There may not be an official trademark attached to the moniker, but hundreds of miles of dirt roads and gravel bike events are giving Steamboat Springs its new name to cyclists: Gravel Town, USA.

DAVID EPPERSON / COURTESY OF STEAMBOAT SPRINGS CHAMBER

Steamboat is home to more than 600 miles of dirt and hard-packed gravel roads. Seemingly endless route options paired with the love of wide-open spaces draw more and more dirt-pedalers to Steamboat and the surrounding area of Routt County.

“Our ranching heritage is the reason we have so many of these roads in the first place,” shares Laura Soard, marketing director for Steamboat Spring Chamber.

Soard says the sport has been gaining popularity in the area for a while now. Steamboat-based bike manufacturer Moots Cycles has put effort into creating equipment and events for gravel riding, which has certainly helped spread the word, and Soard says gravel riding is a welcomed alternative for road cyclists and mountain bikers looking for something new.

Not to mention the safety element. Gravel riders frequent more rural roads with far less high-speed traffic than road cyclists often endure. Around Routt County, riders may encounter cattle drives and slow-moving tractors more often than the hazards of riding on the side of a paved road.

“The pace is a little slower than road riding, so you have more opportunities to look around you,” Soard shares. “You have to pick your lines but it’s not as intense as single-track mountain biking. It’s a good thing to do with kids because it’s just a different pace. And, you don’t see many cars — but what you lack in vehicles you make up for in animal sightings.”

SBT GRVL is a gravel race attracting top cycling talent to Steamboat every August. Having just completed year three, the excitement around this event continues to keep its cadence. In 2020, SBT GRVL was held virtually during the pandemic, but the race didn’t lose momentum as the 2021 race sold out 3,000 spots in just 10 minutes.

SBT GRVL co-founder and race director Amy Charity says the solid infrastructure of accommodations, restaurants and transportation that already exists in Steamboat as a resort destination, paired with all the connected gravel roads of Routt County, has made it the ideal location for a world-class gravel race.

The lightning-fast registration proves athletes have their eyes on this race, and Charity says big prize money has attracted the best of the best. A $22,000 purse is spread evenly between the top five overall racers.

Charity is a former professional road cyclist and has lived in Steamboat since 2008. Her last pro road cycling race was the Colorado Classic in 2019, yet at that time she says she was already enjoying gravel racing more than road racing.

“It’s pretty exciting to see that this alternative to racing is becoming so popular,” shares Charity. “I think gravel appeals to the adventure side of people. It’s something different and interesting and lets you check out an area in a new way.”

Steamboat has started to host many gravel riding events and racing throughout the year. While cycling events in Colorado will take a seasonal pause as winter rolls in, riders will be rearing to go come spring. Check out Steamboat Gravel Fest in 2022, held May 16-22. This week-long festival showcases the vast network of remote dirt and gravel roads crisscrossing Routt and Moffat Counties, featuring a free, daily group ride, social opportunities and route recommendations for “on your own” gravel experiences.

More options to experience the gravel grind in and around Steamboat include Gravel Camp with Veloscapes, a small tour operator founded by pro bike racer J.R. Thompson and specializing in custom road and gravel cycling experiences.

3 Gravel Riding Routes Around Steamboat Springs

Here are some options for hitting the dirt — one moderate, one intermediate and one advanced. Find a comprehensive list of rides in and around Steamboat Springs on The Dirty Roads website thedirtyroads.com, created and curated by Steamboat Springs locals.

Emerald Circuit (partially paved)

Length: 27.6 miles. Difficulty: easy/moderate. Ride-able: April to October. Minimum tire size: 28mm. This “classic Steamboat ride” is perfect for those who haven’t done much gravel/road riding.

The Darkside of Fly Gulch

Length: 31.3 miles. Difficulty: moderate/intermediate. Ride-able: May to September. Minimum tire size: 34mm. Climb into North Routt’s Elk River valley, ride along Deep Creek and enjoy the rollers on the ride back.

Strada Sporche

Length: 106.2 miles. Difficulty: hard. Ride-able: May to September (CR 45 — Cow Creek — may be impassable when wet; stay on CR 33 to bypass). Minimum tire size: 35mm. The Strada Sporche (Italian for “dirty road”) is one of The Dirty Roads first published rides.

Originally published in the Fall 2021 issue of Spoke+Blossom

Steamboat Springs Is "Gravel Town, USA”: Routt County’s dirt roads are getting world-class attention

3 Gravel Riding Routes Around Steamboat Springs