Are you gravel-curious? | Special Sections | mtexpress.com

Jun 11, 2025

The map “Travels on Gravel” is available in stores up and down the Wood River Valley. Popular gravel rides are highlighted in yellow.

The Wood River Valley has long been home to great mountain biking. But did you know that there is another, increasingly popular option for adventures on two wheels? Did you know that you are in one of the best places in the country to experience it?

I’m talking about gravel biking.

The popularity of this style of biking has surged in recent years, area mountain biking experts have said in interviews with the Express. And while the mountains of Idaho make for a perfect partner, the roots of gravel biking can actually be traced to the flat farmland and backroads of Iowa, according to reporting by Axios.

It was in the early 2000s that the first Trans-Iowa race took place, a race that went viral because of the novelty of riders using gravel roads to make it across the state in just 24 hours. Similar races around the country followed, and with that, a growing need for specific equipment better geared to the duality of speed and rough terrain inherent to gravel racing.

Like Iowa, Idaho has a plethora of gravel roads. That’s something that David Knoop, a salesperson at a Ketchum bike shop, knows all too well. A man ahead of the curve, he has been gravel biking since 2010 and entered the sport like so many have before him: by looking around and seeing the availability of terrain.

“How many road biking options do you have here? Not that much,” Knoop said. “The gravel options here are just countless. It’s paradise.”

Seven-time world champion endurance racer Rebecca Rusch is a local legend and the host of a four-day gravel race and bike event held annually in August. Rusch has seen and experienced the rise of gravel biking firsthand.

“Gravel events are popping up everywhere, from big-ticket races to local community rides. The industry has taken notice, too—nearly every major bike brand is investing in gravel-specific bikes and gear,” Rusch said. “It’s clear this isn’t a passing trend; it’s a full-on movement. People are looking for adventure and connection, and gravel offers both.”

When asked why the sport is growing in popularity, Rusch said, “Gravel is the great equalizer.”

“It strips away the intimidation factor you sometimes feel on the road or in mountain biking,” she said, adding that it bridges the gap between mountain bikers, road bikers and beginner bikers. “You get the fast pedaling for roadies, but still the dirt and adventure aspect us mountain bikers love. I think the biggest reason it’s growing is that gravel is so welcoming to new cyclists.

“Gravel is about freedom. It takes you off the beaten path, onto quiet roads and into wild, beautiful places. It’s grassroots, inclusive, and community-focused.”

Gravel bikes look similar to road bikes, but there are key differences. Gravel bikes have clearance for bigger tires, a longer wheelbase and wider, slightly-flared handlebars—all features designed to provide greater stability on rough terrain but also reduce steering responsiveness compared to road bikes. Most gravel bikes are also equipped with “bosses,” or threaded screw-in points that allow for the attachment of accessories like bags and tire pumps.

According to Knoop, the tires are a big factor.

“For pure comfort, the bigger the better,” Knoop said. “Forty-two millimeter [tire width] is actually a really comfortable tire around here.”

Rusch equates gravel bikes to Swiss Army knives because of their versatility.

“They’ve got drop bars like a road bike, but geometry and tire clearance that let you handle rough terrain with confidence. The tires are wider than road, but not as bulky as mountain—it’s the perfect in-between,” Rusch said.

Toby Mick, a retail associate at a Hailey outdoor gear shop, said that “when you are first looking at a gravel bike, it looks a lot like a road bike, but the most obvious difference is wider tire clearance with bigger treads.”

“You’re starting to see some bikes with suspension,” he said. “Usually just in the form of a suspension fork in the front. Very few have rear suspension, and if they do, it looks very different than mountain bike suspension.”

Rusch said that gravel biking is a good option for beginners as well as experienced cyclists.

“In terms of difficulty, gravel is what you make it. It’s great for beginners because you can ease in on mellow dirt roads. But if you want to push it, gravel will deliver—from long climbs to rough, remote terrain,” she said. “I started in mountain biking and found myself gravel-curious. I love how I can ride down any dirt road in our valley and then decide to pop over and take some single track back home.

“Gravel also allows you to head out on multiday bikepacking adventures with its versatility. The bikes are typically built to be fast and sleek but also ready to be loaded down if you’re going to head over Dollarhide for Thunder Mountain Loop or taking a few days to explore The Great Rift route near Craters of the Moon. You can do it all.”

There are numerous gravel roads and trails in the Wood River Valley, from single track trails to fire roads in the Sawtooth National Recreation Area. Rusch shared some of her recommendations.

“We are seriously spoiled here in the Wood River Valley,” she said. “There’s something for everyone—Croy Canyon in Hailey, the Triangle and Silver Creek Preserve down in Bellevue, or the Harriman Trail all the way up to Smiley Creek and Stanley.

“Whether you’re just starting out or you’re chasing the edge, there’s a gravel road here in the valley with your name on it.” 

[email protected]

"Gravel is the great equalizer."

Rebecca Rusch

Professional cycling athlete

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