In Plain View (Long)
5 Star Route
Bend, Oregon
Nothing plain about this ride, with bold views of the Cascade mountains. A classic fall / spring ride because you stay low.
Route: Loop | 38 mi
Gain: 1,500 ft
Surface: 80% gravel, 20% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Iron Gate
Development Route
NorCal (Yreka), California (North)
Rolling hills, long stretches along the Klamath river and a circumnavigation of Iron Gate reservoir and Copco lake.
Route: Lollipop | 53 mi
Gain: 4,000 ft
Surface: 65% gravel, 35% paved
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Locale: Remote
J-Bob
5 Star Route
Tucson, Arizona
A rugged route that showcases the beautiful, rolling Ninetysix hills, a Saguaro Cactus forest, and some of the lushest Sonoran desert we have seen.
Route: Lollipop | 41 mi
Gain: 2,000 ft
Surface: 100% Gravel
Technical Difficulty: Very Demanding
Locale: Rural
Jackass Gulch
Development Route
Boise, Idaho
Mountain climbs, beautiful river views, and a gravel KOM” is the way this route was promoted when put on as a Gran Fondo in 2019. The Fondo was a bust, but we believe the route has potential.
Route: Loop | 44 mi
Gain: 3,800 ft
Surface: 75% gravel, 25% paved
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Locale: Rural
Kangaroo Bay
5 Star Route
Hobart, Tasmania
A lovely ride along Kangaroo Bay and the Huon river followed by a short, but intense climb of Cradoc hill. A go to ride in the winter and when the weather is less than ideal.
Route: Loop | 25 mi
Gain: 2,400 ft
Surface: 40% gravel, 60% paved
Technical Difficulty: Easier
Locale: Rural
Kendrick Mountain Wilderness
5 Star Route
Flagstaff, Arizona
This route weaves through southwest Ponderosa Pines and Gamble Oak that are signature to the Southwest US. You will ride through open prairies and enjoy views of the San Francisco Peaks. At about 8000 feet, the apex of the climbing, will come the payoff ... your best views of the mountains and surrounding wilderness.
Route: Loop | 28 mi
Gain: 1,700 ft
Surface: 100% gravel
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Remote
Kintla Lake
Development Route
~ Whitefish, Montana
A gravel ride through grassy meadows marking the floodplain of the North Fork of the Flathead River and a short section of thick forest of Douglas fir and hemlock. The payoff: Kintla Lake.
Route: Out & Back | 32 mi
Gain: 1,200 ft
Surface: 100% gravel
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Locale: Remote
Kloochman
5 Star Route
Prineville, Oregon
A mixed gravel century (almost a century) that includes the Crooked River Canyon scenic bikeway, the Maury Mountains, and the Post / Paulina road. This ride links two of the best paved roads in Central Oregon with a gravel segment through ranching and farming country and some national forest.
Route: Loop | 92 mi
Gain: 4,400 ft
Surface: 40% gravel road, 60% tarmac
Technical Difficulty: Very Demanding
Locale: Remote
Las Cienegas (The Inner Loop)
5 Star Route
~Tucson, Arizona
An easier and shorter ride through an important ecological grassland / wetland area bounded by several mountain ranges. Big open views. And a visit to the historic Empire Ranch where 30+ Western films were made.
Route: Loop | 16 mi
Gain: 700 ft
Surface: 100% gravel
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Remote
Options: Longer
Las Cienegas (The Outer Lollipop)
5 Star Route
~Tucson, Arizona
This is one of the three signature routes we have documented in the Las Cienegas Conservation Area. It is the longest and most demanding route. You will wander through an important and beautiful ecological grassland / wetland area bounded by several mountain ranges.
Route: Lollipop | 34 mi
Gain: 1,600 ft
Surface: 100% gravel
Technical Difficulty: Very Demanding
Locale: Remote
Liffey Falls
5 Star Route
~ Launceston, Tasmania
A route with big variety that road cyclist should love. Rolling farmlands. Wooded forests. A rain forest. Small creeks. A beautiful falls. A river. And … more farmlands.
Route: Loop | 45 mi
Gain: 3,400 ft
Surface: ~ 35% gravel, 65% paved
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Locale: Rural
Lost Wagon Train
5 Star Route
Madras, Oregon
This route highlights many of the unique features of riding gravel in Madras. The Baldwin Hills. Hay Creek. The Crooked River National Grasslands. The farming community of Gateway. Lake Simtustus. Dry Canyon. A great early season ride!
Route: Loop | 57 mi
Gain: 4,600 ft
Surface: 35% gravel, 5 % Roubaix, 60% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Rural
Lost!
5 Star Route
Hood River, Oregon
Lost: it’s the name of the lake you are headed to … with one of the most iconic photo opportunities in Oregon. And while Lost Lake has surely been found, very few people (cars or cyclists) are on this route – a derivative of the classic Vista Ridge road ride. This is a must do ride if you are in the area.
Route: Loop | 57 mi
Gain: 5,800 ft
Surface: 14% gravel, 36% Roubaix, 50% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Madera Canyon (via Box Canyon)
5 Star Route
Tucson, Arizona
The Madera Canyon (via Box Canyon) out and back is no secret to local riders and there’s a reason: it’s a solid five star ride. As gravel cyclists, we love variety … in the surface, the scenery, and the wildlife … which this has all three. But the route is backloaded, meaning the second half is harder than the first.
Route: Out & Back | 40 mi
Gain: 4,000 ft
Surface: 55% gravel, 45% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Meatloaf
5 Star Route
Prineville, Oregon
Some of the best gravel in Central Oregon gravel. Attack the 9-mile climb that rewards you with huge sweeping views of the Crooked River plains. Fun start at the Post store, center of Oregon.
Route: Loop | 36 mi
Gain: 3,200 ft
Surface: 85% gravel, 15% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Remote
Metolius Preserve
5 Star Route
~ Sisters, Oregon
Explore the quiet and beautiful Metolius Preserve with larch, fir, and pine trees. The colors in the fall are out of this world!
Route: Tootsie Roll | 14 mi
Gain: 800 ft
Surface: 50% gravel / double track, 50% single track
Technical Difficulty: Easier
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Metolius Preserve + Bonus Lakes
5 Star Route
~ Sisters, Oregon
This is a really, really great route! The only reason it is not a 5 Star route is that it uses elements of three other 5 Star routes: the Metolius Preserve, Sherman’s March, and GravelCracker 85. We like this route in the fall (Octoberish) when the Larch trees are golden yellow. The route is not too demanding, but there is a significant amount of easy mountain bike single track
Route: Tootsie Roll | 28 mi
Gain: 1,800 ft
Surface: 75 % gravel, 25% single-track
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Locale: Remote
Mingus Mountain
5 Star Route
Sedona, Arizona
A route with a chunky knee-busting climb, big views, a stupendous descent and a stop in the town of Jerome, "The Wickedest Town in the West". Visit the Douglass House, a museum devoted to the history of the Jerome area and grab a bit to eat.
Route: Loop | 36 mi
Gain: 4,800 ft
Surface: 50% gravel / dirt road, 50% pavement
Technical Difficulty: Very Demanding
Locale: Remote
Montezuma
5 Star Route
Tucson, Arizona
The route climbs up the majestic Montezuma Pass, dives off the back …. then sweeps down across open grasslands in the San Rafael Valley. Three pitched rollers later and you arrive at Parker Canyon lake.
Route: Out & Back | 36 mi
Gain: 4,300 ft
Surface: 93% gravel, 7% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Urban Backcountry
Moon Moss
5 Star Route
Eugene, Oregon
This a “pinch me” route … you really won’t believe it. Big white flowers of bear grass, Warner Ridge lookout, mountain views in every direction, and Moon Point + Moss Mountain.
Route: Loop | 43 mi
Gain: 4,900 ft
Surface: 70% gravel, 30% paved
Technical Difficulty: Demanding
Locale: Remote
Motown
5 Star Route
~ Detroit, Oregon
A ride with a big beat! Roll along Detroit Lake, climb to the basalt cliffs. Deep green forests. And lots of wild rhododendrons in the spring.
Route: Lollipop | 40 mi
Gain: 3,900 ft
Surface: 40% gravel road, 60% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Remote
Mt Barrow
5 Star Route
Launceston, Tasmania
Mt Barrow is one of the most difficult and rewarding climbs in the Launceston area. And, this “loop with a dogleg” route turns the incredible climb into quite the adventure.
Route: Loop | 31 mi
Gain: 4,500 ft
Surface: 85% gravel, 15% paved
Technical Difficulty: Very Demanding
Locale: Remote
Over the Rainbow
5 Star Route
Madras, Oregon
Includes miles of old railway grade, river hugging single roads, a secret, one lane tunnel, the colorful Rainbow store, Lake Simtustus, and the Erickson Aircraft Collection (a Flight museum). Wow!
Route: Loop | 42 mi
Gain: 1,900 ft
Surface: 10% gravel road, 30% double track, 5% single track, 55% paved
Technical Difficulty: Moderate
Locale: Rural
Options: Longer
Owl Head
5 Star Route
Tucson, Arizona
A beautiful ride with undulating terrain, big saguaro cactus, views of Picacho Peak and Owl Head buttes. A go to 5 Star ride from Tucson.
Route: Loop | 32 mi
Gain: 1,000 ft
Surface: 85% gravel, 15% single track
Technical Difficulty: Easier
Locale: Urban Backcountry
