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SOL GRAVEL (2023 Official Route)
Cycling Route
Details
174.29 mi
7,006 ft
SOL Gravel is a self-supported, ultra-cycling race spanning the best alt-roads of Benzie and Manistee counties. The race starts at 7 AM on Saturday, July 22, 2023, at Elberta's Waterfront Park.
Course Description:
Starting on the Betsie Valley Trail from Elberta to Thompsonville, enjoy flat, fast, and scenic gravel for the first 40 miles before embracing the epic climbs of the Manistee National Forest. Just after mile 80, you'll cross the Lincoln Bridge over the Pine River where you can expect a couple of miles of slow, sandy climbing and a soothing descent to North Kings Highway. From there, it's smooth sailing westbound to Manistee where at mile 126 you'll travel along the Lake Michigan coastline on mostly paved roads through Onekema, Pierport, and Arcadia before hitting 4 miles of single track at the Arcadia Dunes C.S. Mott Nature Preserve. It's the homestretch along Herring Lake before one last climb up Johnson Road and it's all downhill back to Elberta. Overall, you'll cover 175 miles and climb about 7k feet in elevation gain.
Resupply spots on course at:
Mile 43 - Mesick
Mile 97 - Dublin
Mile 128 - Manistee
Mile 141 - Onekema
Course Description:
Starting on the Betsie Valley Trail from Elberta to Thompsonville, enjoy flat, fast, and scenic gravel for the first 40 miles before embracing the epic climbs of the Manistee National Forest. Just after mile 80, you'll cross the Lincoln Bridge over the Pine River where you can expect a couple of miles of slow, sandy climbing and a soothing descent to North Kings Highway. From there, it's smooth sailing westbound to Manistee where at mile 126 you'll travel along the Lake Michigan coastline on mostly paved roads through Onekema, Pierport, and Arcadia before hitting 4 miles of single track at the Arcadia Dunes C.S. Mott Nature Preserve. It's the homestretch along Herring Lake before one last climb up Johnson Road and it's all downhill back to Elberta. Overall, you'll cover 175 miles and climb about 7k feet in elevation gain.
Resupply spots on course at:
Mile 43 - Mesick
Mile 97 - Dublin
Mile 128 - Manistee
Mile 141 - Onekema
Created By
Tyler Tafelsky
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| gravel stretch at railroad point | 1.82 mi | 30 ft | 0.1% |
| across the bridge into mesick | 0.45 mi | 85 ft | 3.3% |
| Decent Descent | 1.35 mi | -256 ft | -3.6% |
| Your SOL is Mine | 2.85 mi | -190 ft | -0.1% |
| 6 MIle Bridge Rd to Stronach RD | 4.90 mi | -46 ft | -0.0% |
| Lakeshore to M22 North | 9.03 mi | -144 ft | -0.0% |
| Lake Shore Tempo | 8.86 mi | -144 ft | -0.1% |
| Little Eden Sprint | 0.54 mi | 13 ft | 0.3% |
| Herkelrath Diirt Climb | 0.90 mi | 197 ft | 4.2% |
| Pierport Rollers | 1.16 mi | 62 ft | 0.6% |
| Schaef Rd Climb | 0.80 mi | 207 ft | 4.7% |
| St Pierre Descent | 0.94 mi | -236 ft | -4.7% |
| St Pierre Climb North | 1.65 mi | 259 ft | 2.9% |
| Norman up 2 Taylor | 1.28 mi | 217 ft | 3.2% |
| Up the Ripper XL | 0.67 mi | 135 ft | 3.7% |
| Up the Ripper | 0.46 mi | 92 ft | 3.7% |
| To The Rdge | 0.71 mi | 138 ft | 3.6% |
| Arcadia - Segment 2 | 4.25 mi | -121 ft | -0.3% |
| Fast & Fun @ Arcadia | 1.84 mi | -121 ft | -1.2% |
| It would be HARD if it wasn't so fun! | 1.21 mi | 115 ft | 1.8% |
| Johnson Rd Assent | 0.41 mi | 167 ft | 7.7% |