Unison Thursday Long Ride is a 43.0-mile loop starting in Unison, with 4,396 feet of climbing. About 27.0 miles (63%) are on gravel or dirt roads and 15.9 miles are paved. The longest unpaved stretch runs 7.0 miles on Young Road, Old Carters Mill Road, Crenshaw Road.
Route snapshot
What to expect
This loop saves most of its gravel for the second half: 10.3 gravel miles in the first half and 16.7 in the second. Along the way it links Landmark, Saint Louis, Middleburg and Bunker Hill.
The course tops out at 1,080 feet around mile 18.0 and drops as low as 331 feet. Expect 18 climbs of 80 feet or more; the biggest gains 346 feet over 2.5 miles starting near mile 14.3. The steepest quarter-mile averages about 16.8% near mile 20.9. At roughly 102 feet of climbing per mile, we rate it advanced.
- 7.0 miles of continuous gravel on Young Road, Old Carters Mill Road and Crenshaw Road.
- More unpaved stretches on Welbourne Road and Bull Run Mountain Road.
- 63% of the distance is on gravel or dirt.
- Paved connectors include Saint Louis Road, Foxcroft Road, Landmark School Road, Hopewell Road and Halfway Road.
- A steep pitch of about 16.8% near mile 20.9. Choose gears that let you stay seated on loose gravel.
- At 43.0 miles, plan your water and food before you leave Unison.
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 0.0–1.9 (1.9 mi): Unison Road — near Unison
- Mile 3.5–5.6 (2.1 mi): Turkey Roost Road, Leith Lane
- Mile 11.0–11.8 (0.8 mi): Hulberts Lane
- Mile 14.6–18.8 (4.2 mi): Bull Run Mountain Road — near Landmark
- Mile 20.5–23.4 (2.9 mi): Bust Head Road
- Mile 23.9–27.1 (3.2 mi): Rock Hill Mill Road, Burrland Lane
- Mile 27.7–34.7 (7.0 mi): Young Road, Old Carters Mill Road, Crenshaw Road
- Mile 38.5–43.0 (4.5 mi): Welbourne Road, Quaker Lane, Unison 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.
