Cowhorn
5 Star Route
Klamath Falls, Oregon
Some pitchy climbs, some “old school” single track deep in the forest, and some skinny YEHAWW paved downhill that will have you laughing like a schoolgirl playing hopscotch. We’ve also tossed in a little H2O, riding along canals and Lake Lemolo.
Route: Lollipop | 38 mi
Gain: 3,700 ft
Surface: 60% gravel, 10% single track, 30% paved
Technical Difficulty: Very Demanding
Locale: Remote
Deadman Willis
5 Star Route
~ Columbia Gorge, Washington
A mixed route with three distinct sectors: timberlands, rugged back-country, and the scenic Klickitat River Canyon. The riding is really fun, no super long and arduous climbs but plenty of elevation gain.
Route: Loop | 57 mi
Gain: 5,900 ft
Surface: 50% gravel/dirt road, 10% Roubaix (broken-pavement), 40% paved
Technical Difficulty: Very Demanding
Locale: Remote
Deschutes River Trail (aka: DRT)
All Access Route
~ The Dalles, Oregon
A simple out and back on an old, historic railroad bed that hugs the scenic Deschutes River the entire way.
Route: Out & Back | 22 mi
Gain: 550 ft
Surface: 100% gravel trail
Technical Difficulty: Easier
Locale: Remote
Options: Longer
Devil’s Gullet
5 Star Route
Mole Creek, Tasmania
A rolling warmup of 9 miles (15 Km). A demanding, but pleasant climb. A truly scenic lookout! And a fun spin on the Central Plateau of Tasmania, a World Heritage site.
Route: Out & Back | 46 mi
Gain: 4,600 ft
Surface: 60% gravel, 40% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Remote
Devils Cash Box
5 Star Route
Tucson, Arizona
Starts with the flats of the historic Anza Trail, ride up into the Santa Rita mountains on paved and then climb higher on a rugged, steep and sometimes loose gravel road. And ... view one of the most interesting peaks in the area, Devils Cash Box.
Route: Out & Back | 32 mi
Gain: 2,900 ft
Surface: 50% gravel / dirt roads, 50% paved
Technical Difficulty: Very Demanding
Locale: Remote
Diablito (aka: Little Devil)
5 Star Route
Tucson, Arizona
A drop-dead gorgeous ride in the Tumacacori Mountains through rugged canyons, rolling hills, and washes. Demanding!
Route: Lollipop | 23 mi
Gain: 2,500 ft
Surface: 100% gravel
Technical Difficulty: Very Demanding
Locale: Extremely Remote
Options: Longer
Dichotomy
5 Star Route
Corvallis, Oregon
This ride is for you ... if you like Oregon coastal wet and green, steep climbs & descents, old school single-track, hard-packed gravel, and a fun paved descent!
Route: Loop | 31 mi
Gain: 3,800 ft
Surface: 65% gravel, 10% single-track, 25% paved
Technical Difficulty: Very Demanding
Locale: Remote
Dinner with Brice
5 Star Route
Eugene, Oregon
A perfect ride for "roadies", only 10 miles of gravel. A big climb, deep forests, a creek with some of the best swimming holes in the state, and a super fun (paved) descent!
Route: Lollipop | 49 mi
Gain: 4,900 ft
Surface: 25% gravel, 75% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Rural
Dreamliner
5 Star Route
Post / Paulina, Oregon
A ride leading to the site of an old plane crash and a high alpine prairie. The Ochocos mountains are their best. Spectacular in spring.
Route: Loop | 38 mi
Gain: 3,600 ft
Surface: 75% gravel, 25% paved
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Locale: Remote
Dufur & Friend
5 Star Route
Dufur, Oregon
This ride is big on texture! Orchards, wheat and hay fields, a ghost town, a 6 mile paved descent, a sustained climb through the forest forest, and a remote single lane paved road in the middle of nowhere!
Route: Lollipop | 64 mi
Gain: 4,800 ft
Surface: 50% gravel, 50% tarmac
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Locale: Remote
Dufur & Friend (Tygh Valley Start)
5 Star Route
The Dalles, Oregon
This route is the little cousin of the 5 Star route Dufur & Friend. It is a great ride rolling through wheat and hay fields, climbing into the Mt. Hood National forest (on gravel and a rugged single lane paved road) and giving back with a 6 mile “let go of the brakes” descent. We have ridden this route and love it!
Route: Loop | 35 mi
Gain: 2,900 ft
Surface: ~ 30% gravel, 70% paved
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Locale: Remote
Egypt Canyon
5 Star Route
Burns, Oregon
Wind your way through two scenic canyons, Egypt Canyon and Dick Miller Canyon, and circumnavigating Dry Mountain. As a bonus ... cruise by open farm lands with green pastures and sparkling creeks, along Ponderosa and Juniper forests, and past limestone rock formations.
Route: Loop | 44 mi
Gain: 1,900 ft
Surface: 65% gravel, 35% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Remote
Eureka Dunes
Development Route
Death Valley NP, California (South)
A remote ride that visits the tallest sand dunes in California, possibly the tallest in all of North America. And ... if the conditions are right, they even sing!
Route: Out & Back | 47 mi
Gain: 4,550 ft
Surface: 80% gravel, 20% paved
Technical Difficulty: Very Demanding
Locale: Extremely Remote
Fairbanks
5 Star Route
The Dalles, Oregon
A mixed gravel bike ride exploring the quiet and beautiful hills above the Columbia River Gorge. Historic farming country. Big views! (with shorter and longer options)
Route: Lollipop | 51 mi
Gain: 3,800 ft
Surface: 45% gravel , 55% paved
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Locale: Remote
Flathead
5 Star Route
Whitefish, Montana
A rugged and remote ride in Glacier National park. It bumps and bends through historic burn areas, wetlands and aspen groves. Then parallels the Flathead river for miles. By Guest Contributor and unridden by Team DF.
Route: Loop | 54 mi
Gain: 3,200 ft
Surface: 75% gravel, 25% paved
Technical Difficulty: Very Demanding
Locale: Remote
Free Man
5 Star Route
Tucson, Arizona
A route free (mostly) of rough, gnarly roads with beautiful Sonoran desert, the Ninety-six Hills, and an old, abandoned ranch.
Route: Loop | 35 mi
Gain: 1,600 ft
Surface: 100% Gravel
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Frye Mesa
Development Route
Tucson, Arizona
A simple out & back venturing into the Pinaleno mountains and ending at Frye Mesa reservoir. Offering up spectacular views of the Gila River Valley below and Mount Graham above.
Route: Out & Back | 19 mi
Gain: 2,200 ft
Surface: 85% gravel, 15% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Ghost Hill
5 Star Route
Portland, Oregon
A mixed gravel bike ride through rolling hills, farmlands, and woodlands in the Willamette Valley. Hard-packed gravel roads. Great early season riding! A ride that gives you an appreciation for the Oregon outside of the major metro areas.
Route: Loop | 40 mi
Gain: 2,600 ft
Surface: 45% gravel, 55% paved
Technical Difficulty: Easier
Locale: Rural
Giants Throwing Stones
5 Star Route
Burns, Oregon
A remote mixed gravel bike ride with wetlands, desert rangelands, Ponderosa and Juniper forests and a spectacular canyon. And ... a sector with giant boulders thrown about!
Route: Loop | 57 mi
Gain: 3,000 ft
Surface: 60% gravel, 40% paved
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Locale: Remote
Gibraltar Road
5 Star Route
Santa Barbara, California (South)
Climb the famous Gibraltar Road, explore the Santa Ynez River, and bask in the panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean and Santa Barbara.
Route: Loop | 45 mi
Gain: 6,900 ft
Surface: 35% gravel, 65% paved
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Locale: Rural
Happy Camp
5 Star Route
Mitchell , Oregon
Streams, mountain meadows, ponderosa trees and big open skies. And a signature climb and descent ... with swooping switchbacks and killer views.
Route: Lollipop | 36 mi
Gain: 3,200 ft
Surface: 60% gravel, 40% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Remote
Happy Valley
5 Star Route
~ Burns, Oregon
Craters of the Moon Outstanding Natural area, a big beautiful valley, and old ranch houses. What more could you ask for?
Route: Lollipop | 44 mi
Gain: 1,500 ft
Surface: ~ 35% gravel, 65% paved
Technical Difficulty: Easier
Locale: Rural
Haystacks & Skulls
5 Star Route
Bend, Oregon
A mixed gravel bike ride with big mountain views, some history, a touch of gnar and pitched climb (not too long). This is the concatenation of two 5 Star Routes: Haystack and Skull Hollow.
Route: Loop | 35 mi
Gain: 2,300 ft
Surface: 35% gravel, 65% paved
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Huck & Heidi
5 Star Route
Eugene, Oregon
A sweet climb up to Huckleberry Road (the Huck), two sections of the Aufderheide (the Heidi), and a loop up to Christy Flats. The route is loaded with wild rhododendrons and bear-grass. And then there’s the bonus of the Office Covered Bridge, the longest covered bridge in Oregon.
Route: Loop | 51 mi
Gain: 4,000 ft
Surface: 35% gravel, 65% paved
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Locale: Remote
