The team at Strambecco has carefully curated a list of the best gravel cycling events in the Southwest 2025. This list takes into account various factors such as reputation, route quality, location, rider feedback, and overall uniqueness of the event or race. Spanning across California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico, the Southwest terrain offers a stunning array of landscapes, some of the finest cycling terrain in the world. Mountains, canyons, mesas, buttes, high broad basins, plateaus, desert lands, and plains characteristic of the Basin and Range Province. The entire region features semi-arid to arid terrain, with events in Northern California offering old-growth forests, coastal routes, and cooler temperatures.
For those seeking the best of the Best Gravel Cycling Events Southwest 2025, we recommend events in the Belgian Waffle Ride Series, a North American series offering some of the world’s most highly respected and well-organized gravel events/races in North America. The Belgian Waffle Ride California (San Diego) is well known among cycling enthusiasts and pros as one of the most difficult bicycle races in the US at 146 miles, 40 of which are off-road sectors. BWR CA is the culminating event in the Tripel Crown of Gravel Series, a special competition within the full Belgian Waffle Ride Series lineup that involves participation in BWR AZ (March 1-2), BWR UT (April 5-6), BWR CA (27-28). The series is produced by innovative production company Monuments of Cycling
If you have suggestions for other events we should consider or review; please feel free to get in touch with us or send us a note at editors@strambecco.com. You can also explore our other best guides for the region, including our Best-in-Class picks covering Road 2025 and MTB 2025.
The seventh edition unfolds in Cedar City with a completely redesigned course that transforms the BWR Utah into what organizers call an “Unroad Race.” Unlike other BWR events that blend road with…
The Lost and Found Gravel Festival celebrates gravel cycling in California’s Sierra Nevada Mountains, taking place in the Lost Sierra’s expansive alpine valleys. This mixed-surface event blends pavement, dirt roads, gravel roads,…
The mixed-terrain adventure winds through the gravel and dirt roads of Tahoe National Forest, offering three distance options that cater to different skill levels. The longest routes feature challenging climbs through genuine…
This Life Time Grand Prix Series event tackles the dramatic terrain of Utah’s Tushar Mountains, where several peaks exceed 12,000 feet and roads reach the highest elevations in the state. The 69.9-mile…
Heart of Gold Gravel explores remote roads north and east of Nevada City, California, combining the challenges of gravel cycling with a charitable mission supporting youth mental wellness. Starting from Nevada City’s…
Founded by gravel cyclists Heidi Rentz and Zander Ault, the Spirit World 100 unfolds across the picturesque San Rafael Valley near Patagonia, Arizona. This three-day festival stands out for creating what participants…
This Paso Robles gravel event has earned rave reviews from participants, with many calling it one of the best gravel experiences they’ve ever done. Produced by Bike Monkey and Locomotiv Performance Coaching,…
This point-to-point desert gravel adventure connects two iconic cycling destinations across 200 miles of remote Southwestern terrain. The full course travels from Moab, Utah to Fruita, Colorado, featuring 11,400 feet of climbing…
Last updated April 20, 2026 Event for 2027 not confirmed yet… A favorite among gravel aficionados, Rock Cobbler is a quirky and challenging adventure race in/around the surrounding hills of Bakersfield, California.…
Last updated April 20, 2026 Event for 2027 not confirmed yet… The Belgian Waffle Ride Arizona 2027, sponsored by Canyon Bikes, is a unique desert and mountain gravel experience known as the…
Now celebrated on its own weekend, the True Grit Gravel Epic has become a highlight for cyclists aiming to conquer the wild backcountry of Southern Utah. With under 200 participants, this intimate…
