Updated March 27, 2026 06:43PM
Gravel racing is largely split into two categories: big events and grassroots local outings.
The big events, like the ones highlighted in our top gravel races of 2026 list, tend to get most of the attention, especially in publications like Velo. Nevertheless, there are so many events that have made huge impressions in their communities that are worth checking out, whether they are close to home or part of a larger trip.
We have drawn up seven grassroots events you should consider for your calendar, each offering something unique to the race calendar in different, engaging ways.
Grasshopper Adventure Series, Low Gap — January 25, 2026
The Grasshopper Adventure Series is a collection of cult-classic Northern California off-road races that each bring the community out in droves early in the year to tackle diverse and challenging courses north of the Bay. Really, any of the five races could fit into this category, but the first event, Low Gap, is significant because it is about as early in the year as racing gets in North America. If you want to get a jump on the action, you can’t get much better than Low Gap.
Low Gap itself is a short but action-packed race that plunges up and down the hills of Mendocino County. A new course this year sees two course options, with the long course offering 95% gravel terrain over 56 miles. Short, sweet, and emblematic of the Nor Cal cycling community, the Hoppers have been around for nearly 30 years, and that legacy shows with a rock-solid early-season event in great cycling country.
Rouge Roubaix — February 28, 2026
Gravel cycling gas pockets all across the country, yet one that won’t come to mind for most is the small pocket of enthusiasm that is found deep in the American South, around the Mississippi River. Stretching from southern Louisiana up to the bluffs around Memphis, Tennessee, the region has tons of small twisting gravel roads around the bluffs and flood plains of America’s largest river.
The crown jewel of the races that take on the terrain is Rouge Roubaix. The race is a long-standing dirt-road race that takes on a mix of gravel and narrow paved roads to the north of Baton Rouge. The race is essentially split between Mississippi and Louisiana, but it’s all the same southern goods, with small, punchy climbs and thrilling twisty descents doable on a road bike, but optimized for nothing. A rollicking good time is perhaps the only way to describe it.
Appalachian Journey — April 4, 2026
The Appalachian Journey is a race designed for friendship. In fact, friendship is required, with every starter competing as a part of a two-person team, Cape-Epic style. It is a journey through a high plateau of the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia that is a perfect opportunity to grab a friend, get your climbing legs primed, and make a weekend of it.
On its own, the Appalachian Journey is a stout course that can rival any course in the country in terms of difficulty. There is nothing too rough, but it is relentless with steep climbs after steep climbs and no shortage of tricky gravel descents to keep you and your buddy honest. Nevertheless, it is the only race where you’re guaranteed to never be alone, which is both a distinct pro and con of the experience.
FoCo Fondo — July 19, 2026
The FoCo Fondo is almost too big to put on this list, but its ability to connect with the Fort Collins community, its unique course, and its ability to cater to both gravel novices and experienced veterans make it a standout Colorado event. The race is one of the few put on by professional racers, with Whitney and Zack Allison balancing their racing with race promotion, and it shows as the race walks a delicate line to appeal to both ends of the speed spectrum.
The race itself is unique in its balance between the two sides of Fort Collins’ geography. To start, the race takes off into the prairie to the east and north of town. Then, the long course points west and heads up into the Front Range, taking on a beautiful stair-stepping climb up to the high country, with the surrounding environment changing as the altitude increases. Then, the race plunges back to the prairie to head back to town for a nice post-race celebration at the Fat Tire brewery.
Last Best Ride — July 26, 2026
Montana is a wild state. Way up north, things are big, vast, and rugged. The Last Best Ride takes that energy and runs with it, providing a gravel race around the outskirts of Glacier National Park. It is a race where you go for the event and stay for recreational rides over Logan Pass and the Going to the Sun Highway.
The race itself has two length options, with a 91-mile route for the ambitious riders and a 48-mile route for those wanting something more manageable. Both courses have ample climbing; it is hard to avoid up in Big Sky country, but nothing too outrageous. The race is not trying to be the hardest. Instead, it wants to provide a sample platter of steep climbing, rolling gravel roads, and the rich forests Montana is known for.
UnPAved Pennsylvania — October 11, 2026
Easy on the eyes, hard on the legs is what UnPAved Pennsylvania is all about. The Pennsylvania classic has been a staple on the East Coast calendar since it came onto the scene in 2018, with its challenging course through invariably spectacular fall foliage, has all the ingredients of a great event. In fact, ask most people what the best event on the East Coast is, and UnPAved will be on the short list.
The one unique aspect that will either make or break what you’ll think of the event is the format of the race that was adopted in the 2020 edition, where COVID-19 required the organization to think creatively to solve the problem of the pandemic that was still very present. They decided to go with a segment-based race format with a start-when-you-want rollout format. The format was popular enough for the race to keep, and while some may balk at those unique traits, others might enjoy that laid-back feel of a different kind of event.
Spirit World 100 — November 5, 2026
If there is one race that embodies the concept of “spirit of gravel,” look no further than the Spirit World 100. The race around the Arizona borderlands near Patagonia is a long-standing race that is much more reliant upon everything else around the competition rather than the competition itself. It is truly a weekend that is about connecting with riding, food, and other cyclists.
The race itself is impressive enough with 95 miles of gravel across the 101-mile course. The terrain cuts through the high desert of Arizona, with the high point of the day just a few hundred feet shy of 6,000 feet of altitude. Once that challenging day is done, it is back to Patagonia for high-end food provided by the organizers, who doubles as a professional chef, and other entertainment that is spread throughout the long weekend.