There are rides that challenge your body, and then there are rides that change your perspective. Borderlands Gravel, held along the U.S.-Mexico border in Douglas, Arizona, is the rare event that manages to do both. This isn’t just another gravel race on the calendar—it’s a cultural, historical, and community experience set against the dramatic backdrop of the high desert borderlands.
Returning this season, Borderlands Gravel brings cyclists together from across the Southwest and beyond to explore one of the most striking and lesser-ridden landscapes in the U.S. Whether you’re chasing a podium, pushing personal limits, or riding to simply take in the scenery, this event delivers an unforgettable day on the bike.
Douglas sits at 4,000 feet along the San Bernardino Valley, surrounded by open sky, rugged mountains, and rolling ranch country. The roads here have carried everything from cattle drives and mining supply wagons to railroad crews and border patrol units. Today, they carry cyclists drawn to quiet miles and sweeping views you can’t get anywhere else.
The gravel itself is classic high desert—hardpack and fast in some stretches, chunky and technical in others—but always scenic. You’ll pass saguaro-studded ridges, mesquite lowlands, and distant mountains that shift in color as the sun climbs. The silence out here feels ancient.
This is gravel riding at its purest: remote, honest, and beautifully unfiltered.
Borderlands Gravel offers multiple route options, making the event truly accessible:
| Route | Distance | Ideal For |
|---|---|---|
| Short Course | 39 miles | Newer gravel riders, social pace riders |
| Intermediate Course | 65 miles | Riders comfortable with climbing + mixed surfaces |
| Long Course | 92 miles | Endurance-focused riders seeking a full-day challenge |
There is also an E-Bike route of 39 miles for those wishing for some pedal assistance.
Though distances vary each year, one thing is consistent: every route offers expansive views and meaningful connection to the land.
Douglas and its sister city Agua Prieta share a strong bi-national community, connected by family, commerce, and tradition. Borderlands Gravel highlights that shared identity rather than the dividing line.
One addition is an International Parade Lap, which will cross the boarder, pre-race, into Agua Prieta, Mexico and back where the race will commence.
Local volunteers, ranch families, cyclists from both sides of the border, and regional organizations all contribute to the event. Riders often describe the hospitality as genuine, warm, and deeply rooted.
This ride isn’t just supported—it’s embraced.
Weather can be calm or windy, warm or cool, serene or surprising. That unpredictability is part of the experience. Riders are encouraged to carry:
Ample hydration
Basic tools + tubes
Nutrition for long stretches
Respect for the terrain and private ranchland roads
This is self-reliance country, and riders love it for that very reason.
After the miles are done, Douglas slows the day down. Local food vendors, breweries, coffee roasters, and community organizations turn the finish area into a celebration. Stories are shared. Friendships are made. New riding plans are born.
There’s no rush to leave.
That’s the Borderlands way.
For more information, Visit HERE
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