Swim Bike Run
Slowtwitch.com
  • Login >
Slowtwitch.com
Search menu
Hot Forum Topics

Poll

Best Recent Tech for Tri
What is the most beneficial recent bike tech used in tri bikes
View Results


Home > Forum > Triathlon Forum > Gravel Routes close to the DMV Metro Area?

Triathlon Forum

Back To ForumPrint Thread

Login required to started new threads

Login required to post replies

Tri
Classifieds
Lavender
Jobs
Notices
Gravel Routes close to the DMV Metro Area?
Quote | Reply
trihugger
Apr 21, 21 8:00
Post #1 of 11 (591 views)
Hi All,

I'm setting up myself for disaster preparing by a gravel race and not doing much actual gravel riding. Family obligations are keeping me away from driving 1:30-2:00 h to what I'm sure are plenty of nice gravel routes. I also get overwhelmed looking at maps and not being sure about access, traffic, road conditions, etc.

Any help in pointing me to your go-to place for gravel riding are around DC? I've done C&O canal but looking for more challenging surfaces and with more elevation.

Thank you for your input!
T
Quote Reply
Re: Gravel Routes close to the DMV Metro Area? [trihugger] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
CeeGee90
Apr 21, 21 8:09
Post #2 of 11 (586 views)
Loudon county Virginia has tons of gravel, all about 45 minutes from DC. Check out this route from Strava. Both clockwise and anti-clockwise. You can also search the "Frostbite Series" that took place in February 2020 near Haymarket, VA. They have some other routes that are great gravel.

<iframe height='405' width='590' frameborder='0' allowtransparency='true' scrolling='no' src='https://www.strava.com/...'></iframe>


https://www.strava.com/...d6228de3c7ea3a2b7bfe




CG
Quote Reply
Re: Gravel Routes close to the DMV Metro Area? [trihugger] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
USCoregonian
Apr 21, 21 8:20
Post #3 of 11 (580 views)
Loudon or Fauquier County has endless gravel. You can easily do 5+ hours on 95% gravel roads. Leesburg or Haymarket are both good places to start a ride depending on where you are coming from.

I would suggest checking out gravelmap https://gravelmap.com/
Last edited by: USCoregonian: Apr 21, 21 8:20
Quote Reply
Re: Gravel Routes close to the DMV Metro Area? [USCoregonian] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
trihugger
Apr 21, 21 9:10
Post #4 of 11 (556 views)
Thank you to bot of you!

This is very helpful, I guess I will drive up to The plains and ride from there. This is exactly what I was looking for.

Many thanks!
Quote Reply
Re: Gravel Routes close to the DMV Metro Area? [trihugger] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
echappist
Apr 21, 21 10:42
Post #5 of 11 (526 views)
trihugger wrote:
Hi All,

I'm setting up myself for disaster preparing by a gravel race and not doing much actual gravel riding. Family obligations are keeping me away from driving 1:30-2:00 h to what I'm sure are plenty of nice gravel routes. I also get overwhelmed looking at maps and not being sure about access, traffic, road conditions, etc.

Any help in pointing me to your go-to place for gravel riding are around DC? I've done C&O canal but looking for more challenging surfaces and with more elevation.

Thank you for your input!
T

Which section of the C&O? West of Great Falls, that towpath gets pretty gnarly. Not double track level gnarly, but close.
Quote Reply
Re: Gravel Routes close to the DMV Metro Area? [trihugger] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
svennn
Apr 21, 21 11:13
Post #6 of 11 (511 views)
I'm in Montgomery County and just ordered a gravel bike.

That is the big challenge for me, finding some good routes to ride. The trick is that I don't want to get in a car to drive to a ride.
Quote Reply
Re: Gravel Routes close to the DMV Metro Area? [echappist] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
trihugger
Apr 21, 21 11:22
Post #7 of 11 (505 views)
Hey, thanks for letting me know. I've been up about 12 miles from DC and it was mostly flat, light gravel. I'm planning to go longer so appreciate the heads-up.

Cheers,
T
Quote Reply
Re: Gravel Routes close to the DMV Metro Area? [trihugger] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
Skippy74
Apr 21, 21 13:00
Post #8 of 11 (479 views)
trihugger wrote:
Thank you to bot of you!

This is very helpful, I guess I will drive up to The plains and ride from there. This is exactly what I was looking for.

Many thanks!


The Plains (street parking right near Haymarket Bikes Fit Studio-also home to Happy Creek Coffee!) is a great starting point-just off 66. If coming from DC and not looking to travel the 'extra' 10-15mins down 66 you can park at Wal-Mart in Haymarket and start from there.

Here's a nice loop from The Plains https://www.strava.com/.../2789707633273719064

Here's a couple variations from Wal-Mart https://www.strava.com/.../2820041519076694168
https://www.strava.com/.../2820041868276510872


Let me know if you are looking for longer options and don't want to have to figure it out/guess!


Last edited by: Skippy74: Apr 21, 21 13:02
Quote Reply
Re: Gravel Routes close to the DMV Metro Area? [Skippy74] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
trihugger
Apr 21, 21 13:50
Post #9 of 11 (464 views)
oh, thank you so much!

This is great and very helpful. I will report back on how it went ;) and perhaps asking you for a bigger loops in the future...

I appreciate the time everyone has taken to chime in.

Cheers,
Quote Reply
Re: Gravel Routes close to the DMV Metro Area? [trihugger] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
torrey
Apr 21, 21 14:53
Post #10 of 11 (447 views)
A little closer to DC and with some single track is the CCT in Fairfax. It will test your skills a more than a gravel road or the C&O, but is doable on a gravel bike. Not the best marked trail though.
Quote Reply
Re: Gravel Routes close to the DMV Metro Area? [echappist] [ In reply to ]
Quote | Reply
torrey
May 23, 21 17:55
Post #11 of 11 (354 views)
echappist wrote:
trihugger wrote:
Hi All,

I'm setting up myself for disaster preparing by a gravel race and not doing much actual gravel riding. Family obligations are keeping me away from driving 1:30-2:00 h to what I'm sure are plenty of nice gravel routes. I also get overwhelmed looking at maps and not being sure about access, traffic, road conditions, etc.

Any help in pointing me to your go-to place for gravel riding are around DC? I've done C&O canal but looking for more challenging surfaces and with more elevation.

Thank you for your input!
T


Which section of the C&O? West of Great Falls, that towpath gets pretty gnarly. Not double track level gnarly, but close.
Rode the towpath today. At about mile 22 it became the smoothest trail that I have ever seen. Better than most roads. Apparently it was recently resurfaced. Don't know how far though, I turned around about 10 miles after it switched at Edward's Ferry it was still pristine.
Quote Reply
Back To ForumPrint Thread

Our Partners

transition-DOT-area-AT-slowtwitch-DOT-com

Advertise with us

©1999-2024 Slowtwitch, Inc., and Slowtwitch.com
Reproduction of material from any Slowtwitch.com page
without written permission is strictly prohibited.