) ![A Rivian R1S on the Owyhee Uplands Backcountry Byway in Idaho](/api/cms-media/evb-media-9-960-v1.webp?v=2026-08-10T01%3A27%3A13.234Z) ROAD 09 · Interior West · Idaho ## Owyhee Uplands Backcountry Byway: Use checkpoints in remote terrain The byway crosses a large remote area. Services and mobile signals are limited. ### Why this road A checkpoint shows if the trip still agrees with the plan. Record the location, time, battery charge, weather, and vehicle condition at each checkpoint. ### Practice this skill 01 · Select each checkpoint before the trip. 02 · Write the planned arrival time and battery charge for each point. 03 · Record the actual values when you arrive. 04 · Use the backup exit if two values do not agree with the plan. ### Continue when You can find a small problem before it becomes an emergency. Source photograph: Trails Offroad. AI-edited EV edition. [Open the Trails Offroad road profile](https://www.trailsoffroad.com/US/idaho/trails/8504-owyhee-uplands-backcountry-byway) ![A Tesla Cybertruck with recovery boards on McCarthy Road in Alaska](/api/cms-media/evb-media-10-960-v1.webp?v=2026-08-10T01%3A27%3A15.216Z) ROAD 10 · Far North · Alaska ## McCarthy Road: Make every critical system independent The road is remote and has limited services. Potholes, washboard, weather, and road work can change travel time. ### Why this road Self-sufficiency does not mean that you travel alone. It means that one failed service does not remove your safe return. Make a backup for each critical system. ### Practice this skill 01 · Carry a complete tire repair system and a usable spare tire. 02 · Carry a satellite communicator, food, water, and warm layers. 03 · Confirm the charging and lodging plan before the trip. 04 · Give every critical service a backup. ### Continue when A tire, charger, mobile signal, or lodging failure does not remove your safe exit. Source photograph: Trails Offroad. AI-edited EV edition. [Open the Trails Offroad road profile](https://www.trailsoffroad.com/US/alaska/scout-routes/5222-mccarthy-road) ## Confidence is a record of good decisions. Keep a short road record. Write the weather, start charge, end charge, tire pressure, surface, and turnaround point. Write one change for the next trip. Practice the same skill again if the result was not repeatable. [Find a first adventure](/start)[Open the Backroads Map](/guides/fastcharger) ## Sitemap See the full [EV Backroads sitemap](/sitemap.md) for every published page.