Singletrack/MTB
Gravel/All-road
Dirt-road Touring
Fat-bike
2024 Bikepacking Awards: People and Routes
We’re continuing our 2024 Bikepacking Awards by celebrating the individuals who inspired the bikepacking community with their incredible accomplishments and adventures. Additionally, we’ve highlighted the most captivating bikepacking routes we shared this year. Explore all the nominated people, routes, and events here…
PUBLISHED Dec 10, 2024
In part one of our 2024 Bikepacking Awards, we featured our top picks for Gear of the Year. Our second awards installment celebrates the people who have contributed to our community through the richness of their storytelling, their commitment to the bikepacking community, or their use of adventure by bicycle to further important causes. And we both acknowledge and thank route makers by honoring everything from small overnighter escapes to overseas odysseys. We’re happy to continue to grow our first-of-its-kind bikepacking route network via our core route designers and stewards as well as a vibrant and talented community who contribute, maintain, and nurture these routes.
Note: For the decision on routes, we opened the process with a call for nominations that identified nearly 50 routes. From there, seven of us cast blind votes; the results were from a direct tally of our votes, which were based on several criteria, including the originality/intent, quality of documentation, and which we’d like to ride most. In addition, we reached out to the Bikepacking Collective, our community of members, to get their input. Without further ado, let’s get on to the awards.
Inspiring Bikepackers of The Year
Our award for Inspiring Bikepackers of the Year highlights a handful of individuals who inspired us with outstanding efforts and positively represented the bikepacking community in 2024. Find all six below in no particular order.
Logan Kasper
As far as award-worthy triumphs go, it’s hard to look past Logan Kasper’s gargantuan bikepacking feat on the longest bikepacking route in the world. Logan completed the Eastern Divide Trail in just 41 days, 1 hour, and 30 minutes (41d:01h:30m), smashing Eddie O’Dea’s prior record of just over 78 days and riding the EDT in a style all his own. As a final hoorah to his ultra-racing days, he rode toward a much greater goal than just a record. With a plan to propose to his now fiancé at the finish in Key West, Florida, Logan hit the jackpot in more ways than one. Dodging a hurricane that devastated much of the American Southeast, Logan’s record-setting ride is unlikely to be bested for quite some time. Although each continental divide route has its challenges, the unpredictability and length of what’s on offer throughout the Eastern Divide endeavors a trial unlike any other. While we were all taken aback by his ride, Logan’s relaxed, unassuming demeanor speaks to the nature of the trail and the respect one needs to have for the terrain to accomplish something so significant. We’re sad to see the end of Logan’s competitive bikepacking career, but we couldn’t imagine a more legendary mic drop. With several other podium finishes and as a current record holder for the Vermont Super 8 Route, Logan Kasper leaves a legacy of incredible merit. Congrats, Logan!
Lael Wilcox
On May 26, 2024, ultra-endurance cyclist Lael Wilcox embarked on an ambitious attempt to circumnavigate the globe by bicycle and set a new record in the process. Starting in Chicago, Illinois, she pedaled to New York before flying to Europe, where she rode from Portugal to Tbilisi, Georgia. From there, she crossed Australia and New Zealand, then flew to Anchorage, Alaska, to pedal all the way back to Chicago. Covering approximately 18,130 miles in 108 days, 12 hours, and 12 minutes, Wilcox shattered the women’s Guinness World Record for the fastest circumnavigation of the globe by bicycle, surpassing Jenny Graham’s 2018 record by an impressive 16 days, cementing her status as one of the premier endurance cyclists of her time.
Justinas Leveika
After a challenging 2023 marked by near-misses, 35-year-old Lithuanian ultra-endurance cyclist Justinas Leveika delivered a remarkable year of years in 2024. Leveika achieved standout victories at the Atlas Mountain Race and the Arizona Trail 800, finished the Colorado Trail Race with an incredible time, and completed the prestigious Triple Crown Challenge in record-breaking fashion. However, his defining moment came during the legendary 2,700-mile Tour Divide race. Leveika finished in an unfathomable 13 days, 2 hours, and 16 minutes, shaving some 20 hours off the previous record set by the late great Mike Hall, which had stood as a benchmark in ultra-endurance cycling for eight years. Chapeau, Justinas. What an extraordinary year!
Vedangi Kulkarni
In 2018, 19-year-old Vedangi Kulkarni from Pune, India, set out to ride some 18,000 miles (29,000 kilometers) around the globe, pedaling largely solo and unsupported. Seven years later, she decided to do it again, this time choosing an inspiring and very adventurous route. Starting in eastern India, Vedangi cycled in an easterly direction to Kolkata, then through Mongolia, Australia, New Zealand, and Peru before pedaling from Portugal to Finland to Estonia. Now on day 152 with somewhere around 25,000 kilometers behind her, she’s in Oman finishing up the second to last stretch before heading back to India to complete her ride. Bravo, Vedangi!
Evan Christenson
Contributing editor Evan Christenson spent most of the year pedaling around Morocco, Tanzania, and Kenya, where he created some of the strongest and most thought-provoking pieces of the year. Evan’s commitment to chasing down stories worth telling and the exceptional care with which he presents them are both unmatched. We admire his openness and ability to connect with people everywhere where he goes, and his travels are a testament to the incredible places the humble bicycle can take you. Catch up on his recent posts here.
Laura Heiner
In 2016, having not ridden a bike in over a decade, Laura Heiner watched in awe at the finish of the Smoke ’n’ Fire 400 event and decided she wanted in. The following year, Laura was one of three women to finish the event. Shortly after that race, Laura started the Women of the Smoke ’n’ Fire 400 group to empower women to line up for future events. Its 100 members have grown to over 1,000, and it has evolved into the Idaho Women’s Bikepacking group—which now includes a gear library for first-timers, group campouts, clinics, and more. Laura’s commitment to cultivating the bikepacking community is equally inspiring and impressive.
Best New Routes (9+ days)
This category honors worldwide bikepacking odysseys—experiences we’re sure you’ll never forget. Find our three picks below, ordered based on our votes.
S.A.N.D.
Of all the bikepacking routes published on the site this year, there’s certainly none more deserving of an award than the 5,454-kilometer Southern Africa and Namibian Deserts (S.A.N.D.) traverse. Developed by Johan Wahl and his partner Jana over the last three years, S.A.N.D. was a monumental passion project, requiring several return trips, in-depth consultation with locals and landowners to navigate land access issues, and collaboration with several prominent members of the local cycling community. Aside from being a major accomplishment on paper, it’s also a dream bucket list route for many of us, doubly fueled by Johan’s incredible photography, attention to detail, and compelling narrative. Cheers and thank you, Johan and Jana! Find all five segments linked here.
Route of Caravans
The long-awaited 1,288-mile (2,073-kilometer) Route of Caravans (RoC) was completed this year, offering cyclists the chance to traverse Morocco’s vast and varied landscapes primarily on dirt. The southern tier begins in the coastal town of Tiznit and winds through the rugged Anti-Atlas Mountains, the northern Sahara Desert, and the towering High Atlas Mountains. The northern tier picks up in the High Atlas village of Imilchil, where the southern route ends, and continues north to the Mediterranean Sea where riders can pick up the Altravesur in southern Spain. A heartfelt thanks to Evan Christenson and the many riders whose reports helped bring this ambitious project to fruition, not to mention the generous support of the Bikepacking Collective Builder-level members, whose contributions to the Collective Routes Fund made it possible. Find the RoC South here and RoC North here.
The Rolling Horse
Developed by ultra-endurance, singlespeed aficionado Matt Annabel, the Rolling Horse bikepacking route is another big one that caught our judges’ attention this year. The loop traverses the striking and diverse landscapes of northwestern Colorado’s Grand Hogback, a prominent 90-mile geological ridge that marks the division between the Southern Rockies and the Colorado Plateau. This challenging and awe-inspiring 464-mile (747-kilometer) loop interweaves through lands historically stewarded by the Nuche (Ute people), who hunted in the rugged highlands we now call the Elks, Raggeds, Flat Tops, and Roan. They also gathered and thrived along the serene banks of the White River. The route offers riders an immersive journey through a region rich in natural beauty and cultural history, blending demanding climbs with sweeping vistas and remote wilderness. View full route guide here.
Kootenay Confluence
The Kootenay Confluence is the cornerstone loop of the epic West Kootenay Bikepacking Route Network, a tremendous effort led by local route steward Moe Nadeau, with help from many others in the Nelson area bikepacking community. This stunning week-long bikepacking route winds through the West Kootenay and Boundary regions of British Columbia, dipping briefly into Washington state. The 372-mile (599-kilometer) loop begins and ends in the historic mining town of Nelson, nestled amid the Selkirk Mountains, and artfully connects decommissioned rail grades, scenic gravel roads, and sections of pavement, weaving through deep, forested valleys, meandering rivers, and charming villages. Find the full route guide linked from the Route Network here.
Best New Routes (Weeklong)
The Best New Routes (Weeklong) awards are dedicated to 5-to-8-day bikepacking routes that can be slotted into your work schedule and daily life commitments. After all, it’s amazing how many rich and rewarding experiences can be packed into a short riding holiday.
Madrean Rugged Ramble
Designed by none other than Joe Cruz, the Madrean Rugged Ramble is a demanding yet spectacular week-long bikepacking route through the spiky landscapes of southeastern Arizona. Covering 260 miles, the loop combines stretches of challenging Arizona Trail singletrack with historic adobe homesteads, iconic gravel roads, and towering canyons to showcase the rugged splendor of the Madrean Sky Islands and offer an unforgettable experience for adventurous bikepackers seeking to immerse themselves in the heart of the American Southwest. Riders can also enjoy a well-earned resupply stop in the charming town of Patagonia, known for its welcoming atmosphere and amenities. View full route guide here.
Cappadocia Delight
Türkiye’s mesmerizing Cappadocia region has long been a coveted destination among bike tourers, so we were excited to see a dirt-focused route dedicated to experiencing the area come to life this year. Designed by Michael O’Dwyer, the Cappadocia Delight is a 400-kilometer bikepacking loop that combines dreamy gravel paths and singletrack to take in the breathtaking views of a unique volcanic landscape and the area’s iconic fairy chimneys, sprawling steppe, and hidden valleys, all while enjoying its natural beauty and rich cultural history. Along the way, the route passes ancient cave dwellings, frescoed churches, and timeless villages, offering a perfect blend of adventure and learning. View full route guide here.
MinneIoWisco
We’ve seen several interesting routes developed in the northern Midwest over the last few years but none more compelling than Scott Haraldson’s creation published at the beginning of the year. Taking its name from the three states it traverses, MinneIoWisco is a scenic week-long gravel bikepacking loop through the Driftless Area of Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin. Covering 273 miles, this thoughtfully designed route features a mix of gravel roads, backroads, bike paths, and a touch of singletrack, offering an accessible ride for adventurous gravelleurs. Along the way, riders are treated to the unique landscapes of the Kickapoo Valley, the charm of the Elroy-Sparta State Trail, and the warm hospitality of the region’s eclectic breweries and local eateries. View full route guide here.
Best New Routes (Weekend)
This category highlights weekend bikepacking routes (2-to-4-day rides) that are are extremely rewarding in their own small but perfectly packaged way.
Of Resilience and Hope
Of Resilience and Hope is a refreshingly original approach to route making designed by Ernesto Pastor, founder and steward of Montañas Vacías. It offers a unique blend of storytelling and exploration in the stunning Jiloca Valley of Spain by creating an experience that combines a scenic bikepacking route with an immersive, downloadable ebook that brings the journey to life. The route itself is a long weekend loop designed to highlight the valley’s serene landscapes and charming villages, while the accompanying ebook serves as a guide and narrative companion, providing a deeper connection to the region’s history and spirit. View full route guide here.
Pitkin Passage
Designed by our own Neil Beltchenko, the Pitkin Passage is a weekend bikepacking route that starts and finishes in Pitkin, Colorado, a quaint town nestled in the Sawatch Range. This breathtaking 80-mile loop takes riders across six mountain passes, weaving through a mix of forest service roads, rugged two-track paths, and singletrack trails. The route showcases the area’s alpine meadows, dense forests, and sweeping mountain vistas, and it offers plenty of opportunities to camp under the stars and soak in Colorado’s high country. It also packs a punch with its climbing and technical sections, so bring your climbing legs. View full route guide here.
Santa Rosa Valleys and Vistas
Another amazing-looking loop in our West Kootenay Bikepacking Route Network is the Santa Rosa Valleys and Vistas, a four-day bikepacking adventure starting and ending in Castlegar, British Columbia. This scenic route stitches together a variety of rail grade, gravel roads, singletrack, and a few hike-a-bikes to take riders through the heart of the Kootenays. It also rolls along several historic tracks, including the Columbia Western Rail Trail and the iconic Bulldog Tunnel, offering several opportunities where riders can enjoy sweeping views of the Monashee Mountains and stop at quirky local shops and eateries. View the full route guide here.
Mega Mid South
The Mega Mid South is a stunning and challenging 300-mile gravel bikepacking loop that spans a long weekend or more, depending on your speed and fitness. The loop begins and ends at District Bicycles in Stillwater, Oklahoma, home of the iconic Mid South gravel event, and is the result of over 10 years of planning and route building for The Mid South. The course is designed to highlight the unique landscapes of Oklahoma, with picturesque farmland scenery and raucous gravel roads offering riders a rewarding challenge. The route guide includes carefully detailed logistics, beautiful photos, and info about the inaugural grand depart event. View the full route guide here.
Best New Routes (Overnighter)
Overnight routes offer an easy and accessible way to get out, disconnect, and get a quick sense of an area’s landscapes and culture from the saddle. We’ve added hundreds of fantastic overnighter routes to our map since we launched the Local Overnighter Project a few years ago, and this category was particularly difficult to narrow down. While none of the three finalists are particularly difficult routes, they are each long by overnighter standards and could all make great three-day loops as well.
Ojai Rim Loop
Designed by Erin Carroll, the Ojai Rim Loop is a beautiful 67-mile overnight bikepacking route that encircles the city of Ojai in Ventura County, California. It offers a blend of vehicle-free dirt roads, multi-use paths, and some singletrack, with the halfway point at Hines Peak, which rises to nearly 7,000 feet. Riders are treated to spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean and the Topatopa Mountains for much of the journey. This route is doable as an overnighter but can be extended to a weekend adventure for those who wish to relax and immerse themselves in the area. View full route guide here.
Ironwood Overnighter
Designed by serial overnighter creator Molly Sugar, the Ironwood Overnighter is a unique route that explores North America’s largest Ironwood tree stand, offering a rugged 48-mile journey through Arizona’s Sonoran Desert with sweeping vistas of three desert mountain ranges and a dive into the region’s rich history, featuring stops at Cocoraque Butte and the Titan II Missile Silo. While the distance might seem manageable, the sandy, rough dirt roads add an extra layer of challenge to this captivating ride. View full route guide here.
Vedauwoo Rendezvous
Route maker Seth Kruckenburg teased us with this route for a year before finally putting it on the map in 2024. Nestled in southeastern Wyoming, the Vedauwoo Rendezvous takes in the geological marvel of the same name where dramatic granite rock formations seemingly rise out of nothing from the high plains. This unique landscape of pine forests and aspen groves creates a lovely backdrop for a mix of trails and dirt roads that make up the route. Vedauwoo’s distinctive physiography and rich biodiversity make it a great overnight escape into the area’s untamed beauty. View full route guide here.
Collective Choice Route of the Year
While many of our favorite routes come in the form of a simple overnight trip, there’s something special about a route designed for multiple nights out. With that, we curated a list of our favorite multi-night routes from 2024 and asked members of the Bikepacking Collective to vote on their favorite. Here are the three clear winners based on votes.
Minnesota River Ramble
The second route published by Scott Haraldson in 2024 captivated the Collective as much as it did us. The Minnesota River Ramble is a five-day gravel bikepacking route that traces the meandering path of the Minnesota River in the southwestern region of the state. True to its name, the river takes a wandering course, flowing from Minnesota’s western border southward before curving back north. Likewise, the route follows a similarly diverse trajectory—ascending from valley ridges to the river’s edge, venturing into vast open farmland under endless blue skies, and weaving through shaded forested canopies. With minimal elevation gain, a suggested daily mileage of about 65 miles, and small towns scattered along the way for easy resupply, this route is an excellent choice for those new to multi-day bikepacking trips. We’re stoked to see this one in the awards. View full route guide here.
Kootenay Confluence
Very deserving of a second showing in these awards, the Kootenay Confluence clearly enchanted those who voted in the Bikepacking Collective Choice survey. A big thank you goes out to all who helped create it. Reflecting on the route’s beginnings, it was first discussed as an opportunity to encourage riders in this majestic region to learn more about the land on which they recreate. It intentionally passes through two countries to showcase how nature, wildlife, water, and people don’t adhere to boundaries. View full route guide here.
Death Valley Dustup
Designed by Kacey Frisher, The Death Valley Dustup is a five- to six-day bikepacking route that leads riders deep into the heart of the Lower 48’s largest national park. Along the way, riders will encounter some of the most unusual and breathtaking features of Death Valley, including palm-lined hot springs, towering sand dunes, and a curious bathtub filled with marbles mysteriously placed in the middle of the desert. This one undoubtedly made it on a lot of our bucket lists. View full route guide here.
Collective Choice Overnighter of 2024
We also asked the Bikepacking Collective to select their favorite overnighter route from the dozens that were published this year. Here are the three that received the most votes!
Little Switzerland Loop
Adding to the list of beginner-friendly Midwest gems, the Little Switzerland Loop is a scenic overnighter designed by Levi Bridges. The short-but-sweet 42-mile route winds through rural Iowa’s picturesque rolling hills and alongside flowing rivers, and it’s anchored by a serene primitive camping area in the middle. The loop strikes a perfect balance: it’s long enough to offer a refreshing escape from daily stress yet compact enough to fit into a tight schedule. That’s the kind of overnighter we love to see! View full route guide here.
Lakes Loop Overnighter
Developed by Emily Wormald, the Lakes Loop Overnighter is an already well-loved bikepacking route in the UK’s stunning Lake District tailored mainly for gravel bikes and designed for a group ride. It weaves through some of the area’s finest unpaved roads and smooth(ish) trails, offering riders a chance to flip-flop between the northern and southern lakes. The route climbs over scenic passes, along lakes and meres, and stops at a variety of excellent cafes for well-earned breaks. View full route guide here.
Land of the Ancients Overnighter
The Land of the Ancients is an intriguing overnight bikepacking loop located in the shadow of White Mountain, California’s third-highest peak and the tallest in the Great Basin Desert. This route takes riders through a variety of highlights, including remnants of abandoned mining operations, the ruins of White Mountain City, the expansive solitude of Deep Springs Valley, and the route’s namesake, the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest—home to some of the oldest living trees on Earth. View full route guide here.
Best New Events
Our last category honors three new events, all of which had their inaugural running in 2024. Further, each serves to grow and foster the bikepacking community at large.
The Accursed
The Accursed Race was created by Lost Dot, the folks who manage the Transcontinental and Trans Pyrenees races. Accursed is their first fixed route, no-fly, off-road race. Exploring the Balkans—the heart of the Transcontinental Race—the 2024 Accursed led riders through Albania, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Kosovo. The Accursed Race was inspired by Mike Hall’s idea that “the more competent and confident you feel on a bike, the bigger your map grows and the greater your desire to fill in the spaces between.” See Josh Ibbett’s coverage here.
Fenderfest
A bike festival to celebrate the metal accessories that protect riders and their bicycles bikes dirt and grime? Yes, please. This year’s inaugural Fenderfest did just that, bringing 120 folks together who, indeed, believe that a mudguard isn’t just an accessory that goes over a tire; it’s an enduring symbol of century-old craftsmanship and philosophy. As you can find in our coverage, there were plenty of beautiful fenders, a quirky sunglasses accessory, and lots of striking bicycles. We love the idea. Find a great photo gallery and recap here.
Mega Mid South
We love it when popular gravel events embrace bikepacking. The new Mega Mid South event is just such a thing, spinning off a long-form bikepacking ride from one of the premier gravel events in the US. The route itself was concocted based on 10 years of Mid South gravel races, starting and ending in Stillwater, Oklahoma. The 2024 event kicked off at District Bicycles, where riders came together with camaraderie, helping them navigate a mix of crushed gravel and clay roads across the iconic Oklahoma landscape. One highlight is a welcoming overnight group camping stop at Lake Liberty, complete with food trucks. Find Nic’s report from the ride here.
El Piri
El Piri is a bikepacking gravel group ride through the Catalan Pyrenees in Spain. The route runs some 800 kilometers with a whopping 20,000 meters of elevation gain, starting and finishing in the beautiful city of Girona. Despite the climbing, El Piri was devised to offer an achievable challenge. While riders in the inaugural running admitted it was incredibly tough at some points, the 2024 edition had an 80% finish rate. And based on photos, efforts are undoubtedly rewarded by beauty. Find the recap here.
Slow Coast
Inspired by Sarah Swallow’s Sky Islands Adventure Ride and Speaker Series, Slow Coast is a bikepacking weekend focused on community, education, and conservation in the qathet region on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast. Over 40 people attended the inaugural event this fall, helping raise over $2,000 to be split between four local advocacy groups: The Name Matters, Wild Ocean Whale Society, Indigenous Youth Mountain Bike Program, and Coastal Partners in Conservation.
If you missed it, make sure to check out part one of our 2024 Bikepacking Awards, 2024 Gear of The Year, and stay tuned for the third and final installment next week.
Further Reading
Make sure to dig into these related articles for more info...
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