7 Mile Hill
5 Star Route
Hood River, Oregon
Ride the closed to cars section of the historic Columbia River Highway, pass through the Mosier tunnels, climb the 7 mile hill, peak at Mt Hood, and grind the gravel past orchard farms.
Route: Lollipop | 41 mi
Gain: 3,600 ft
Surface: 7% gravel, 93% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Ajo Mtn Drive
5 Star Route
Tucson, Arizona
A ride through the remote Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument with jaw dropping mountain views, a natural arch, loads of wildlife, and more than a few organ pipe cactus.
Route: Lollipop | 20 mi
Gain: 1,300 ft
Surface: 90% gravel, 10% paved
Technical Difficulty: Easier
Locale: Remote
Ajo Peaks Tour
5 Star Route
Ajo, Arizona
A tour of the beautiful peaks of the Little Ajo Mountains with a stop at a defunct open-pit copper mine and a finish at the historic town plaza. Beautiful Sonoran desert with all kinds of cactus.
Route: Lollipop | 23 mi
Gain: 1,600 ft
Surface: 85% gravel, 15% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Rural
Alpaca
5 Star Route
Bend, Oregon
If seeing alpacas isn’t a good enough reason to get on a bike, how about sweeping views of Mt Bachelor and the Three Sisters. Or a whole lot of gravel roads slicing through farms and BLM land?
Route: Loop | 36 mi
Gain: 1,400 ft
Surface: 60% gravel, 5% single track, 35% pavement
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Alto Ruins
5 Star Route
Tucson, Arizona
A ride leading out of the quaint town of Patagonia to the ghost town of Alto on hard-packed gravel roads (mostly) with big views. Includes the Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve and a hummingbird sanctuary.
Route: Lollipop | 29 mi
Gain: 2,600 ft
Surface: 100% gravel
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Locale: Remote
Barnhardy
5 Star Route
Lakeview, Oregon
Explore the Hart Mountain National Antelope Refuge. Wild and rugged with exquisite beauty and ... a whole bunch of antelope! (w/ shorter option)
Route: Lollipop | 27 mi
Gain: 3,200 ft
Surface: 100% gravel
Technical Difficulty: Very Demanding
Locale: Remote
Bennett Pass
5 Star Route
Hood River, Oregon
11 miles of the most mind blowing beauty in the Pacific NW. Rocky, Gnarly, Gorgeous! Paved downhill start, mixed climb, then the fun stuff!
Route: Loop | 27 mi
Gain: 3,600 ft
Surface: 60% gravel, 40% paved
Technical Difficulty: Very Demanding
Locale: Remote
Big Red
5 Star Route
La Pine, Oregon
This ride is easy like Sunday morning. But it’s well worth the drive to La Pine for the river views … and the visit to Big Red (the oldest and largest Ponderosa tree in Oregon).
Route: Loop | 17 mi
Gain: 500 ft
Surface: ~ 70% gravel road / singletrack, 30% paved
Technical Difficulty: Easier
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Black Butte Loop
5 Star Route
Bend, Oregon
A loop around Black Butte with a mix of groovy drop-bar single track, undulating double-track, and big views of the Cascade Mountains.
Route: Lollipop | 33 mi
Gain: 1,700 ft
Surface: 35% gravel road, 60% single-track, 5% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Black Hills
5 Star Route
Tucson, Arizona
A fun out and back with kiosks and picnic tables scattered across the route, little if any traffic, beautiful views, loads of cactus and a whole lot of history.
Route: Out & Back | 34 mi
Gain: 4,600 ft
Surface: 100% gravel
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Rural
Bonanaza
5 Star Route
Bend, Oregon
We are sure LIttle Joe from Bonanza lives our here somewhere. A route full of history, rolling hills, and sweeping views. Best ridden in the spring when the creeks run full.
Route: Lollipop | 51 mi
Gain: 3,200 ft
Surface: 100% gravel road
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Locale: Rural
Brickhouse
5 Star Route
~ Salem, Oregon
If you are craving steep climbs then pull out that polka dot jersey and head to the Brickhouse route. This is a good summer route as it offers up a lot of shade.
Route: Lollipop | 33 mi
Gain: 4,300 ft
Surface: 50% gravel, 50% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Rural
Bring a Fork
5 Star Route
Tucson, Arizona
See the diverse Sonoran Desert cacti, bask in the glorious views of the Santa Ritas, and ride past the most incredible crested saguaro. A lot of single-track fun on a drop-bar gravel bike.
Route: Figure 8 | 15 mi
Gain: 700 ft
Surface: 85% singletrack, 10% gravel, 5% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Broadway Lava
5 Star Route
Prineville, Oregon
A ride through ancient lava fields, high alpine meadows and Ponderosa forests in the Ochoco Mountains.Overall this route has a potpourri of surfaces: easy pavement, smooth gravel, rough gravel, washboard, and muddy dirt roads.
Route: Lollipop | 43 mi
Gain: 4,600 ft
Surface: 70% gravel, 30% paved
Technical Difficulty: Very Demanding
Locale: Remote
Bud and Bo
5 Star Route
Tucson, Arizona
This route offers up the classic big valley, big views that the Patagonia region is famous for … and it offers up a chance to think about the sacrifices of our Border Patrol agents.
Route: Loop | 44 mi
Gain: 3,000 ft
Surface: 70% gravel, 30% paved
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Locale: Remote
Options: Longer
Buenos Aires
5 Star Route
~ Tucson, Arizona
Meander across the grasslands of Buenos Aires National Wildlife Refuge, roll through washes and past old sycamore trees, pass within a klick the Mexican border, grunt up one steep hill that provides just enough elevation for a grand view of the whole area and swing back to the start with Baboquivari Peak off in the distance, just calling you to go further.
Route: Loop | 36 mi
Gain: 2,500 ft
Surface: 100% gravel
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Locale: Remote
Buenos Aires- Arivaca
Development Route
Tucson, Arizona
This route is an extension of the 5 Star Buenos Aires route. It is a bit longer in distance and includes some riding on a very quiet Arizona paved road. And … it includes a stop in the the town of Arivaca where artists, makers, and growers make up the community.
Route: Lollipop | 46 mi
Gain: 2,500 ft
Surface: 80% gravel, 20% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Rural
Cayucos & Wine
Development Route
Bakersfield, California (South)
Explore the seaside town of Cayucos, ride past the stunning Morro Rock, bask in Central California's picturesque rolling grassy hills and vineyards.
Route: Lollipop | 61 mi
Gain: 6,100 ft
Surface: 25% gravel, 75% paved
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Locale: Rural
Cement Creek
Development Route
Crested Butte, Colorado
An out and back training ride starting from the center of Crested Butte South. A steady and rugged climb through tree lined hillsides and meadows, terminating in the basin just below Mt. Tilton.
Route: Out & Back | 30 mi
Gain: 3,200 ft
Surface: 100% gravel
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Locale: Remote
Charlie Bell
5 Star Route
Ajo, Arizona
A gravel bike ride (+hike) in the Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge. Highlights include Sonoran Pronghorn, Gila Monsters, Desert Tortoise and petroglyphs.
Route: Out & Back | 30 mi
Gain: 1,000 ft
Surface: 100% gravel
Technical Difficulty: Very Demanding
Locale: Extremely Remote
Chehalem Vineyard Tour
Development Route
Portland, Oregon
A mixed gravel bike ride with rolling hills and a few climbs through the vineyards and woodlands of the Willamette Valley. Hard packed gravel roads. Scenic! Great early season riding.
Route: Lollipop | 32 mi
Gain: 3,700 ft
Surface: 65% gravel, 35% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Rural
Coffee Pot
5 Star Route
Lakeview, Oregon
A big climb, an intense burn area, a river, and a canyon. Great variety! Great scenery! All in the Oregon Outback.
Route: Loop | 45 mi
Gain: 4,300 ft
Surface: 55% gravel, 45% paved
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Locale: Rural
Cool & Shady
5 Star Route
Oakridge, Oregon
This route is perfect for that roasting hot day when you are sure you are going to get baked from the sun. You stay deep in the forest for a big chunk of the ride, hugging a lake for the first ten miles, and hugging a stream for the final ten. And while this has one, big long climb (a Category 1), most of it has enough shade to keep you sane.
Route: Loop | 52 mi
Gain: 4,200 ft
Surface: 40% gravel, 60% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Remote
Copper Basin
5 Star Route
Sun Valley, Idaho
We’ve seen few places with such an impressive valley …. surrounded by mountains, following a river, and looping around miles of cattle ranching. You can watch real cowboys herd cows with cattle dogs.
Route: Loop | 44 mi
Gain: 1,800 ft
Surface: 100% gravel
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Remote
