Last updated June 7, 2026

Event for 2027 has not been confirmed yet… The Highlands Gravel Classic 2027 features the beautiful Boston Mountains range of the Ozark Mountains of Northwest Arkansas—known as the Highlands! The event has been selected for the Trek UCI Gravel World Series, an Official UCI qualifying event for the UCI Gravel World Championships (Held in Belgium in 2024). Strambecco rates Highlands as one of the best gravel cycling race events in the South Central region.

This is the REAL World Championships with ~20+ UCI Gravel World Series qualifiers in Europe, Asia, Australia, and North America, and only 2 in North America. Participants compete in their respective age categories. The top 25% of each age category qualify for the World Championships in their age group. If only a few riders are in a given division, the top 3 of that age division also automatically qualify. Highlands Gravel Classic has been selected because of the event producers’ knowledge and experience organizing world-class cycling events as the hosts of 5 prior UCI Cyclo-cross World Cups.

The Highlands Gravel Classic will have two courses, both contested on 95% gravel! The long course, 70 miles, is the qualifier for younger riders, and the shorter course, 52 miles, is the qualifier for the older age categories. The course varies from an elevation of 1,200 ft. (365m). It progresses to an elevation of 2,200 ft. (670m), the day’s highest point reached along a sprawling ridgeline after 33 miles with views of the Ozarks Mountains rolling across the skyline. The long course has a total elevation of 6,150 ft. (1,875m) and will challenge riders with rolling hills combined with scenic vistas and streams to keep the competitors on their toes. The shorter distance is just over 4,600 ft. (1,414m). Both courses are challenging, with moderate to steep elevations on undulating gravel roads.