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
Navigation: Straightforward
Locale: Remote
Tire Suggestion: 35 mm to 40 mm
eBike Friendly: Yes
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
Navigation: Straightforward
Locale: Remote
Tire Suggestion: 40mm +
eBike Friendly: Yes
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: Advanced
Navigation: Challenging
Locale: Remote
Tire Suggestion: 40mm+
eBike Friendly: No
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: Advanced
Navigation: Challenging
Locale: Remote
Tire Suggestion: 40 mm+
eBike Friendly: Yes
Deschutes River Trail (Biggs)
5 Star 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 | 38 mi
Gain: 1,400 ft
Surface: 100% gravel
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Navigation: Straightforward
Locale: Remote
Tire Suggestion: 40 mm+
eBike Friendly: No
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
Navigation: Straightforward
Locale: Remote
Tire Suggestion: 40 mm+
eBike Friendly: Yes
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: Advanced
Navigation: Attention Required
Locale: Remote
Tire Suggestion: 50 mm+
eBike Friendly: Yes
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: Advanced
Navigation: Straightforward
Locale: Extremely Remote
Tire Suggestion: 50 mm+
eBike Friendly: Yes
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: Advanced
Navigation: Attention Required
Locale: Remote
Tire Suggestion: 40 mm+
eBike Friendly: No
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
Navigation: Straightforward
Locale: Rural
Tire Suggestion: 40 mm+
eBike Friendly: Yes
Dirty Lemmon (The)
5 Star Route
Tucson, Arizona
This is a big, big endeavor! But … the payoffs are huge: (a) the accomplishment of a monster climb (4400 feet in 13 miles), (b) one of the longest and most scenic paved descents in the West and (c) bragging rights with your riding friends.
Route: Loop | 114 mi
Gain: 12,000 ft
Surface: 50% gravel, 50% paved
Technical Difficulty: Advanced
Navigation: Attention Required
Locale: Remote
Tire Suggestion: 40 mm
eBike Friendly: Yes
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
Navigation: Straightforward
Locale: Remote
Tire Suggestion: 40 mm
eBike Friendly: Yes
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
Navigation: Attention Required
Locale: Remote
Tire Suggestion: 40mm +
eBike Friendly: Yes
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
Navigation: Attention Required
Locale: Remote
Tire Suggestion: 40mm +
eBike Friendly: Yes
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
Navigation: Straightforward
Locale: Remote
Tire Suggestion: 50 mm
eBike Friendly: Yes
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: Advanced
Navigation: Straightforward
Locale: Extremely Remote
Tire Suggestion: 40mm +
eBike Friendly: Yes
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
Navigation: Attention Required
Locale: Remote
Tire Suggestion: 40mm +
eBike Friendly: Yes
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: Advanced
Navigation: Straightforward
Locale: Remote
Tire Suggestion: 40mm +
eBike Friendly: No
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
Navigation: Straightforward
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Tire Suggestion: 45 mm+
eBike Friendly: Yes
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
Navigation: Straightforward
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Tire Suggestion: 50 mm or better
eBike Friendly: Yes
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
Navigation: Straightforward
Locale: Rural
eBike Friendly: Yes
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
Navigation: Straightforward
Locale: Remote
Tire Suggestion: 40 mm
eBike Friendly: Yes
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
Navigation: Attention Required
Locale: Rural
Tire Suggestion: 40mm+
eBike Friendly: No
Green Ridge Lookout
5 Star Route
~ Bend, Oregon
The Green Ridge Lookout perches high up on Green Ridge; one of the rare places that dishes out a full panorama of the Cascade Mountains. The ride also a visit to the Wizard Falls fish hatchery and beautiful views of the Metolius River.
Route: Loop | 31 mi
Gain: 3,200 ft
Surface: 60% gravel, 15% single track, 25% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Navigation: Attention Required
Locale: Remote
Tire Suggestion: 40 - 45 mm
eBike Friendly: No
