Riding Loudoun County’s Historic Gravel Roads
June 12, 2023
Text: Martin Fernandez. Photos: Martin Fernandez, Bruce Buckley
Hundreds of riders took on the challenge to cycle 40, 60 or 80 miles along the historic gravel roads of Loudoun County, VA, in support of America’s Routes, an organization working to preserve this unique and precious resource.
Back when we published the first and second editions of Mountain Biking the Washington DC/Baltimore Area in the early 90s there were very limited opportunities for regional mountain bikers to ride natural surface trails. Because of that, we chose to include two rides in the book that highlighted the gravel roads of Loudoun County, The Old Waterford Dirt Roads and the Middleburg Vineyard Tour.
While “Gravel Grinding” hadn’t yet become what it is today, cycling those “off the beaten path” gravel roads was a great alternative for mountain bike enthusiasts to get a dose of “dirt”.
Quite honestly, back then, I never anticipated the draw that gravel biking would have on me and thousands of other cycling enthusiasts. What I did know, however, was that the experience of riding Loudoun County gravel had to be shared.
…the experience of riding Loudoun County gravel had to be shared…
Little has changed in the area since I first documented those rides. In fact, little has changed, as far as the networks of roads are concerned, since the area was first settled and agriculturally developed in the 1700s.
The EX2 Adventures Loudoun County 1725 Gravel Grinder pays homage to the year when the area was first settled, 1725, and aims to highlight and bring awareness to a resource that has stood the test of time and the overwhelming development of a new world around it.
Visiting these gravel roads is a trip through history and provides a glimpse to a more serene time. It’s the perfect place to escape the masses, to be free of the oppressive daily grind of our “new world”, and to discover an undisturbed, peaceful haven. It’s no wonder that there are those working tirelessly to preserve these roads, the history they represent and the unique experiences they offer us.
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Waiting for our turn
Staggered starts helped space riders out on the roads.
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Into the Gravel
Time to venture into the gravel network. Pavement ends.
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Danger Llama
Taking a rolling selfie, #dangerLlama - #dangerPanda
I’ve been riding these roads for many years, but this Sunday was the first time I attempted an outing of over 50 miles. It’s hard not too, especially with the support offered along the route’s aid stations.
Since I first documented the Loudoun County gravel rides in my books I have been back to ride them on multiple occasions, but my outings never surpassed 50 miles. I had known about EX2’s grinder event but for one reason or another I never signed up. This year, however, it felt right to do so.
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Water Crossing
Crossing the low water ford along Philomont Road (recently renamed from Jeb Stuart Road).
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Shooting the Photoographer
Returning the favor and taking a photo of Bruce Buckley, event photographer.
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Shooting the Rider
Bruce Buckley seemed to be everywhere during the event. The other view…
My friends Paul and Becky had invited me to join them on a full pull of the C&O Canal from Cumberland, MD to Washington, D.C. in late May, so I had started to train for the three 60+ mile a day rides earlier in the year.
It seemed only right, that after tackling those rides, that we should cap it off with a spin along some of the same gravel roads we had been training on for the effort. We chose to partake in the 60 mile route, figuring that having ridden the 60 mile tow path segments we would be ready. We were.
Loudoun County has the largest and oldest network of gravel roads in the United States.
We rolled off shortly before 9 am and for the next 5 hours enjoyed an absolutely phenomenal day of cycling along the perfectly crafted route. Along, the way we met new people, connected with old friends and enjoyed some of the best cycling along the east coast.
We enjoyed an absolutely phenomenal day of cycling along the perfectly crafted route.
We were eagerly anticipating the ride and were anxious about it because the air quality index in the D.C. region was soaring above safe standards. Thankfully the air cleared before Sunday and all we had to cope with were some “mildly” high temperatures and miles of smiles along one of the greatest treasures in our region.
Loudoun’s gravel roads are the perfect place to escape the masses.
The Route We Followed
We opted to do the 60 mile ride, below is the actual route we followed.
America’s Routes
Learn more about the effort to preserve Loudoun County’s rural gravel roads by visiting America’s Routes and by watching The Long Road Home…