If Bighorn Gravel had existed before 'gravel' became its own category, it might have simply been called a mountain bike race. Built around the rugged terrain of Colorado's White River National Forest near Gypsum, in Eagle County's high country. Riders on the marquee Ram's Horn Escape route face real alpine gravel: loose powdery sections, chunky embedded rock, and fast hardpack that turns soft without warning, on a course that climbs to over 11,000 feet.
Bighorn Gravel is a young event by the standards of most races in the US — still only in its 5th edition for 2026. It keeps a grassroots feel, while pulling in some seriously talented elite riders (look no further than the women's podium from 2026). While it may not have the numbers of a bigger event, the management duo of Jake Wells and Mike Brumbaugh put their heart and soul into this race, and it shows.
Presented in partnership with the Town of Gypsum, the event has built out into a small series alongside its September road-focused counterpart, Bighorn Road.
Registration opens in January for the June race; unlike many marquee gravel events, it doesn't reliably sell out. A companion event, Bighorn Road, runs in September on paved/mixed terrain over similarly named 'Stone Sheep' and 'Dall Sheep' routes.