Courtesy of AMC Maine Woods Gravel Adventure Field Guide, produced in partnership with the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation.
Have you heard the good news about gravel?
Gravel bikes combine the lighter materials used in road bikes with designs that help riders get off the pavement with confidence. These bikes are built for a bit of everything. Commute on pot-holed city roads on Friday. Go deep in the forest on a dirt road on Saturday.
Versatility is just one reason gravel biking has exploded in popularity. Rides with fewer cars are one reason. A welcoming, inclusive community is another. Ultimately, it’s another great way to connect, explore, and Be Outdoors.
The AMC region is blessed with vast networks of unpaved roads and rideable trails—many just a short trip from urban areas. Ready to get in on the fun? Check with your local AMC Chapter for group rides. Here are some of our favorite places to explore on two wheels.
Courtesy of AMC Maine Woods Gravel Adventure Field Guide, produced in partnership with the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation.
AMC Maine Woods, Maine
East Coast gravel riders typically need to put their routes together out of a patchwork of dirt and paved roads. Not so in Maine’s North Woods. AMC has protected 114,00 acres in the area as part of its Maine Woods Initiative, including 330 miles of gravel roads. All of them are open to the public for recreation.
Whether you’re brand new to the sport or an experienced rider, there’s a place for you here. We’ve partnered with Gravel Adventure Field Guide and the Maine Office of Outdoor Recreation for a book of maps, stories, and top routes. Ride between AMC’s three lodges and cabins, or mix in a night at a campground for a multi-day bikepacking adventure.
For more information, check out AMC’s Lodge-Lodge Gravel Biking in the Maine Woods Itinerary. Then plan a trip to Maine!
Gravel roads near Craftsbury, VT. Sterling College/Flickr Commons.
Northeast Kingdom, Vermont
In the far northeastern corner of Vermont, tucked between the Green Mountains and Connecticut River, lies the “Northeast Kingdom.” Here you’ll find quaint towns, dense forests, and open meadows. Also gravel, lots of gravel.
In a three-county area of just over 2,000 square miles, there are more than 1,000 miles of gravel roads. So many options, it’s hard to know where to begin. The crushed stone Lamoille Valley Rail Trail, meanwhile, crosses nearly the entire length of the state.
Ashokan Reservoir. Jonathan Ang/Flickr Commons.
The Catskills, New York
Far enough from New York City to feel like a different planet. Close enough to take a commuter train to Grand Central. Loved by locals and visitors alike, there is no place like the Catskills—and no better way to experience it than on a gravel bike.
The Catskill Scenic Trail, a converted railroad along the Delaware River, is a great introduction. Follow the trail through small towns and open fields with views of the nearby mountains. Other options include the Ashokan Rail Trail and the rural roads surrounding Minnewaska State Park Preserve.
Cut the commute from the city and get a cabin at the AMC Harriman Outdoor Center.
The C&O Canal. Mike Maguire/Flickr Commons.
Washington D.C.
Can a major city be a gravel biking destination? You bet! Our nation’s capital is home to more than just marble monuments. Natural spaces dot the city and its surrounding area.
D.C’s cycling crown jewel is the C&O Canal. This 184-mile dirt towpath runs from the District’s swanky Georgetown neighborhood to the small city of Cumberland, in Maryland’s Allegheny Mountains. The towpath follows the Potomac River past flowing whitewater, historic sites, and an intersection with the Appalachian Trail. Bikepack and stay at regularly-spaced campsites, or keep it simple with an out-and-back.
Washington D.C. is also a short drive from the unpaved roads of Virginia’s Loudoun County and a couple of hours to endless gravel around Shenandoah National Park.
Monongahela National Forest. John Brighenti/Flickr Commons.
Greenbrier County, West Virginia
The Allegheny Highlands are a slice of mountains and green space from the Pennsylvania border with New York through West Virginia. At its southern end is Greenbrier County.
Here, rolling hills and lush forests are protected from development by the Monongahela National Forest. An unpaved Forest Service Road or historic rail trail is never far. A highlight is the 78-mile Greenbrier River Trail, West Virginia’s longest rail trail. With a local Off-Road Bicycling Association and both youth and adult gravel racing teams, the community around the trail is also strong. Is it “Almost Heaven” for gravel biking? We’ll let you decide.
Greenbrier County is a great springboard to further adventures in the region. Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains are to the south and east. Head north to see the rest of the Monongahela—including gravel destinations like Spruce Knob, the state’s highest point.