Choose Your Gravel Adventure
The loop routes out of Woods Landing will take you on an unforgettable journey through some of Wyoming's most iconic and historic landscapes
After bidding farewell to Woods Landing, you'll quickly find yourself immersed in the wide open spaces from the Laramie Plains to the peaks of Medince Bow National Forest and the only sounds are the crunch of your tires on the gravel road and the whispers of the mountain wind.
The West Awaits...
Day 2 promises to be an epic journey steeped in history and natural wonder. Fuel up with a hearty breakfast at Woods Landing, then regroup to embark on a route that will take you back in time, traversing trails forged by pioneers, railroaders, and the very forces of nature itself.
- Medicine Bow Peak - For the gravel gluttons, Route A beckons with a deliciously devious 77-mile loop that includes a pilgrimage to the hallowed United Airlines 409 crash site and a summit of the iconic Medicine Bow Peak. Prepare to earn your miles (and views) with over 6,500 feet of climbing through the haunting Albany, Centennial, and Medicine Bow corridors. Expect a good 1/2 mile of hike a bike.
- Albany: The "Goldilocks" option, Route B, offers a perfectly-portioned 55-mile reverse lollipop to Albany, complete with 3,500 feet of sublime vertical accomplishment. Albany, Wy is very similar to Albany, NY. After Albany, hammer the lolipop gravel handle to Centennial where you'll experience Centennial's charms and just the right amount of presidential-range pain.
- Centennial: Route C gently guides the gravel-curious on a 37-mile out-and-back to Centennial, allowing you to sip from the gravel goblet with just 2,300 feet of climbing before enjoying the town's iconic hospitality.
- Medicine Bow Rail Trail: Here is one for the whole family or for those simply seeking gravel Zen, the historic Medicine Bow Rail Trail (Route D) provides a meditative 20ish mile out-and-back journey along the railbed's gentle grades, with scant climbing and ample opportunity to commune with the ghosts of ENGINE-EERS past.
No matter which route you choose, you'll be tracing the footsteps (and wheel tracks) of trappers, miners, railroaders, and airmen—with an included side of breathtaking Wyoming scenery that makes this day's adventure a master-class in gravel's greatest hits.
Route Details
77 Miles
6,000 Feet Elevation
85% Gravel
4 - 10 Hours
55 Miles
3,600 Feet Elevation
80% Gravel
3 - 6 Hours
36 Miles
2,200 Feet Elevation
65% Gravel
2 - 4 Hours
20 Miles
500 Feet Elevation
100% Gravel
1 - 3 Hours
Highlights
- Retrace the footsteps of pioneers on the historic Overland Trail as you ride through the Oregon Trail ruts still visible near Centennial, one of the best-preserved trail remnants.
- Explore the sacred grounds of the United Airlines Flight 409 crash site, a somber memorial to the 1955 tragedy where debris still litters the accident's remote alpine location.
- Soak in the serenity of breathtaking alpine lakes like Lake Marie and Lost Lake tucked into the peaks and valleys surrounding the towering 12,000+ ft Medicine Bow Peak.
- Experience a gravel cycling massage courtesy of the gently graded and uniquely peaceful Medicine Bow Rail Trail, a multi-use path converted from an abandoned railroad corridor.
