Unison Gravel 50K Loop is a 30.7-mile loop starting in Unison, with 2,654 feet of climbing. About 22.8 miles (74%) are on gravel or dirt roads and 7.9 miles are paved. The longest unpaved stretch runs 10.2 miles on Welbourne Road, Quaker Lane, Unison Road, Furr Road, Poor House Road near Saint Louis and Unison.
Route snapshot
What to expect
This loop spreads its gravel evenly across the ride: 10.2 gravel miles in the first half and 12.6 in the second. Along the way it links Airmont and Saint Louis.
The course tops out at 569 feet around mile 2.4 and drops as low as 335 feet. Expect 8 climbs of 80 feet or more; the biggest gains 191 feet over 2.4 miles starting near mile 17.7. The steepest quarter-mile averages about 7.4% near mile 12.2. At roughly 86 feet of climbing per mile, we rate it intermediate.
- 10.2 miles of continuous gravel on Welbourne Road, Quaker Lane, Unison Road and Furr Road near Saint Louis and Unison.
- More unpaved stretches on Woodtrail Road and Ebenezer Church Road.
- 74% of the distance is on gravel or dirt.
- Paved connectors include Bloomfield Road, Airmont Road, Saint Louis Road, Mountville Road and Foxcroft Road.
- A steep pitch of about 7.4% near mile 12.2. 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 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 0.0–1.8 (1.8 mi): Bloomfield Road — near Unison
- Mile 4.0–6.5 (2.5 mi): Ebenezer Church Road — near Airmont
- Mile 7.2–10.1 (2.9 mi): Woodtrail Road — near Airmont
- Mile 11.2–12.6 (1.4 mi): Turkey Roost Road
- Mile 12.9–14.4 (1.5 mi): Leith Lane, Hibbs Bridge Road
- Mile 17.7–20.0 (2.3 mi): Snake Hill Road — near Saint Louis
- Mile 20.5–30.7 (10.2 mi): Welbourne Road, Quaker Lane, Unison Road, Furr Road, Poor House Road — near Saint Louis and Unison
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.
