Over the last several years, gravel events have been popping on the calendar, and they have been selling out. There are great lists of gravel events across the US. These events are fun, you're provided a planned route, food stops along the way, and a festival like atmosphere, but you also have the crowds. If the solitude of riding without the crowds, in scenic locations, either by yourself or with a group of riding buddies is on your 2020 list, I'm going to cover several options over the next few months.
Joshua Tree, CA
A longtime favorite for rock climbers and hikers, Joshua Tree National Park is one of the more unique landscapes in the U.S. Located in California’s eastern desert, as it namesake implies, it is home to the Joshua Tree (also one of my favorite albums by U2). Joshua Trees only grow in very specific environments and bring in visitors from all over the world to see this unique tree. For the gravel bike aficionado, Joshua Tree National Park provides an amazing opportunity to enjoy some great gravel, camping next to rock formations and amazing sunsets. The Park’s nearly 100 miles of dirt roads are open to bikes (and cars but most require 4x4) giving would be adventurers lots of route options. Within the park there are several camping options, but you are limited to the designated campgrounds inside the park. The best sites, which fills up quickly, are found in Jumbo Rocks campground.
There is a great lollipop route that takes you from Indio, CA into the park through Pleasant Valley and around the more scenic loop in the park. Another great route option is starting in Twenty-Nine Palms to the north and riding through the park to Indio or do an out and back. If you do the pint to point, you can catch 1 bus from Indio back to your car. Riders should be aware of the sandy nature of some trails which will require wider tires (above 2.2”) in some sections. The loop route is about 80 miles with 7K feet of climbing. The California desert gets very hot in the summer months, I’d add this as an early spring or fall ride to early winter ride. As with all national parks, make sure you know the restrictions in place, especially about backcountry camping.
Cathedral Valley, Utah
For some of the most amazing views in the U.S., Capitol Reef National Park is home to the dramatic sandstone mesas and picturesque valleys that are so majestic it’s almost difficult to fully take in. Exploring the gravel roads of Cathedral Valley will not disappoint. This route takes you throughout the picturesque Capitol Reef National Park in Utah, and can take up to two days to complete, with an overnight stay at a remote campground.
In the distance, the Canyonlands and Henry Mountains fill the horizon, while nearby views of the gorgeous Cathedral Mountain are even more spectacular. Capitol Reef is also an International Dark Sky Park, giving amazing star gazing opportunities with little light pollution. The eye-catching desert landscape of Cathedral valley is enough reason to make anyone want to go on this ride.
Besides this, the nearly completely off-road route makes it even more appealing for gravel adventurers. The best time of year to visit Cathedral Valley is spring or early Fall to avoid the higher temperatures, but still expect some cool nights in the open desert. This route is 76 miles with 4600 feet of climbing on a mix of dirt and sand roads that get rockier as you get to higher elevations.
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