Gravelly Go-Around

The Gravelly Go-around is an easy 2-3 night introduction to bikepacking, with just enough adventure to keep things interesting. The route detours onto highway 287 for a short stint, however, possibilities are endless for adventurous spirits to instead take the road less traveled and ride parts of the ‘Gravelly Range Road,’ a Forest Service Road through the heart of the Gravelly range (see the Resources section for this suggested alternate route).

The route starts and ends in the historic town of Virginia City, MT, the site of the richest placer gold strike in the Rocky Mountains, with an estimated total value of 100 million dollars throughout the 19th and 20th centuries! The area represents the true Old West. Leaving town, riders circumnavigate the Gravelly mountain range, providing 10/10 views of the Madison range, Centennial range, Ruby range, and others as you make your way through the route. The Gravelly range is a unique mountain range tucked into an oft-overlooked corner of southwest Montana. Overshadowed to the East by the Madison range and Yellowstone National Park, and the abrupt band of peaks in the Centennial range directly to the South, the Gravelly Mountains aren’t much to look at. However, their open foothills provide some of the highest-elevation pronghorn habitat in Montana, and the deep canyons and steep benches hide karst topography filled with caves, indigenous campsites, and unique wildlife. The Gravelly are known for their grizzly bear population, so sightings are likely. Practice bear-safe bikepacking by hanging your food well away from camp.

An early stop at Axolotl Lakes provides the chance to glimpse native Tiger Salamander pups (Axolotls), and a lakeside campsite at the Red Rock Lakes NWR offers opportunities to spot endangered Trumpeter swans and other wildlife, including pronghorn antelope, elk, deer, moose, bear, and migratory birds. This section is also shared with the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route/Tour Divide, so with good timing, riders will have the opportunity for camaraderie with fellow cyclists.

This route is definitely gravel-bikeable with no hike-a-bike for the able. However, some sandy sections on the north end of Red Rock Lake, and a stretch of singletrack around mile 60, will make a wider tire more enjoyable. This route was scouted on gravel bikes running 700c x 42mm tires and found to be plenty capable.

Most of the route follows well-maintained gravel roads, with some miles of smooth highway pavement, rough forest service roads, and a couple of miles of singletrack. Riding the loop clockwise from Virginia City, the route quickly deteriorates from gravel road to a rutted two-track, before riders are spit out onto smooth gravel near Axolotl Forest Service Cabin. After a quick dash down highway 287, riders are once again treated to the feeling of ‘being out there’ as the road gradually shrinks to a ribbon of singletrack by roughly mile 57. The loop around Red Rock Lakes NWR shares the road with The Tour Divide, and this section and up the Ruby Valley are fast riding.
Take caution riding in wet weather, as the roads around Red Rock Lakes can become very muddy. Give them a day to dry out if you can.

• Paved: 20%
• Smooth Gravel: 50%
• Rough Gravel: 20%
• 4×4 Road: 0%
• Singletrack: 10%

Virginia City, MT is the designated starting location for this route. The town has food options, riders can leave a vehicle at Discovery-Ellington Park in Virginia City, and there is camping in town at Pace Park. Consider checking in with the town office.

There are very few options for resupply along the route without considerable detours. Stock up in Virginia City or Ennis on the way in.

Water is plentiful but bring a water filter. There is clean water at the gas station on HWY 287 and again at the ranger station at Red Rock Lakes

If riders get a late start, there is dispersed camping at the top of the first climb, or plan ahead and reserve the Forest Service Cabin at Axolotl lakes recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/251354

Camping is first come, first serve at Red Rock Lakes Campground, $7.00/night

THIS AREA HAS GRIZZLY BEARS be bear aware. Store your food appropriately.

There is an alternative for this route that avoids Highway 287. It is a part of a Ride With GPS Collection, which can be found here.

Big shout out to Montana’s Public Land and Water Access Association (PLWA) for some assistance in confirming public access in certain areas, and their general tireless work in securing public access in Montana.

Reservations for the Axolotl Forest Service Cabin can be made here: recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/251354

William Kessler created and John Babcock stewards this route. Here is a little about William and John in their words:

William: “I’m a Geographer by training, with a passion for all kinds of recreation on public lands. I’m a big fan of under-biking and love finding out whether or not a proposed route “will go” the hard way. My interests in maps and bikes means I’m constantly pouring over new areas, devising trips for some day down the road. My first bike touring experience was in 2017 on a self-devised route multi-month tour through Colombia and Ecuador. Since then, I’ve taken every opportunity to get out and ride somewhere new. In 2022, after several years living in Helena, MT and watching divide riders pass through town, my partner and I toured the route before ending up in Cambridge, MA. Now we’re having fun exploring the class 4 roads of New England!”

John: “I started bike travel with a few simple road and gravel tours in my 20s but picked up bike travel again in my 40s. I work full-time but still manage several tours per year ranging from overnight to several weeks, mainly in the western US (MT, ID, AZ) and Mexico (Oaxaca, Yucatán, Huasteca). I’m also a Warmshowers host along the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route in Butte, MT, and have hosted over 450 guests throughout the years.“

William has offered to be available to answer questions if you are planning a trip on this route. Please also get in touch with any updates on route conditions that may be relevant to other riders.

Please submit your questions and comments on the route via the contact form below.

• This route traverses the traditional lands of the Salish Kootenai (Flathead), Shoshone-Bannock, and Eastern Shoshone.