Unison – Purcellville Loop 53K is a 33.2-mile loop starting in Unison, with 2,823 feet of climbing. About 17.3 miles (52%) are on gravel or dirt roads and 15.9 miles are paved. The longest unpaved stretch runs 5.9 miles on Snake Hill Road, Newlin Mill Road and Fiddlers Green Lane near Saint Louis and Unison.
Route snapshot
What to expect
This loop spreads its gravel evenly across the ride: 8.8 gravel miles in the first half and 8.5 in the second. Along the way it links Philomont, Flint Hill, Saint Louis and Lincoln.
The course tops out at 538 feet around mile 16.1 and drops as low as 319 feet. Expect 11 climbs of 80 feet or more; the biggest gains 198 feet over 2.6 miles starting near mile 7.0. The steepest quarter-mile averages about 7.3% near mile 2.9. At roughly 85 feet of climbing per mile, we rate it intermediate.
- 5.9 miles of continuous gravel on Snake Hill Road, Newlin Mill Road and Fiddlers Green Lane near Saint Louis and Unison.
- More unpaved stretches on Beaverdam Bridge Road and Philomont Road.
- 52% of the distance is on gravel or dirt.
- Paved sections on Snickersville Turnpike, busier roads. Ride single file and stay alert.
- Paved connectors include Saint Louis Road, Greggsville Road, Lincoln Road and Mountville Road.
- A steep pitch of about 7.3% near mile 2.9. 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 0.0–2.2 (2.2 mi): Unison Road — near Unison
- Mile 3.4–6.9 (3.5 mi): Beaverdam Bridge Road, Leith Lane, Hibbs Bridge Road
- Mile 7.4–10.9 (3.5 mi): Philomont Road, Colchester Road, North Fork Road — near Philomont and Flint Hill
- Mile 24.1–26.7 (2.6 mi): Hibbs Bridge Road, Leith Lane
- Mile 27.3–33.2 (5.9 mi): Snake Hill Road, Newlin Mill Road, Fiddlers Green Lane — 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.
