Photo by Kate Austin Photography, courtesy of Rule of Three
It’s time to update your calendar for 2024 gravel events!
Enjoy events like social rides, fundraisers, races, and true character-testing rides this year on Northwest Arkansas gravel. Not interested in riding? Most events are also open to spectators and rely on volunteers. There are several ways to get involved!
January 27: Rule of 3.99 | Bentonville | The little cousin to Rule of Three. Varying routes on tarmac, gravel, and singletrack – all on the same bike. Afterwards, convene at Bike Rack Brewing for beer, food, fellowship, and most importantly you’ll have the opportunity to register EARLY for the main event: Rule of Three on May 18th, 2024 before registration opens to the public on February 5.
January 27: Intro to Gravel Ride with PeopleForBikesNWA, Visit Bentonville, and OZ Cycling Tours | Bentonville | Fully supported introductory gravel ride (14 miles) departing from the Valley View Schoolhouse on Price Coffee Rd.
February 2-4: 19th Annual Buffalo Headwaters Challenge Presented by Adventure Subaru | Pettigrew, AR | Three-day, all-inclusive, “off the grid” mountain bike festival offering 5 meals, libations, tent and RV camping, live music, and amazing riding, highlighted by the annual “Challenge” ride on Saturday, February 3. The guided Gravel Challenge hits at ~45 miles. During your ride you will possibly encounter dj’s in the woods and of course the infamous grilled cheese and soup at the iconic fire tower. In addition on Sunday you will have the choice of joining another gravel group ride to the Buffalo Outdoor Center or using your wristband at The Buffalo Outdoor Center will get you free shuttles for the DH runs all day.
February 11: Sugar Creek/Ryan Rd. trash clean up with Spoked Bikes, Arkansas R3, and Rapha
February 17: Intro to Gravel Ride with PeopleForBikesNWA and OZ Cycling Tours | Bentonville | Follow PeopleForBikesNWA on Facebook for more details.
March 9: Intro to Gravel Ride with PeopleForBikesNWA and OZ Cycling Tours | Bentonville | Follow PeopleForBikesNWA on Facebook for more details.
March 29: Gravel Doom | Jasper, AR | Backcountry bikepacking event. Choose from 196 or 408 miles.
April 6: Intro to Gravel Ride with PeopleForBikesNWA and OZ Cycling Tours | Bentonville | Follow PeopleForBikesNWA on Facebook for more details.
April 13: Hazel Valley Rally | Fayetteville | Choose between 45 and 64 mile route options. Both routes send cyclists deep into the Boston Mountain Range of the Ozarks where rugged mountain scenery and spectacular rock bluffs are common. The shorter ‘This Ain’t Easy’ option tasks riders with over 4,200 feet of climbing. The longer ‘Have Mercy On Me’ course boasts a whopping 7,500 feet of climbing – the equivalent of climbing the Empire State Building SIX times! Both routes are comprised of 100% rural gravel roads with minimal traffic. The Hazel Valley Rally is known as “the most beautiful gravel course in Northwest Arkansas” – and the most demanding.
April 20: Gravel Fest for MS | Washburn, MO | An out-and-back ride over two days (out on day one and back on Day two). This is an all gravel ride traversing through the back roads of Arkansas that captures the scenic splendor that is the natural state before entering the majestic beauty of southern Missouri. Proceeds go to Rampy MS Research Foundation. This ride will help to establish a new MS research grant to another top 5 research scientist in the United States
Photo courtesy of Arkansas R3
April 20: Double Barrel Gravel | Bentonville | 15, 31, or 71 mile options. Phat Tire Bike Shop and Benton County Quail Barn will host the intrepid and adventurous gravel riders who vow to conquer NWA’s chunky gravel roads. Enjoy a crawfish boil, beer, and skeet shooting following your ride. Aid stations available.
April 27: Highlands Gravel | Goshen | TREK UCI Gravel Worlds qualifier.
Photo courtesy of Rule of Three
May 11: Delta Grind | Rally style event for road, gravel, rec, bikepacker, and tandem riders that mixes bicycles with music, food and other outdoor and cultural activities. Low-cost barrier, large attendance, party atmosphere. $20 registration or FREE with proof of Delta Roots tickets
May 11: Intro to Gravel Ride with PeopleForBikesNWA and OZ Cycling Tours | Bentonville | Follow PeopleForBikesNWA on Facebook for more details.
May 16-19: Rule of Three | Bentonville | Get ready for a good weekend with good people. Various distances with courses containing tarmac, gravel, and singletrack. Must complete the route on one bike. This is a demanding, yet fulfilling, ride – not an easy one. That’s what makes it Rule of Three.
May 25: Gravelicious | Bentonville | Gravelicious is offered as part of Bentonville Bike Fest. Choose from 30 or 60 miles for extensive category options including women, men, youth, non-binary, tandem, e-bike, and singlespeed.
Photo courtesy of Bentonville Bike Fest
June 22: Ride to Defeat ALS The Ozarks | Bentonville | Choose between 3 routes at this community fundraising event benefitting ALS Association. Enjoy lunch, a beer garden, and activities after your ride. Join in the spirit of giving as we pedal for a cause and make a positive impact on the lives affected by ALS.
June 15: Intro to Gravel Ride with PeopleForBikesNWA and OZ Cycling Tours | Bentonville | Follow PeopleForBikesNWA on Facebook for more details.
June 23-29: Arkansas Graveler | Fayetteville to Jonesboro | A captivating six-day gravel ride traversing Arkansas’s most rural roads and the outer realms of your own curiosity. Ride 340 across 6 days through some of the most scenic, iconic rural roads of Arkansas, beginning in Fayetteville and pointing East to Jonesboro. Includes off-bike experiences such as archery, camping, live music and entertainment, farm-to-table dinners.
Photo courtesy of Big Sugar Classic
July 20: Intro to Gravel Ride with PeopleForBikesNWA and OZ Cycling Tours | Bentonville | Follow PeopleForBikesNWA on Facebook for more details.
August 10: Intro to Gravel Ride with PeopleForBikesNWA and OZ Cycling Tours | Bentonville | Follow PeopleForBikesNWA on Facebook for more details.
September 21: Intro to Gravel Ride with PeopleForBikesNWA and OZ Cycling Tours | Bentonville | Follow PeopleForBikesNWA on Facebook for more details.
October 5: Arkansas High Country Race | Russellville, AR | 1,000-mile bikepacking race across punishing gravel backroads.
October 12: Intro to Gravel Ride with PeopleForBikesNWA and OZ Cycling Tours | Bentonville | Follow PeopleForBikesNWA on Facebook for more details.
October 19: Big Sugar | Bentonville | Series finale to the Life Time Grand Prix. Amateurs and globally known professional athletes will race 50- or 100-mile courses, starting and ending in Bentonville.
October 26: Chinkapin Hollow Gravel Grinder | Fayetteville | Choose from 4 routes. Depart Lake Wedington in Fayetteville through the woods not normally opened to ride. Then travel into eastern Oklahoma on some of the best gravel roads you can imagine!
November 7-9: Birdeye Gravel Festival | Crowley’s Ridge | Join for the weekend of great gravel, farm fresh food, incredible hospitality, and fantastic music.
November 9: Intro to Gravel Ride with PeopleForBikesNWA and OZ Cycling Tours | Bentonville | Follow PeopleForBikesNWA on Facebook for more details.
December 7: Intro to Gravel Ride with PeopleForBikesNWA and OZ Cycling Tours | Bentonville | Follow PeopleForBikesNWA on Facebook for more details.
Resources and other links:
- Arkansas Rural Recreational Roads
- Why riding a mountain bike on gravel is a-okay!
- Rapha Bentonville Strava club
- Visit Bentonville
- Sign up for Visit Bentonville’s cycling e-newsletter
- Bike-friendly accommodations in Bentonville
- Experience Fayetteville