Gravel Cycling Events 2026
Growing Gravel Cycling Events
The growing popularity of gravel riding over the last decade has given rise to numerous gravel cycling events in various formats. From full-on races with prize money on the line to casual rides and grand fondo-style events with timed sections, there is a little something for everyone who wants to share their riding time with other passionate cyclists.
Still Time to Register for a Gravel Cycling Event
This is a partial selection of Colorado gravel events featuring classic rides and brand-new races, with an emphasis on venues that haven’t already reached their registration quotas.
- The Wild Horse Gravel in De Beque, Colorado, on May 16, is hosted by Gemini Adventures and features a full weekend of outdoor fun, including camping, a cookout, and live music, as well as dirt-road riding at the High Lonesome Ranch. The vibe is notoriously non-competitive, and the Friday warm-up ride is even more casual. The weekend includes a Sunday half-marathon for anyone looking for even more challenge. De Beque is located on I-70 between Grand Junction and Rifle. Dry canyon country makes for great gravel riding, and the Wild Horse event is a fantastic way to explore an often overlooked corner of Colorado.
- The Outlaw Gravel event, taking place May 31 in Steamboat Springs, is new for 2026, with a format that includes timed sections connected by untimed gravel and paved roads, satisfying competitors while still fostering a social element where waiting up for your friends is encouraged. The event’s post-race party will feature live music and a beer-and-burrito combo to finish the day.
- The Kowtown Gravel Race takes place June 13 in Kremmling, Colorado. Billing itself as having “Colorado’s Toughest Gravel,” they will dish out a challenging course and a prize list for the top finishers of the long course. There are 3 shorter course options for everyone who wants to ride, as well as a Friday night pasta feed and a post-race BBQ.
- The Bighorn Gravel event goes off on June 20th in Gypsum, Colorado. With 3 different cycling courses and even a “Gravel Curious” ride that allows E-Bikes, there is something for everyone, including on-site camping with bathrooms and showers. The long course delivers almost 10k feet of climbing over its 84 miles, making for a classic Colorado high country ride.
- The FoCo Gravel takes place July 16-19 in Fort Collins. With a grand fondo format and a notoriously festive atmosphere, the multi-day event gives participants plenty of opportunities to indulge in New Belgium Brewery’s products, as the brewery sponsors the weekend. In addition to the fun and riding, the event raises money for several local causes.
- The other event put on by Gemini Adventures is the Crooked Gravel in Winter Park on August 1. With two different distances and a plethora of dirt road options in the valley, the Crooked Gravel is on its way to becoming a high country classic. There are also kids’ races, a trail-running event, and a post-race meal included with registration.
- The Rad Dirt Fest will kick off its first year event in Trinidad, Colorado, on September 26. They will be offering 3 different length courses on the epic variety of gravel riding in the Trinidad area. The event is hosted by Lifetime Race Promotion and gives top finishers a chance to qualify for Unbound Gravel the following year.
With a wide variety of events across the state, a couple of themes run through all of these listings. Each venues offers different length courses to appeal to different kinds of riders since quantity doesn’t necessarily indicate quality and the longer courses might be too much a good thing for many riders. The other common feature would seem to be food on offer at the finish line, which is worth the price of admission right there. There is nothing like the appetite that a good long ride or race can produce, and it will make anything taste delicious. The spirit of gravel is alive and well in Colorado this summer, so get ready to make the most out of it and go ride!
