Browse All Stories
Shaniko – past and present
The story of Shaniko – past and present. In this 7-minute video, learn how residents are re-capturing and preserving Shanikos’ past.
“In its heyday, Shaniko was a bustling hub of commerce. The Columbia Southern Railroad terminated here, bringing wool buyers from all over the globe. At its peak, Shaniko set a one-day sales record of five million dollars — worth $176 million today.”
The Entire History of Yellowstone National Park
From Wild America comes the story of Yellowstone, a place where geology, history, and politics intertwine in an epic narrative of discovery and conservation. A place that reminds us that, in a world defined by constant change, some things are valuable enough to be preserved exactly as they are.
Discover Priday Ranch – why it is special and important!
In this two-minute video, learn about one of the Deschutes Land Trust’s newest conservation projects: the 4,500-acre Priday Ranch. The property features three creeks, outstanding wildlife habitat, hills of native bunchgrasses, and canyon walls that are home to golden eagles.
GravelPlex Overview
What is GravelPlex? GravelPlex is a new type of digital map developed by Dirty Freehub that will be available on the Avenza platform. It’s designed specifically for gravel cyclists who want to explore roads with low vehicle traffic and mixed surfaces—paved, gravel, and primitive dirt roads. Unlike mountain bike trail maps, which focus on singletrack […]
Legend of Wy’east
Long before these peaks were stone and snow, they were people. Two brothers, proud and strong. Wy’east, the fiery one—quick to laugh, but quicker to rise in anger. Pahto, quieter, heavier in thought, but no less fierce. And between them lived a maiden, Loowit, graceful as moonlight on still water. Their father was the Great […]
Gravel Champ Rick Marshall: Podcast on Riding Across the US
Dial in on this podcast that features our Gravel Champ, Rick Marshall as he talks about riding across the United States. Rick is an active duty Army veterans who uses gravel cycling to combat PTSD.
Impact Report 2025
Hot off the press, Dirty Freehub’s Impact Report for this year. Our calendar year starts Oct 1st!
Three Things Nobody Tells You About Cycling the Aufderheidi
There are three things no one tells you about cycling the Aufderheide: 1. the first 30 miles are straight uphill; 2. the second 30 miles are straight downhill; and 3. it ends at the magical Westfir Lodge.
Halloween Haunts: Dirty Freehub Spooky Gravel Routes
This Halloween, swap cobwebs and jack-o-lanterns for dust, gravel, and ghost towns. At Dirty Freehub we’ve curated a spooktacular lineup of gravel rides from our “Ghosts” collection. Each route blends history, adventure, and just the right amount of spectral energy.
A Sawtooth Celebration
Dirty Freehub Inducts MS Advocate David Toste into Gravel Champs Hall of Fame
Dirty Freehub is proud to announce the induction of David Toste of West Linn, Oregon into the Gravel Champs Hall of Fame, honoring his dedication to both the gravel cycling community and advocacy for those living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS). Diagnosed with Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis in 2021, David has refused to let the disease define […]
Riding the C2C Trail: 60 Miles of Oregon Adventure
Dave Jones of Destination Oregon gives us a quick 5-minute highlight of the C2C trail.
Imagine pedaling from Corvallis all the way to the Oregon Coast—60 miles of ever-changing scenery, from city parks to rainforests, quiet small towns, and rugged forest service roads. The trail is the product of years of sweat, vision, and volunteer grit, now offering adventurers an unforgettable ride that ends with the salt air on your face.
Webinar: Gravel Biking for Destination Communities
State of Washington Tourism (SWT) hosted the latest episode of the Tourism Skillshop on gravel biking as a form of destination development for rural communities. The recording of this webinar is now available on YouTube. Feel free to contact the subject matter experts who presented during this webinar with any questions you may have. Linda […]
Turn-by-Turn Directions
Do Dirty Freehub’s GPX files include turn-by-turn directions? No — Dirty Freehub GPX files do not contain embedded turn-by-turn directions. Our route files show a breadcrumb trail for you to follow, but they do not include pre-programmed turn-by-turn directions. How do my bike computer’s turn-by-turn directions work then? When you load a Dirty Freehub GPX […]
10 Reasons I Didn’t Think I Could Ride Gravel with MS
By Gravel Champ David Toste, Dirty Freehub Here’s some practical advise for getting yourself to stop thinking about why you CAN’T ride gravel! The Fatigue Will Feel Overwhelming? I started with short rides, listening to my body, and building slowly. Even a 2-mile spin counts. Many routes can be shortened. It’s ok to not ride […]
Dirty Freehub’s Inclusive Gravel Cycling Campaign Empowers Riders with Disabilities
Dirty Freehub, a Bend-based nonprofit dedicated to promoting gravel cycling adventures, is launching a new statewide campaign to empower and inspire people with visible and non-visible disabilities to explore Oregon by gravel bike. With support from the Travel Oregon Competitive Grant Program and funding matched by donations from cyclists, Dirty Freehub will spotlight 6-8 influencers […]
The Greater Sage Grouse – One of Nature’s Greatest Dancers
In this 2-minute video, discover the beautiful, bold, and boastful Greater Sage-Grouse. Watch how the males inflate their brightly colored air sacs to create sounds that can travel up to three kilometers, attracting females to their display grounds. By the BBC.
Miles out of cherry country: A 45-mile gravel ride from The Dalles
Having rolled out from Sorosis Park, up on a bluff above The Dalles and the Columbia River, 20 minutes earlier, I was pedaling uphill on a lonely, winding paved road through sprawling cherry orchards. Heading away from the river with clear views of both Mt. Hood and Mt. Adams whenever the road turned in their […]
America’s Sagebrush Sea: A Living Tapestry at Risk
The Sagebrush Sea, scientifically known as sagebrush steppe, is the most widespread ecosystem in the United States. Historically, sagebrush covered more than 296 million acres of North America, including most of Wyoming, Montana, and Nevada, as well as parts of Washington, Oregon, Colorado, and Utah. The scale of habitat loss across the Sagebrush Sea has […]
Behind every route is scouting, mapping, storytelling, and a whole lot of pedal power.