UGS to Include 4 Races Including the Return of the Wasatch All Road
By Jessica Nelson — The “spirit of gravel” is alive and growing in Utah. From its origin as a single race in 2022, the Utah Gravel Series (UGS) has accumulated some favorite local events to create an entire season of off-road fun. In addition to the Salty Lizard in Wendover, the Wild Horse in Delle, and the Dirty Dino in Vernal, this year’s schedule includes the Wasatch All Road in Francis, Utah. This epic challenge was on hiatus until the UGS revived the infamous Yeti, and the excitement couldn’t be higher for the new courses.
Each of these races offer three distances to choose from, providing gravel enthusiasts the opportunity to pick their proverbial dusty poison. The short courses average 35 miles, the mid-distance about 75 miles, and the long courses about 100 miles.
Historically, the Salty Lizard had a fall date. For 2025 it will be the season opener on April 5th, giving graveleurs the chance to put some solid race miles in the legs early in the spring. Overlooking the Bonneville Salt Flats, the courses take riders around the Silver Island Mountain range. With an elevation gain of only 3500’ for the 98-mile distance, it’s the flattest event in the series. However, the sandy sections and 90% gravel composition will be a test for even the fittest riders.
Wild Horse is the next stop on May 10th featuring courses that are 100% gravel in the Cedar Mountain Wilderness. New this year, the Wild Horse will feature the “Super Stallion,” a 104-mile route that covers both loops and makes a distance comparable to the long courses found in each of the other events. While traversing the remote terrain, participants might be lucky enough to get a glimpse of Utah’s wild horses.
Returning for its fourth year, Dirty Dino retains the crowd favorite views on champagne gravel in Utah’s famous Dinosaurland. Last year’s event brought out some star power with the “T Rex” long courses being won by legendary triathlete Lauren Brandon and rising local superstar Truman Glasgow. The only thing tougher than the competition is the vertical challenge of ascending 10,000’ and reaching 10,000’ in elevation on the T-Rex route. The short and mid distance courses also pack their punch with serious vertical gained at elevation. It all goes down on June 14th, which makes the Dirty Dino a perfect event to prime the legs for other high-altitude races like Crusher in the Tushar happening later in the summer.
The final stop is the return of the Wasatch All Road on August 2nd, where riders will face the abominable Wasatch Wall on the mid and long distances. The 2025 courses will differ from previous iterations of the race and the new proposed route will trek through the private Wolf Creek Ranch, avoiding long stretches of pavement while offering even more dirty vert compared to WAR’s of the past. This race has drawn riders from all over country, but Utah’s own Melisa Rollins and Truman Glasgow each took the top step of the podium in 2023. While last year’s hiatus left a hole in the gravel calendar, gravel cyclists can look forward to having the beloved Sasquatch back in 2025. The WAR will also be the Utah State Gravel Championship, so there’s a lot on the line for this one.
All riders can expect well marked courses, deeply stocked rest stops, and a giant after party with vendor booths they can explore after dusting off. While recovering and refueling with the meals and beverages included with their entry, they can commiserate with their fellow participants about the incredible experience they just had. Awesome raffle prizes from event sponsors also add a lot of fun to the post-race gathering that will surely feature analytical discussions about tire and pressure choice. Another unique feature included in the series is that event photos are free for anyone to download and use for bragging rights.
The Utah Gravel Series boasts a “grassroots feel” which is discernible in every aspect of these events. From the participants to the vendors and the location of the races, the UGS is all about community and fostering connection through a love of adventure on wheels. Utah’s iconic landscapes are the perfect playground for a series of gravel battles and each of the events has something distinct to offer. Gravel glory awaits those who win their category and riders who complete each event (any distance) will also earn special recognition and a unique prize at the end of the season.
Each of the events is also sanctioned by USA Cycling. Participants can register for all four events of the same distance at a discounted price or pick and choose the distances for each event individually. Total race fields are capped at 300 for the Salty Lizard and the Wild Horse, so riders should not hesitate to register before they sell out. For more information, visit https://utahgravelseries.com
2025 Utah Gravel Series Schedule
- April 5 — Salty Lizard Gravel Race, Wendover, UT, This race showcases the best of Wendover’s amazing gravel roads with views of towering peaks and the Bonneville Salt Flats. Choose from 38-, 74-, or 98-mile courses. It will be hot, it will be salty, Breanne Nalder-Harward, [email protected], https://utahgravelseries.com
- May 10 — Wild Horse Gravel Race, Delle, UT, Explore a land only 45 minutes west of downtown Salt Lake City where hundreds of wild horses roam. It’s wide open. It’s challenging. It’s all unpaved. Distances of 76 or 35 miles, or both courses with the new Super Stallion 104 miles, Breanne Nalder-Harward, [email protected], https://utahgravelseries.com
- June 14 — Dirty Dino Gravel Race, Utah Gravel Series, Vernal, UT, Come get Jurass-kicked on 1 of the 3 amazing routes through the Uinta Mountains above Dinosaurland. Choose from 27, 67, or 102 mile routes. It’s going to be RAWRsome!, Breanne Nalder-Harward, [email protected], https://utahgravelseries.com
- August 2 — Wasatch All-Road Bicycle Race, Francis, UT, Featuring the toughest climb in gravel: the Wasatch Wall! The new courses take you through private dirt roads of Wolf Creek Ranch. Choose from 100, 58, and 31 mile courses (the mini yeti bypasses the wall, phew!), Breanne Nalder-Harward, [email protected], https://utahgravelseries.com
