Ely Gravel Roundup 2025 (giving it a year suggests there will be roundups to follow)

Sept. 11-19, 2025 It’s kind of a big deal, Adventure Gravel Guides published a gravel guide to Ely/ White Pine County/ Eastern Nevada! I don’t know the full backstory on how this came to be but Kyle Horvath and his team at White Pine County Tourism are power houses for my kind of rural Nevada adventure tourism! When the news hit in April it felt like I had an obligation to ride the routes in the guide book and promote the gravel and greater bike scene Ely has to offer. Once I had a window in my calendar I made a plan.

It is pretty cool that with the launch of the new guide, copies were distributed at local bike shops for promotion. I picked up a copy at the Sparks Giant Store (now Pedal Sports), where my friend Jeremy works. The guide has advertising from Giant and features Yuri Hauswald their Gravel Cycling Ambassador. So if you want to get into gravel stop by Sparks Giant, grab a guide book (Route Collection on Ride with GPS), and a fresh Revolt Advanced Pro 0. You will be set!

I loaded up my Manzanita gravel adventure touring bike and hopped on US 50, America’s Loneliest Road, bound for Ely. My plan was to camp at Cave Lake State Park and ride the routes in the guide. In planning I combined a couple of routes and decided I couldn’t do the Baker route within my timeframe. The last route was long enough that it makes a good overnight. My goal was to evaluate the rides and enjoy the hospitality in rural White Pine County.

Day 1 – Iceplant Trails – a great intro to local dirt riding

As one of the shorter commitments I decided to ride this first, arriving in Ely in the afternoon. It is a great intro to some of the mountain bike trails and “urban” gravel Ely has to offer. Ely is expanding its mountain bike offerings on Ward Mountain. I think this might impact this trail suggestion to at least require a reroute to avoid user conflict. When I rode it the IMBA Trail Crew was building a downhill jump line on what is designated as the up trail. I cannot imagine climbing a trail on a gravel bike with enduro riders hitting big tabletop jumps at the same time. Overall, in the area of Iceplant Canyon Trail, I would rather be on a mountain bike. I know lots of people enjoy riding their gravel bikes on single track, so there is something for everyone.

In the eastern urban gravel section the route (mile 13.5) includes a gated community that is not subtle at letting you know it is a private community. I was able to skirt this to the east. Then most disturbing was at the north eastern portion of the loop behind the train depot,(mile 15.1-15.3) the indicated road does not, and has not gone through in a generation or more. I learned this through the property owner where the route ends. I went through to the opposite end of the phantom road and it was locked up tight. I was disappointed in the route and thought if I weren’t familiar with the area I would be very discouraged. I was quickly wondering what the next 8 days would have in store.

The remainder of the route was super fun riding gravel alleys in Ely’s older neighborhoods.

By the numbers: 19.5 miles, 1.7k’ climbing. My RwGPS track.

After my ride I made my way to Cave Lake State Park’s Elk Flat Campground. I had a seven day reservation. I was camping in my pop-up camper and the campground has hot showers. It was a life of luxury, my own little gravel cycling training camp.

Day 2 – Steptoe Valley and Ward Charcoal Ovens, a combined route

This was one of many routes that starts at the East Ely Train Depot, the museum for the Nevada Northern Railway. On your way if you need coffee check out Flower Basket & Espresso Depot. From coffee to Red Bull smoothies they have your caffeine addiction covered and supporting a small business is key. They also advertised in the guide book so kudos to them for supporting adventure tourism.

The route out of town is good, with a patch of “moon dust.” With the volcanic history of the state’s geology the cake flour dust is unavoidable. But beyond that along the east side of Steptoe Valley was a favorite! You are riding along the Steptoe Valley Wildlife Management Area, public lands managed by Nevada Department of Wildlife. This route has the best opportunities for wetland and upland wildlife viewing. I would share this as a bird watchers route.

The route also showcases the Ward Charcoal Ovens which are also state lands managed by Nevada State Parks. The charcoal burners are extremely photogenic and don’t run away like wildlife. The role of charcoal, wood cutting, and mining are all fascinating aspects of this region’s history.

By the numbers: 50 miles, 2700′ of climbing. My RwGPS track here.

Returning to my camp I stopped at my favorite Mexican food spot, Rolberto’s in the Sinclair gas station. I grabbed an Chile Relleno burrito and Asada Fries with the idea that it would be several meals. I am so glad I split it up, a younger me would have suffered through eating it in one sitting. Also a big bonus to my campsite were the hot showers. After a shower and dinner I was ready for bed to do it all over again the next day.

Day 3 – The train to Ruth, Garnet Hill return

You could skip the train, ride the loop, but why? I bought my train ticket online in advance. I picked up my ticket and it was easy. The depot is ready for bike riders. The whole point of so many rides starting at the depot or going through the depot is to bring in tourists. Make the time to walk around the depot, 1-2 hours should suffice. There is no other train museum quite like it. I am interested in historic train routes and seek out Nevada’s abandoned railroad grades to ride, but I am definitely not a train guy. But I will still walk around the East Ely Depot every chance I get.

My train departure was mid-day so I stopped at Comins Lake for a stand up paddle board session. Super cool little lake with some huge fish!

Boarding the train the conductor and a helper lifted my bike onto the train’s open car. I could sit anywhere but the open car with my bike was where I was planning on sitting. The train ride to Ruth took about 45 minutes, had a great interpretive narration throughout and I was the only one let off the train at the turn around point. I was a bit bummed to miss the story telling on the ride back to the depot but I had some riding to do. I was on beautifully maintained roads climbing up to Garnet Hill. I kicked around rocks for a while and noted all the picked over spots where rock hounds had prospected for garnets. I did not find anything of note, but I went into it totally nieve. A local told me going after a rain is good, and hiking a steep hillside brings them closer to eye-level. Another bit of advice was to check out the borrow ditches on the sides of the roads. All solid advice. The ride back into Ely was a fun, fast series of roads. Ely just has it’s Race the Rails event where riders race back to Ely to see if they can beat the train. Next year will mark a decade’s anniversary of the event so it will be marked with a big celebration. Let’s go!

I had a view of the valley leading to Hercules  Gap. That was on the list for tomorrow.

I had asked the conductor if his train is ever full, trying to get at the need to purchase tickets in advance or just showing up ready to ride. He thought the only trains that ever come close to being full were the winter Polar Express trains, so I think it is safe to just show up. Check out all the different train rides the Museum offers, buy gifts and books from the gift shop, and consider becoming a member of the museum. It is a worthy cause to support.

By the numbers: 14 miles, 1000′ climbing. My GPS track is here.

Day 4 – Hercules Gap to Egan Crest Trails

I would call this an All-Roads route in that a significant percentage of the ride is on tarmac. Which is a nice option, higher speeds, cover more ground, and a little less wear and tear on the body. At the same time the off road sections had some rougher bits, with a little more “adventure” feel to them so it really was a nice mix. The Hercules Gap feature is a wild sight. If I were leading a group through there I would stop to hike around the trails at the cliff’s base.

The route takes you through some remote ranching operations and a convoluted section of power line road that I might reroute if I were taking a group through. There are options.

The Eagan Crest Trails was an area that had me thinking there is some great bikepacking potential here. While I wasn’t particularly inspired looking at maps of the area I was super keen after having tires on the ground.

By the numbers: 53 miles, 3200′ of climbing. My GPS track is here.

Day 5 – Ward Ovens to Horse and Cattle Camp

This was a super fun route! Doug and I rode past this route on our Dark Sky’s trip so thought it could be included. Starting at the Ward Charcoal Ovens, this is a great time to explore the ovens and adjacent trails if you haven’t already done the Steptoe Valley Charcoal Oven’s route. As a weekend ride I thought I might get some riders joining me, but that wasn’t the case.

Horse and Cattle Camp Washes were dry but I got to see some amazing stretches of rabbitbrush and an old cabin. There is a greater network of roads in the area and signage indicates where you are going. It is not a bad idea to keep track of where the paved highways are just in case you need a “Plan B” due to a mechanical or a medical. 

This route had a long fun ripping downhill through some beautiful landscape. That and a significant section of moon dust are my lasting impressions. And windmills. I did clean and lube my chain every night.

By the numbers: 45.5 miles, 2000′ of climbing. My GPS track is here.

Day 6 – Success Loop This is an iconic route for the area. I heard about the Success Mountain Bike Loop before we were really talking about gravel riding, now it is a gravel route. In asking locals about their favorite places for getting outdoors in Ely, one woman who confessed she wasn’t really into the outdoors recommended the Success Loop. Now I know why it gets all this attention. It is a beautiful ride in the trees. Up high, a ton of dispersed camping options, wildflower and wildlife viewing.

The route drops into Duck Creek Valley and I was in familiar territory from Doug’s and my ride through in 2023. The next section is off Hwy 93 and into McGill. There is the Pony Express Gas Mart for snacks but I wish McGill had a restaurant/cafe.

After McGill you make a climb to follow the railroad grade back into Ely. I wasn’t feeling that climb but it was a really nice ride into Ely, off the highway, with the occasional carsonite marker letting you know you are on route.

By the numbers: 64 miles, 3700′ of climbing. My GPS track is here.

That night I stopped at the Twin Wok Restaurant. I am a sucker for Chinese-American cuisine and I was not disappointed! I always think about the big reveal from The Search of General Tso, Chicken Mc Nuggets came from a restaurant like this. The restaurant had a mix of locals and travelers and everyone was appreciated by the staff. Small restaurants are often one meal from breaking even and being profitable.

Day 7 – Shepard’s Solitude – a real adventure

I was back in McGill at the public swimming pool at the start of this route. There is some overlap with the Success Loop (combine the two into an overnight) but riding in a different direction at a different time of day made it seem fresh. Eventually I climbed above Duck Creek Valley and ran into my first block, finding the entrance to the Ranger Trail singletrack. Ultimately this track was not rideable, sometimes not visible, and I hiked through steep terrain focused on the GPS track on my Garmin and cross referencing with my Ride with GPS App on my phone. Having both available is key for navigation when on-the-ground cues disappear.

After some very slow progress the trail opened up into a two-track in the high country. It was awesome! The guidebook warns about encountering sheepherder’s dogs and I was really hoping that wouldn’t be the case. I have run into sheep dogs over the years and its always a bit scary. The Great Pyrenees is a favorite breed but I don’t need to meet them on trail when I am the threat.

I would love to come back to this area but not via the Ranger Trail. I am not sure what the solution is here. The trail needs a ton of work and I am not sure it will get the visitors to justify the effort. There are only a few people I could invite to do this route. Anyone committing to this route needs to know it took me twice as long as I expected. To some it is a real adventure or it could be an epic. Pack plenty of snacks and hydration.

By the numbers: 48 miles 5000′ of climbing. My GPS track is here.  

Days 8&9 – Bristlecone Loop, White Pine Range Overnight

Elk Flat Campground has a week stay max, but it worked out perfectly. I finished my Ely based rides and was ready to head to Illipah Reservoir. I was leaving the Baker route for my next visit. Thank you Nevada State Parks, 5 Stars!

Illipah Reservoir is a BLM recreation area known for its fishing and staging area for side by side OHV touring. Packing my bike for an overnight I felt like an odd bird. But no one cares. With a bit of food, a tarp for shelter and some miles in my legs, I was off! My plan was to ride as many miles on Day 1 and hopefully have a shorter Day 2. As published the 87 mile route has about 8000′ of climbing. My general rule of thumb is 50 miles or 5000′ of climbing whichever comes first, as a goal for bikepacking. Of course there is the surface, steepness of climbs, and weather that all factor in. This route has a campground, White River Campground, just past the halfway point. It is a great target especially if you have any reservations with dispersed camping.

Parts of this route I recognized from the year before with Doug Artman on the Dark Sky’s route. Miles 18.4-35.1, Doug and I rode in reverse. It was all nicely downhill which made me think, man, we did a lot of climbing on that trip! Then 62-71.6 was another section we rode before turning off for Shermantown and Cathedral Canyon. If for some reason you need to cut the loop short, at mile 18.4 you can cut over to mile 62 on Forest Road 402. The resulting loop is just over 44 miles with 4400′ of climbing. Now you can add in the Shermantown excursion for a total of 55 miles and 5500′ of climbing.

Day 8 ended at mile 57, with 5400′ of climbing. My GPS track is here. It was a beautiful ride on good roads. I passed the campground and it looked good. I set up camp as the sun was setting. Weather was brewing but I am a weather optimist. A couple of elk moved through camp at sunset. At about 5 AM it started a light rain so I rolled up in my tarp like a burrito. After a bit I wasn’t getting anymore sleep so I got up, had a cold breakfast, and got on the road. The misty foggy morning was so un-Nevada like. I didn’t spend much time in Hamilton due to the weather. The ground was just wet enough to start to stick to my tires and I didn’t want to tempt fate with peanut butter mud. It was smooth riding back to Illipah campground.

Day 9 by the numbers: 30 miles, 1600′ of climbing. My GPS track is here.

My hat goes off to the folks at Gravel Adventure Guide. Their little guide performed as promised. They got me out on roads I would not have necessarily tried. The small format is packed with background about the area. The small format limits the details that can be depicted in maps but the QR codes linking you to RwGPS for tracks to follow. There are a few  star shaped intersections of desert roads that made me appreciate the RwGPS routes that much more. As an exclusive user of RwGPS I take it for granted how easy it is to use. I would be curious to hear from those who are not fans. More importantly it would be great to let RwGPS know your feedback.

Now that the routes are out there there needs to be stewardship of the routes. I am not sure this is built into the Gravel Adventure Guide model, or any guide book for that matter. Route stewardship is the model for Bikepacking Roots. Trail stewardship is an important part of every trail building group. But it is a part of best practices going forward. I always refer back to the “Love Where You Ride Campaign,” the collaboration of Leave No Trace and Bikepacking Roots. The Seven Principles, Plan, Durable Surfaces, Waste, Leave it Better than You Found It, Campfires, Wildlife, Consider Others, and then after Support Local Economy and Local Stewardship Efforts. An important consideration highlighted by Gravel Adventure Guides is that these gravel roads we are using for recreation are “neighborhood” and commuting roads relied on by locals, so please respect all users, ride to the right, be visible, and ride predictably. One thing to add is gate etiquette. “Please Close Gate” signs are important to follow to keep livestock where ranchers and land managers intended. “Leave them as you found them,” is best practice. Everyone I encountered on these rides was considerate and they deserve the same level of consideration from gravel riders.

I would like to see the Ely Gravel Roundup become a regular thing. It was an absolute blast to have a week plus of gravel rides to follow, a campground with hot showers, and a supportive host community providing all the amenities one might need on such a vacation. Let’s see what we can do to make it an event in 2026!