Putting together a locally sourced gravel event isn’t easy, but the driving force behind them makes the difficulty worth it.
The Butte County Gravel Grind is another great example of the community wanting to showcase their region for others to enjoy while also raising money to further the cause.
I was fortunate to ride out of Butte Meadows three years earlier so I was eager to explore more.
Through this time Chico Velo has been developing trail projects in the region including forty miles of single track in Colby Mountain Recreation Area that this event helps fund.
With gravel events being tough to stage in California during the summer months, you can feel the elevation assist at the start about fifteen degrees cooler than in the valley.
The first six miles is how I like to start a ride climbing efficiently on pavement to get the legs moving while slowing to pass the historic Jonesville Hotel.
Turning west to the Colby Mountain lollipop brought our foray onto dirt with some rocketing descending to begin, but our bumpiest stretch was starting the counter clockwise loop on Colby Mountain Lookout Road which I’d consider playing with house money next to other rides.
Coming back the road was silky smooth not needing much of a grade to keep high speeds making it a fast return to Humboldt Road.
We were only on this paved road briefly riding Scotts John Rd for five miles gradually gaining elevation seeing our first section of fire damage and a sense of the widespread destruction from 2021’s Dixie Fire.
For starters, there’s a gear emptying mile climb averaging ten percent where your visual uncertainty of the peak adds to the pain.
From there it’s a lot of smooth riding mostly of the downhill variety making the effort worth the pain.
The aid station I crossed going in closed off the loop with the final sixteen miles mostly downhill with four sub-five minute climbs interrupting.
This connector brought us to our second loop clockwise covering thirteen miles beginning on Humbug Road.
Snag Lake is also tempting to jump into (although I’m not sure that’s legal), but after the last aid station it’s paved all the way back into Butte Meadows.
Making in for the post-ride, there’s an endless amount of burgers waiting and the locally brewed Sierra Nevada representing as well.
The Butte Meadows Gravel Grind is great celebration of the community which you’ll feel privileged to be part of as it’s one of the best!