This Colorado and Utah gravel route is a small portion of the Co2uT desert gravel grinder. It is perfect if you are looking for a training route or want to preview part of their 125 mile course. The ride was delayed in 2020 due to Covid.
We did a longer (50-mile) version of this more recently in 2022, which you can check out here.
We loved this Colorado and Utah gravel loop so much we were tempted to do it twice!
We saw many more animals than cars on the 20-mile loop. One car passed us the entire ride (and we could see it coming for about a mile)!
A highlight was seeing a big herd of antelope up close and having them run alongside us as we pedaled.
The big desert scenery and landscape is truly unique in this area. If we had any info the geology we would definitely share but all we could do is appreciate the rare beauty along the way.
It is pretty cool to ride across state lines on a bike and the boarder signs are fun photo ops you won’t want to skip.
Without substantial elevation gain, this ride felt fast and fun with minimal technical skills required.
We tried really hard to identify some lows of this loop but we couldn’t think of any. We had a real blast out there!
Do this ride if you want to explore some desert gravel and mentally prepare yourself for the feeling of isolation that can happen on remote gravel roads. Gravel biking is all about exploring the unknown, yet this can be scary if something goes wrong while you are out on a ride. Because of the short and sweet length of this loop, you know you are never TOO far away from returning to your car.
There are absolutely no services of any type on these roads, NONE. Be prepared with everything you might need- water, food and bike mechanic supplies.
This ride is best in either the spring or fall because of the exposure and lack of shade. It would be unmanageable in the summer heat.
The course is fast, but there are a few sections of chunky gravel and short and steep inclines that can feel a little sketchy (particularly on the descents), so you’ll need to check your speed at times.
This Colorado and Utah gravel route is a small portion of the Co2uT desert gravel grinder if you want a preview of their 125 mile course. The ride was delayed in 2020 due to Covid, but it has been rescheduled for April 2021.
We began this ride from the corner of 4 Rd and U-1 5/10 Rd where there is a “parking lot” of sorts.
Laura & Rose
Laura Karpinski and Rose Barcklow are the creators of Gravel Bike Adventures. Click on the About page to learn more about them.
