Ride the best gravel in Ann Arbor

The classic gravel loop north of town. Many people's go-to for short solo rides and group hammer sessions alike. This version is mapped from the Barton Nature Area parking lot. Forsythe Elementary, at the top of the Newport Hill, is a popular starting spot as well. If you're a segment-hunter, the official Dirt Hammer Strava Segment (https://www.strava.com/segments/2360856) is a 20.7 mile lollipop starting and ending at the Maple/Foster bridge,

This Figure-8 route takes you to some of the smaller forest roads in Waterloo State Park which provide a great contrast to the more open farm roads we get in the rest of Washtenaw county. Passing through Chelsea and Dexter along the way provides ample opportunities for resupply. On the way back to town, a victory lap on Tubbs Road gives you one of the prettier gravel climbs near Ann Arbor. But you can easily skip this and just continue back up Huron River Drive.