Great Plains Gravel Route

These routes are not marked on the ground in any way. You will need to load the route data onto a GPS unit or navigate using the Ride GPS or another navigation app on your smartphone.

We have created a Collection in Ride with GPS with files for each segment of the route, organized by state. Each route file includes many points of interest (POIs) marking towns, campgrounds, water sources, etc. Navigate to the individual route page via the photos below for much more information about each route or go directly to the route navigation in RWGPS collection here.

You can download the GPS data to a GPS unit or download the route for offline navigation in the RWGPS mobile app. If navigating on your mobile device, expect the battery to run down more quickly than usual.

All of the resources for this route, both on the Bikepacking Roots’ website and in Ride with GPS are free and fully accessible to all. If you appreciate these resources and want to support the development and long-term stewardship of routes like this, considering making a tax-deductible donation to Bikepacking Roots. We appreciate your support!

This route is unique among long-distance bikepacking routes that travel from Mexico to Canada in its lack of public land, which makes for a different experience compared to routes such as our Western Wildlands Route. The states along this route have some of the lowest percentages of public lands in the United States, with Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska all having less than 5% of land in the state being public.

However, that does not mean that wonderful camping opportunities cannot be found along the route. Please refer to the Ride with GPS route files for each segment for all of the identified camping opportunities along the route. In many areas, camping is at established campgrounds although there are some opportunities for dispersed camping such as in Wildlife Management Areas in Nebraska, the Black Hills National Forest in South Dakota, and the National Grasslands in North Dakota.

Depending on the mileage that you plan to cover on a daily basis, most riders will need to plan to rely on a mix of camping and other paid accommodation that is identified on the route resources.

Please respect all private property and do not attempt to trespass to ride across or camp on any private property without advance permission of the landowner. This is for your safety and also the overall maintenance of positive relationship between bikepackers and the lands and communities through which we traverse.

Please review the segment specific pages for more detailed information on any of the segments you are planning to ride. Below we have tried to answer some anticipated FAQs for riders looking to ride the full route.

• What kind of bike should I ride? We recommend a gravel bike with tires ranging from 40mm to 2″ for riders tackling the full route. Much of the route is smooth gravel and faster rolling surfaces. However, be prepared for sections that of rougher gravel that may be extended in some states. Sandy roads can also be expected, especially on the Texas segment. Tire size will need to be selected based on personal preference for balancing speed and comfort across the varying terrain of this long-distance route.
• Can I ride the route in either direction? Yes. We expect that both riding Northbound in the Spring or Southbound in the Fall will be popular options for the route. However, the route files are organized anticipating northbound riding due to the prevailing winds.
• What’s the ideal time of year to ride the route? A key consideration would be starting the route in Texas before temperatures become dangerously hot in Texas. The recommend end of season timing for South Dakota is September due to the higher elevation riding through the Black Hills where snow can be expected by October.
• How long will the route take to ride? We have estimated that the average rider would take between 30 to 60 days to ride the full route. This is based on an average mileage of between 60 – 115 miles per day. We expect to see riders seeking FKT’s on the route who will be able to complete the full route in significantly less time, but we encourage riders to take their time to enjoy the scenery along the route and to connect with people in the many communities you will pass through along the way.
• How far apart are resupplies and towns? There are generally consistent opportunities for re-supply along the route, however there are some big pushes between re-supply options throughout the route. These are marked on the Ride with GPS resources so please study the resupply distances in advance and plan accordingly.
• Is there much water out there? Given the lack of public land, for much of the route, water will most often be obtained in towns or at campgrounds. There are some stretches where having a means to treat surface water may be useful along the route, such as through the Black Hills in South Dakota.
• How do I get to and from the route? If you are looking to ride the full route, please review the details on the North Dakota and Texas segment pages for details on the options for getting to each end of the route. The logistics in North Dakota are pretty straightforward because there is a city with a small airport and Amtrak station (that accepts bikes) not too far from the border, and shuttles can be arranged from a small town even closer to the border. In Texas, the options for how to get to the start are a bit more limited. A shuttle from El Paso to Marfa, TX can be arranged although it is a bit costly. Riders could also choose to extend the route about to start in El Paso, Texas. This would add ~200 paved miles to the route, but riders could follow the Southern Tier Route from Adventure Cycling Association from El Paso to Marfa, Texas, which is a well-established long-distance cycling route. Another option would be to take a rental car to Del Rio and connect to the route in Langtry. This still gives you a border-to-border experience and cuts out about 200 paved road miles early on in the route.
• Do I need any special permits? No
• Are you going to organize a race on the route?  Bikepacking Roots as an organization is focused on celebrating the non-competitive aspects of bikepacking. Neither BPR, or any of the route creators have any current intentions to host an organized race or grand depart on the route at this time. However, we anticipate there will be eager riders who will interested in earning the Fastest Known Time (FKT) on this route in the future.

As with any outdoor activity, bikepacking involves inherent risks, but many can be reduced. Here are some key recommendations pertinent to this route network:

• Vehicle traffic: While much of this route is along low-traffic, unpaved roads, safety from vehicles is a concern all along the route. Please pay special attention on any busier roads and when crossing busier roads.
• Dogs: Unleashed dogs may be common in rural areas along some parts of the route. Our recommendation when seeing a dog running toward you is to stop, stand with your bike between you and the approaching canine, and talk calmly to it. If it does seem aggressive, yell loudly and sternly at it.
• Communication: Cell service is spotty along parts of this route. Consider carrying a satellite communication device and be sure to have offline access to the route and area maps.
• Private property: As stated above, much of this route travels along roads that are adjacent to private property. For your safety and the good stewardship of this route, please do not trespass to ride or camp on any private property.

For more information on risk management and preparing for a bikepacking adventure, check out The Bikepacker’s Guide.

If you are planning to be one of the early thru-riders of the route, please get in touch with us advance so we can follow along with your journey. We don’t have capacity to answer all trip planning questions, but if you have a specific question, you can reach out via the form below and we will try to address if possible.

We are very interested in getting feedback on the route from early riders. Whether you have ridden a section of the route, or the full route, we would love to hear your reflections.

If you have photos of the route that you would be willing for us to share, or a link to a blog post, that would be great as well.

Please also get in touch with any updates on route conditions that may be relevant to other riders. This has been a large undertaking, and we imagine there will be some refinements in the early days of the route being utilized.