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Largest Gravel Bikepacking Network in the Eastern USA Announced

The Mon Forest Towns Partnership announces 60 Gravel and Bikepacking Routes west of Washington DC

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This new network of interconnected routes traverses “the Mon,” which “covers nearly one million acres of rugged Appalachian terrain, including high spruce plateaus, deep river valleys, remote backcountry, and thousands of miles of forest roads,” according to a press release. “Within and around the forest, State Parks, Wildlife Management Areas, Wilderness Areas, and historic mountain towns unfold across a landscape uniquely suited for multi-day gravel riding and bikepacking.”

Twelve different towns are spread throughout the network, and most of the routes pass through one of them, offering opportunities to resupply or enjoy town-based luxuries like a fresh meal and a bed. And if you want to connect all 12 towns in one epic ride, the Mon Circuit 600 is for you. Measuring 594 miles long, the route climbs about 55,000 vertical feet over its distance, creating a massive loop that visits every corner of the Mon.

Largest Gravel Bikepacking Network in the Eastern USA Announced

Josh Nease, the Partnership’s Executive Director, remarked, “The launch of MFTP’s Gravel and Bikepacking Route Network marks an exciting milestone for our region and our work. By weaving together existing forest roads and historic infrastructure, we have created a world-class recreation asset that physically and symbolically connects all 12 of our mountain towns to the Monongahela National Forest—and to one another. This network is more than just a trail system; it is an engine for economic development. It invites the global cycling community to experience our rugged beauty while providing our local communities with the platform to host premier races and events, contributing to new jobs and thriving main streets for generations to come.”

The project was made possible through the ARC POWER Grant, with support from Village to Village Trails, Bikepacking Roots, and MountainRides LLC, organizations whose local expertise and national reach helped shape a route network designed to serve both everyday riders and dedicated bikepackers. The Partnership would also like to thank all the local cyclists whose contributions made this work possible.

Reflecting on the project, David Landis, of Village to Village Trails, added, “The Mon represents something rare—million-acre public lands, remote backcountry experiences, and a network of mountain towns woven together by an expansive web of gravel roads. That connectivity creates a richness of riding experiences you simply don’t find anywhere else. It’s also a place that’s become deeply personal to me, just beyond my back door in Harrisonburg and shaped by years of exploring with friends and family.”

Riders looking to experience the network firsthand can join the Bikepacking Roots Annual East Coast Summit, hosted in Marlinton from May 29 through June 1, 2026. The gathering brings together bikepacking enthusiasts from across the region for guided rides, community events, and exploration of the southern Mon Forest’s most scenic terrain.

The full route network is available at monforesttowns.org/gravel, with routes also published on Ride with GPS and featured on Bikepacking Roots.