Philomont Gravel 20 is a 20.1-mile loop starting in Philomont, with 1,430 feet of climbing. About 19.4 miles (97%) are on gravel or dirt roads and 0.7 miles are paved. The longest unpaved stretch runs 18.0 miles on Hibbs Bridge Road, Leith Lane, Mountville Road, Pot House Road, Snake Hill Road, Millville Road, Welbourne Road, Quaker Lane, Newlin Mill Road, Beaverdam Bridge Road near Saint Louis.
Route snapshot
What to expect
This loop spreads its gravel evenly across the ride: 9.5 gravel miles in the first half and 9.9 in the second. Along the way it links Saint Louis.
The course tops out at 579 feet around mile 10.4 and drops as low as 319 feet. Expect 5 climbs of 80 feet or more; the biggest gains 172 feet over 0.7 miles starting near mile 19.1. The steepest quarter-mile averages about 7.0% near mile 19.2. At roughly 71 feet of climbing per mile, we rate it beginner-friendly.
- 18.0 miles of continuous gravel on Hibbs Bridge Road, Leith Lane, Mountville Road and Pot House Road near Saint Louis.
- More unpaved stretches on Philomont Road.
- 97% of the distance is on gravel or dirt.
- Paved sections on Snickersville Turnpike, busier roads. Ride single file and stay alert.
- A steep pitch of about 7.0% near mile 19.2. 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 Philomont. 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 0.1–1.4 (1.3 mi): Philomont Road — near Philomont
- Mile 1.9–19.9 (18.0 mi): Hibbs Bridge Road, Leith Lane, Mountville Road, Pot House Road, Snake Hill Road, Millville Road, Welbourne Road, Quaker Lane, Newlin Mill Road, Beaverdam Bridge Road — near Saint Louis
Photos from the route
Photos taken along this route on our rides.
Get the route
Surface data comes from Ride with GPS. 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.
