Category: adventure-travel

While this blog is primarily about bicycle travel by road bike, I also know there are a lot of you who probably have a gravel bike or ride your road bike on gravel. That said, Adventure Cycling, an organization launched in 1976 that focuses on creating bicycle-friendly routes across the United States and other destinations, has created something special to celebrate its 50th anniversary this year with gravel riders in mind.

Instead of creating meaningless swag or having an expensive party for its members and supporters, the organization has mapped an exceptional new bike route. And if you enjoy riding gravel on low-traffic paved roads, the 3,805 miles (6,124 km) of the Golden Gravel Trail might be for you.

What Is The Golden Gravel Trail?

The Golden Gravel Trail was created in 2026 to celebrate Adventure Cycling’s 50th Anniversary of mapping bicycle routes. The trail passes through eight states, starting in Missouri and terminating in Oregon.

The states are Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, and Oregon. Adventure Cycling states that cyclists will “experience the full spectrum of American landscapes: the rolling Ozark hills, the vast Great Plains, challenging alpine passes, rugged canyon country, and high desert basins before descending through lush coastal forests to the dramatic Pacific shoreline.”

What To Expect While Riding The Golden Gravel Trail

The Golden Gravel Trail is the longest route Adventure Cycling has ever mapped. It says the route, while close to 4,000 miles, is a mixed-surface route (a combination of gravel and low-traffic paved roads) with 700 miles of gravel for cyclists to ride. The company states that the route is a trail versus any technical single track.

Like most of Adventure Cycling’s routes, the Golden Gravel Trail is very remote and requires cyclists to camp out along the way. There are some services cyclists will encounter along the way, but as the route moves further west, these services become more and more sparse.

While the route is accessible to all cyclists who want to take it on, the company does say that riders will face terrain that requires “strong fitness, careful preparation, and resilience. Particularly rugged sections are clearly marked on the map, giving riders the chance to prepare mentally, physically, and mechanically before tackling them.”

Last Thoughts

What a gift Adventure Cycling has given to its members and supporters to celebrate its 50 years of mapping bicycle routes. This route sounds beautiful, fun, and challenging. To me, this is the way to experience the landscapes and climate of the United States.

So, if you love and crave long-distance cycling routes, and you believe your fitness, camping ability, and mechanical abilities are ready to take on the almost 4,000 miles of The Golden Gravel Trail, start planning your trip now. This will certainly be one to remember and will earn you some substantial bragging rights.