Gravel 2024

About

Save the date for 2025: June 6-8, 2025 – Learn more.

Big Summit Prairie is the epitome of a grand western landscape and our collective home for the weekend. Sitting on top of the world, we’ll immerse ourselves in expansive 360º views of thousands of acres of wildflower-covered prairie, explore remote, forested high country, and spend our evenings blanketed by a star filled sky.

The Ochocos provide a perfect canvas to pedal through Ponderosa pines and dusty double track for some guaranteed gravel good times. What better way punctuate a ride than a plunge in the lake? Maybe a cold beverage? Why not both?! This is one of those special Cycle Oregon experiences that you can’t possibly create on your own. With big views, big rides, and big fun, this is one adventure you won’t want to miss.

Download the 2024 GRAVEL Ride Guide

2024 GRAVEL Photos

Location

The Ride

June 7-9, 2024 • Big Summit Prairie, OR
Mileage: 65-115 mi. with options
Day One: 30/53/66.5 miles / 1621'-5100' elevation
Day Two: 39/52 miles / 1927' - 3355' elevation
Rider Cost: $550 (registration closes May 28)
Registration is limited to 600 participants

Register

Route

DAY 1

SATURDAY, JUNE 8

MAIN: — 53 miles (~75% gravel) | 3,300 feet of elevation gain

LONG/CHALLENGE: — 66.5 miles (~75% gravel) | 5,100 feet of elevation gain

SHORT: — 30 miles (75% gravel) | 1,621 feet of elevation gain

66.5-mile options with the challenge option to climb up Mt Pisgah. ~ Mt Pisgah sits at 6,810’
Routes will be well marked with signage, GPS/ GPX routes will be available before the event. These will be available a few weeks out from the event

DAY 2

SUNDAY, JUNE 9

LONG: — 52 miles (~75% gravel) | 3,355 feet of elevation gain

SHORT: — 39 miles (~75% gravel) | 1,927 feet of elevation gain

Routes will be well marked with signage, GPS/ GPX routes will be available before the event. These will be available a few weeks out from the event

Event Jersey

Primal Jerseys will be available for purchase at registration in a run of men’s and women’s sizes. Click here to add to your order. (Need help adding to your order, click here.) Click here to view fit guide.

Accommodations

Our overnight site in Big Summit Prairie will have designated areas for tent camping & RV camping. Although we have ample space for RVs, please be sure to add it onto your registration ahead of time so we save a spot for you! Our camping areas open on Friday at 3:00 P.M. and please note that there is no access to electricity anywhere on-site.

Tent Camping

Flat tent camping is available for Friday and Saturday nights only and is included with registration. Much of the area is shady. Don’t forget to bring your tent, ground cloth, sleeping bag, and pad.

Please do not pitch your tent prior to 3 p.m. on Friday.

RV/Van Camping and Vehicle Parking

We have unlimited RV camping spots, all dry – no water, no dumping. Convenient portable toilets and showers will be on site. For Friday and Saturday night only. Price: $100 per RV for the weekend. If you’d like to bring your RV or camp trailer, you must register your vehicle.

Plenty of onsite parking will be available at camp – carpooling is recommended.
Price: $50 per vehicle for weekend. Purchase parking pass here.

Getting There

Directions to the camp will be included in the Ride Guide which will be emailed to you and published on the website one month before the event start date.

No bus service will be provided by CO, but we encourage folks to rideshare through Get There. Check out Getting there and Getting back! We highly recommend coordinating carpools with other folks!

Phone service is pretty much non-existent in this area. Please have everything downloaded before you arrive at camp.

Special Note: Our event is nearly an hour from the closest towns and largely without cell phone reception. We encourage folks to sign-up on the carpool forum to both provide rides and hop onto rides and make sure you have plenty of fuel or charge on electric vehicles. We are very fortunate to be allowed to use this property. Please respect all closed off areas and practice Leave No Trace ethics so this space can be loved for generations to come.

Ride Logistics + Amenities

The idea is to have a relaxing, enjoyable weekend of riding. The key to that? Take care of as many details as possible before the ride. In this section you’ll find pretty much everything you need to know to make your Cycle Oregon experience a great one.

Camp Services
Showers

Hot showers are included in registration and will be provided at the overnight site. Please remember to bring a towel or two, as we do not provide towels or toiletries.
- Friday 5:00 p.m – 10:00 p.m.
- Saturday 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. // 3:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.
- Sunday 6:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. // 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Bike Repair

The Trek Bicycle PDX team of bicycle technicians provides mechanical support at the overnight site. Technical support is available for emergency repairs of well-maintained equipment. It is your responsibility to make sure your bicycle is in good condition. Labor is available at a discount.

Rider Services

Look for the Rider Services trailer in camp. Here you can ask questions, meet friends, or locate missing items at lost and found.

Cycle Oregon Gift Shop

The Cycle Oregon Gift Shop is where you can shop for some great Cycle Oregon merchandise. We’ll have a limited number of this year’s ride jersey and a selection of Cycle Oregon merchandise.

Massage

The majestic mountains of Oregon seem mighty tall when you’re pedaling up them but knowing that a massage awaits you, can make that climb a lot easier.

On Saturday only, after a long day in the saddle, bring your tired legs down to the massage tent from 12 p.m. to 10 p.m. Our therapists use a variety of Swedish, deep-tissue and sports massage styles to keep you riding strong all weekend. Massage relieves muscle pain and tightness by stimulating circulation, helping you recover after extreme exertion and stopping spasms before they stop you from riding. Massages can be tailored to your pressure preferences and to the areas where you need it most.

Pre-booking is available! To pre-book an appointment, please visit the Cycle Oregon Massage Team’s Web site. Under the ‘About’ tab, you’ll find contact information for the massage therapists available for our Gravel Event. Please contact them directly to sign-up for a spot.

Massage rates are $110.00 for a 50-minute appointment and $165.00 for an 80-minute appointment. We accept all major cards or cash. A limited number of 30-minute appointments may be available the day of the ride. Come to the massage tent directly to inquire.

Yoga

On Saturday only, stretch out the muscles that get tight during cycling. Yoga will help you stay close to your breath this weekend. Not only will this help you feel better, but stretching can also help prevent injury. Mats are provided.

Medical Services

Medical services will be available on the course, and at the overnight site. There is no charge for medical services on the course or at the site. If you require transport to or from a local medical facility, you will be financially responsible for transport and medical services there.
Food, Drink & Entertainment
Meals

Vegetarian and Gluten free options will be available. We are excited to welcome back Spin Catering for this event! Lunches will be served on route.
- Friday – Dinner
- Saturday – Breakfast, Lunch, & Dinner
- Sunday – Breakfast & Lunch
We will be using Bold Reuse reusable plates, flatware, and cups for this event. We also encourage folks to bring their own mess kit whenever they can.

Beverages

Beer, wine, and n/a beverages are included in the cost of registration. Fresh water will be available at camp and along the route. Coffee will be provided in the mornings.

Evening Announcements

Friday and Saturday evenings at 7:00 p.m., the Cycle Oregon community will gather around the Main Stage. This is a great opportunity to hear tips about the next day’s route and catch up on some local folklore. Best of all, it’s always followed by legendary Cycle Oregon entertainment.

Entertainment

Nightly music, community booth, swimming in the on-site lake, firepits
Course Support
Cycle Oregon prides itself on providing a fully supported ride and plenty of route options for everyone’s style. Our goal is to help you finish each day’s ride. To that end, our course is complete with the following services and amenities.

Course Hours: 7 a.m.– 4 p.m. (Sunday 3:30 p.m.)

Course support services are available only during the course hours. If you start before the course opens or are still riding after the course closes, there will be no support services available. All Cycle Oregon riders must be on the course by 9 a.m. Those still on the course after 4 p.m. (3:30 p.m. on Sunday) will be offered a ride to camp. If you choose not to take the ride you will be on your own to get back to camp.

Food and Drink on the Course

Lunch

Lunch will be served on the course.

Rest Stops

There will be 2-4 rest stops available along the route each day to provide water, drinks, lunch, and delicious snacks. A final site map will detail these locations and services.

Rest Stop signs alert riders when one is ahead. You can also see the location of each Rest Stop on the maps that will be inside the rider packet you receive when you check-in. Rest Stops are open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m.

SAG Vehicles

There will be multiple SAG vehicles on the course each day. They are available to transport cyclists in cases of mechanical problems or medical injuries. They also have extra water, snacks, and sunscreen if needed. If at any time you need assistance, please signal a SAG with a “thumbs down” signal. If you do get into a SAG, you may not be transported directly to camp. The SAG vehicles usually wait until they are full to go to camp.

Bike Mechanics

Trek Bicycle PDX (formerly Bike Gallery) will have mechanics in camp and on course. They will make basic repairs in order to get you through the weekend. Cyclists will incur any charges associated with parts or extensive repairs.

Medical Services

Medical services by Adventure Medics will be available on the course, and at the overnight site. There is no charge for medical services on the course or at the site. If you require transport to or from a local medical facility, you will be financially responsible for transport and medical services there.

Motorcycle Safety Patrol

Motorcycle safety patrol volunteers drive the Cycle Oregon course each day. They are a great source of information and assistance and enhance the overall safety of the ride by interacting with riders who may pose a hazard by unlawful or unsafe riding.
Check-In and Packet Pick-Up
Packet Pick-Up will be available during these times:
- Friday June 7, from 3:00 – 9:00 p.m.
- Saturday June 8, from 6:00 – 8:30 a.m.
Packet Pick-Up is not available prior to event.

Do not pitch your tent or RV/ Van prior to 3 p.m. on Friday.

When you check in, you will be asked to sign a waiver and then you will receive your packet that includes a wristband, and course maps. You must show your photo ID to pick up your packet. Once we affix your wristband, it should not be removed unless you leave the ride. The wristband is what identifies you as a participant and gives you access to meals and course support.
Bike and Gear
Gravel-specific and touring bikes with 40c (or greater) tires and low gearing will thrive on our routes. We’d also recommend tubeless set-ups as the high desert is known for goat heads. As always, the best bike and gear to bring will be the one you are familiar with and comfortable riding.

We do recommend that you or your bicycle have the capacity to carry two water bottles for proper hydration and to take full advantage of our renowned rest stops.

Because of the changes in elevation along this route and the nature of early June weather, we highly recommend wearing layers for the cool mornings and mountainous descents. A full recommended gear list will be included in your ride guide.
Can I bring my e-bike?
We’re excited about the experience e-bikes offer riders and welcome e-bikes at GRAVEL. However, e-bike charging will not be available. We recommend coming with 2 fully charged batteries if you plan to ride an e-bike.

If you are planning to ride an e-bike, you will be responsible for figuring out how to keep it powered over the weekend. Some suggestions are to bring two batteries – one for Saturday and the other for Sunday, charge using your car or RV battery, or have a powerful external battery or gasless generator.

Visit our e-bikes page for more information or email info@cycleoregon.com

CANCELLATION POLICY AND WAIVERS

We understand things happen in life and sometimes you have to cancel your registration. We want to make it as easy as possible to do so. Please note we do not make exceptions in our cancellation policy (including family, medical, or employment situations). We cannot offer credits or transfers. We will not offer any refunds after May 6^th. We do offer FanShield insurance when you register.

Submitting Cancellations: Please submit cancellation requests to info@cycleoregon.com. Please note we do not make exceptions in our cancellation policy (including COVID-19 related issues, family, medical or employment situations). Refunds will be processed through the credit card you used to register when possible. Processing fees incurred at the time of purchase are non-refundable. Please allow up to 30 days for processing.

Before April 5, 2024

A $75 fee for each rider registration. There is no refund for cancelling only parking.

From April 5 to May 6, 2024

A $125 fee for each rider registration. There is no refund for cancelling only parking.

After May 6, 2024

There are no refunds for cancellations after May 6, 2024.

Cycle Oregon may cancel or reroute an event due to the occurrence of any force majeure event or credible threat thereof, including but not limited to any Act of God, fire, earthquake, acts of civil or military authority, casualty, flood, war, terrorist attack, epidemic, insurrection, civil unrest, strikes or other labor activities or any other similar cause beyond the reasonable control of Cycle Oregon Inc., including environmental conditions that might threaten the health and safety of Event participants, volunteers or staff. I understand and agree that my registration fees and other costs will not be refunded by Cycle Oregon, Inc. if all or any portion of a Cycle Oregon Event is cancelled or rerouted due to a force majeure event. I will release and hold Cycle Oregon Inc. harmless for any costs or damages incurred as result of cancellation or rerouting of a Cycle Oregon Event due to a force majeure event.

Click to view a PDF of the Release of liability and assumption of risk agreement and COVID-19 Policy, Acknowledgment, and Waiver.

Rider health and safety is paramount on Cycle Oregon events. Working within the guidelines from the Oregon Health Authority, we have developed COVID-19 safety plans and protocols which we will amend as new updates and guidelines are announced leading up to an event.

As of March 11, 2022 masks are no longer required for indoor settings or group activities in Oregon. There are exceptions, masks are required in healthcare settings, and we ask that you are mindful of additional requests you may encounter during GRAVEL.

Masks are not required at GRAVEL but we support those who choose to wear them for any reason they may have. We recognize members of the Cycle Oregon community and those associated with this event hold varying views on face covering. Out of respect for one another and in the spirit of the Cycle Oregon mission we ask that you honor our mask-friendly policy at GRAVEL – Do what’s best for you.

Teasing, mocking, harassment or intimidation from any position towards others will not be tolerated.

Merchandise Refunds
Please check back for refund dates. Processing fees incurred at the time of purchase are non refundable.
FAQs
Additional FAQs and answers can be found on our FAQ page.