Gravel Routes
This page includes a selection of gravel road routes in the region, with links to maps, cue sheets, and directions to the starting points. The Charlottesville Bicycle Club does not sponsor gravel rides; these routes are included here for your information.
Roads: All routes listed here have a mixture of unpaved and paved roads.  With very few exceptions, all are official state roads.  Very occasionally, private roads are used as part of a route where there is a historical understanding that cyclists may use them (still, take this with a grain of salt and always be sensitive to their private nature). Please do not use any other private roads without permission of the owners.
The quality of the gravel sections may vary greatly, from fairly well-packed with few potholes to surfaces that aren’t much better than a fire trail. Â
You can expect plenty of potholes as well as heavy, unstable gravel and/or mud on some sections. Â Weather and temperature can obviously affect these roads as well.
Equipment: Road bikes are not recommended on any of these routes.  A sturdy hybrid, touring, or gravel bike with 32 mm tires or greater is adequate for most of these, but for those with steep climbs and in particular steep, technical descents a mountain bike with at least front suspension is recommended.  Whatever the type of bike, mountain bike gearing or something close will be a big help getting over the often steep hills.
Route List: The routes listed below are organized by route name. Detailed locations are shown on the web page for each specific route.
Gravel Routes
Click on Route Name for full information about the route. Distance is in miles. Climb data is in feet per mile.
Starting Point | Route Name | Distance (mi) | Climb (fpm) |
---|---|---|---|
Beaver Creek Reservoir Park | White Hall – Millington | 30 | 85 |
Beech Grove | Reeds Gap – Tyro | 23 | 140 |
Brightwood Ruritan | Circuit Of Mitchells Mountain | 32 | 80 |
Free Union School | Free Union – Mountfair | 21 | 105 |
Free Union School | Free Union – Mountfair | 26 | 105 |
Greenwood Community Center | Jarmans Gap – Afton | 24 | 110 |
Grit Coffee – Crozet | Batesville Region – Crozet | 18 | 90 |
Grit Coffee – Crozet | Batesville Region – Crozet | 27 | 95 |
Ivy Elementary School | Owensville – Millington | 18 | 95 |
Ivy Elementary School | Owensville – Millington | 26 | 95 |
Mutton Hollow | Swift Run – Kinderhook | 18 | 110 |
Porters Simpson Park | Porters – Simpson Park | 25 | 75 |
Rivanna Reservoir | Rivanna Reservoir – Free Union | 20 | 75 |
Rivanna Reservoir | Rivanna Reservoir – Free Union | 29 | 75 |
Riverheads High School | Greenville Multiloop | 34 | 80 |
Rockfish River | Helm Mountain | 23 | 105 |
Schuyler North | Green Mountain – Schuyler | 27 | 100 |
Schuyler South | Mount Doom – Three Creeks | 27 | 95 |
Shady Grove | Flat Top Mountain | 15 | 200 |
Shady Grove | Flat Top Mountain | 20 | 200 |
South Garden | Heards Mountain | 18 | 105 |
South Garden | Heards Mountain | 28 | 105 |
Stony Point School | Stony Point – Cismont | 20 | 85 |
Stony Point School | Stony Point – Cismont | 26 | 85 |
Veteran’s Park | Rapidan – Clarks Mountain | 31 | 80 |
Walton Middle School | Walton School Loop | 25 | 100 |
Woods Mill | Woods Mill – Nellysford | 25 | 120 |
Yancy Mills | Batesville Region | 24 | 105 |