Unison – Willisville and Hibbs Bridge 38K is a 23.5-mile loop starting in Unison, with 1,788 feet of climbing. About 18.6 miles (79%) are on gravel or dirt roads and 4.9 miles are paved. The longest unpaved stretch runs 9.0 miles on Willisville Road, Welbourne Road, Quaker Lane, Newlin Mill Road, Snake Hill Road and Pot House Road near St. Louis.
Route snapshot
What to expect
This loop front-loads its gravel: 10.8 gravel miles in the first half and 7.8 in the second. Along the way it links St. Louis and Philomont.
The course tops out at 577 feet and drops as low as 317 feet. Expect 6 climbs of 80 feet or more; the biggest gains 189 feet over 1.4 miles starting near mile 14.6. The steepest quarter-mile averages about 6.5% near mile 22.1. At roughly 76 feet of climbing per mile over a short distance, we rate it intermediate.
- 9.0 miles of continuous gravel on Willisville Road, Welbourne Road, Quaker Lane, Newlin Mill Road, Snake Hill Road and Pot House Road near St. Louis.
- More unpaved stretches on Snickersville Turnpike, Philomont Road and Beaverdam Bridge Road.
- 79% of the distance is on gravel or dirt.
- Passes the Virginia historical marker for the Battle of Unison.
- Paved sections on Snickersville Turnpike, busier roads. Ride single file and stay alert.
- Paved connectors include Bloomfield Road, Willisville Road, Mountville Road and Foxcroft Road.
- A steep pitch of about 6.5% near mile 22.1. Choose gears that let you stay seated on loose gravel.
- Carry water, a spare tube and a plug kit.
Ride notes. Start and finish in Unison. These are working farm roads shared with horses, tractors and local traffic: slow down and pass wide around horses, and see VeloSafe for more. Gravel changes with the weather, so expect loose stone after a fresh grading and soft spots after heavy rain. Spring and fall are our favorite seasons out here.
Elevation and surface
Gravel sections
Unpaved stretches of half a mile or more, in riding order:
- Mile 0.0–1.7 (1.7 mi): Unison Road, Bloomfield Road
- Mile 2.3–11.3 (9.0 mi): Willisville Road, Welbourne Road, Quaker Lane, Newlin Mill Road, Snake Hill Road, Pot House Road — near St. Louis
- Mile 12.1–14.5 (2.4 mi): Leith Lane, Hibbs Bridge Road
- Mile 14.9–19.6 (4.6 mi): Snickersville Turnpike, Philomont Road, Beaverdam Bridge Road, Leith Lane, Mountville Road — near Philomont
- Mile 22.7–23.5 (0.8 mi): Unison Road
Photos from the route
Photos taken along this route on our rides.
Get the route
Surface data comes from Strava. Road names come from OpenStreetMap. Gravel roads change with weather and maintenance, so check conditions before you ride and follow our VeloSafe guidance on rural roads.
