2026 Gran Fondo Highlands - Register NOW!

Desert

Desert Gravel

April 24 2027
Fruita CO
Date Confirmed
Registration Opened: May 27 2026
 
Add to My Favourites
 
Add to My Favourites
 
Distances: 30, 50, 75, 100, 125 miles
Difficulty: Moderate terrain with rolling short steep hills or moderate, sustained climbs
Limited to: 1,000 Participants

Gravel adventure like no other on Earth. 
DESERT GRAVEL
Saturday, April 24, 2027 • Fruita, Colorado
(and the Utah borderlands)

Welcome to Desert  Gravel—the wild ride where gravel meets dinosaur spirit and wide-open desert fun. We’ve unearthed spectacular terrain right along the Colorado/Utah border, and on April  24,  2027 you’ll be part of the pack. Whether you’re coming to race or just to ride, you’ll feel the flow of every gritty descent, chunky stretch, and soul-checking gravel pitch the course throws at you. As always, our longtime crew (now teamed up with TransRockies) delivers the grit. Kevin  Kane, local veteran race director, is onboard to help make sure the experience is dialed.

With five distances, there is a route for everyone!

Desert Gravel

Desert Gravel

 
Start Located At: Fruita, Colorado
 
 
Add to My Rides
Alert Us
Email
Facebook
Instagram
1-866-373-3376
 

Friday, April 24, 2026

Check in. Package pick up. Meet up.

Venue: Civic Center Memorial Park, Fruita, Colorado
(Corner of Peach St. & Ottley Ave)

12:00 PM – Rider Arrival & Camping (Dry) Check-In Opens
Old Fruita Middle School (just two blocks from start/finish)

2:00 PM – 7:00 PM – Packet Pickup
Civic Center Memorial Park – Registration Tent (big white tent)
Beat the lines and grab your swag early!

4:00 PM - Shake Out Ride with Rebecca at Over the Edge Bike Shop - meet at the side of the building for a 15 mile easy cruise.

4:00 PM - 7:00pm - Live Music on Stage

4:00 PM - 8:00 PM - Chillville/Beer Garden Hours - The Rotary will be handling the Beer Garden. All proceeds will be donated to The Rotary. $8.00/beer or two for $15.00. Let’s raise some $$ for the local community.

7:00 PM - 7:30 PM – Opening Ceremonies/Course Briefing by local RD, Kevin Kane.

7:45 PM - Volunteer Meeting

 

Saturday, April 25, 2026 – Race Day

All events start and finish at Civic Center Memorial Park
(Unless otherwise noted)

6:00 AM - 9:00 AM – Last minute Check-In

7:00 AM – Utahraptor (Red Course) 125-Mile Start

7:30 AM – Triceratops (Black Course) 100-Mile Start

8:00 AM – Stegosaurus (Blue Course) 75-Mile Start

9:00 AM – Pterodactyl (Green Course) 50-Mile Start

9:30 AM - Fruitadens (Orange Course) 30-Mile Start

11:00 AM - 5:00 PM - Riders Cross the Finish Line

11:00 AM - 6:30 PM - Post race lunch and Beer Garden served in ChillVille (Civic Center Park) ($8.00/beer - 100% of the money will be donated to the local Rotary Club.)

1:00 PM - 1:15 PM - 30 mile and 50 mile Podium Awards (top 3)

2:15 PM - 2:30 PM - 75 mile Podium Awards (top 3)

3:30 PM - 3:45 PM- 125 mile and 100 mile Podium Awards (Main stage at Civic Park)

2:30 PM - 5:00PM - Live Music - all are welcome (over 21) Civic Center Park.

6:30 PM - Beer Garden closed.

Cut Off Times: These will be enforced.

Utahraptor (Red Course - 125 mile)
Checkpoint C: 1:00PM closure @ 60.1 miles, Aid #3
Checkpoint B: 3:00PM closure @ 83.1 miles, Aid #4
Checkpoint A: 4:30PM closure @ 99.9 Miles, Aid #5

Triceratops (Black Course - 100 mile)
Checkpoint B: 3:00PM Closure @ 61.6 Miles, Aid #3
Checkpoint A: 4:30PM Closure @ 76.6 Miles, Aid #4

Stegosuarus (Blue Course - 75 mile)
Checkpoint B: 3:00PM Closure @ 35.9 miles, Aid #2
Checkpoint A: 4:30PM Closure @ 52.6 miles, Aid #3

Pterodactyl (Green Course - 50 mile)
Checkpoint A: 4:30PM Closure @ 26.7 Miles, Aid #2

Fruitadens (Orange Course - 30 mile) - No cut off - take your time and take lots of pics.

Registration Fees

2027 Pricing
Fruitadens (30 Miles - Orange Course) (Includes e-bikes)

Launch Sale (May 27 - July 27, 2026): $99

Early Bird (July 28, 2026 - January 31, 2027): $129

Regular (February 1, 2027 to Apr 17, 2027 or sell out): $159

Pterodactyl (50 Miles -Green Course) (Includes e-bikes)

Launch Sale (May 27 - July 27, 2026): $159

Early Bird (July 28, 2026 - January 31, 2027): $199

Regular (February 1, 2027 to Apr 17, 2027 or sell out): $249

Stegosaurus (75 Miles - Blue Course)

Launch Sale (May 27 - July 27, 2026): $159

Early Bird (July 28, 2026 - January 31, 2027): $199

Regular (February 1, 2027 to Apr 17, 2027 or sell out): $249

Triceratops (100 Miles - Black Course)

Launch Sale (May 27 - July 27, 2026): $179

Early Bird (July 28, 2026 - January 31, 2027): $249

Regular (February 1, 2027 to Apr 17, 2027 or sell out): $289

Utahraptor (125 Miles - Red Course)

Launch Sale (May 27 - July 27, 2026): $179

Early Bird (July 28, 2026 - January 31, 2027): $249

Regular (February 1, 2027 to Apr 17, 2027 or sell out): $289

Included

What Your Entry Includes
The Course

Each route is a fully marked dino-sized adventure across remote desert terrain, private land access, and rolling high-desert gravel. These roads aren't open year-round—they’re a special treat, just for race day.

Timing & Competition

Chip timing with full results

Category rankings

Top 3 podium awards in all 5 categories

Rider Perks

Official Desert Gravel event tee (register by March 1, 2027 to guarantee your size)

Custom race plate with your name & bib number

Food & beverage wristband for post-race festivities

$100 off code for our NEW Rough Rider event

Epic post-race lunch and cold bevy’s

Support & Aid

Multiple stocked aid stations (hydration, nutrition, shade)

Course sweepers and on-course support

Bike tech at key locations

Packet Pickups

Civic Center Park, Fruita, Colorado
(Corner of Peach St. & Ottley Ave)

Prize / Race Categories

Categories, Awards & Prizes
We love fast folks, steady grinders, and those who come just to soak it all in.

Race Categories

Open Men

Open Women

Men 50+

Women 50+

Non-Binary

Podium Prizes

Top 3 finishers in each race category for Triceratops and Utahraptor routes will receive custom awards and eternal bragging rights.

Draw Prizes

Thanks to our amazing sponsors, everyone’s got a shot at cool gear—even if your T-Rex arms can't reach the podium.

 
Facilities
Parking
Toilets
Pre-Packet Pickups
 
Support for Participants
Route Signposted
First Aid
Emergency Contact No
SAG Wagon
Marshalls
Escort / Police Escort
Mechanical Support at Rest Stops
 
Community
Volunteers
Bike Festival
After Party
 
Features
Course Timing
Category / Race Prizes
Finishing Medals
Results Within 24 Hours
Photos
Personalised Bib (Name and QR Code)
Downloadable GPS files
Finish Line Chute
 
Nutrition
Feed / Aid Stations
Post Event Meal(s) Provided As Part of Entry
Number of Aid Stations: 5
 
Offical Website   Register Now