Belgian Waffle Ride — Arizona 2027
BWR hits the Sonoran Desert — technical gravel, singletrack, and 20% paved ramps through McDowell Mountain Park near Scottsdale, AZ.
The vibe
Desert gravel, saguaro suffering
BWR’s desert edition opens the Quad-Tripel Crown of Gravel Series from a staging area at McDowell Mountain Park near Scottsdale, running into the Rio Verde area of Tonto National Forest. Three distances cover the range: the Waffle at roughly 122 miles and 7,500 feet of climbing (58% unpaved), the Wafer at 68.3 miles (53% unpaved), and the Wanna at 33.4 miles (25% unpaved) for riders who want the flavor without the full suffer-fest.
The course mixes technical desert gravel and singletrack with wash crossings, steep paved ramps hitting 20% grades, and connecting tarmac — passing saguaro cacti and riparian stretches along the Salt River. It’s a legitimate endurance test through varied Sonoran terrain, not just a long gravel grind.
Finish this one alongside California, Utah, and Montana and it counts toward the Quad-Tripel Crown title. Register through BikeReg well ahead of time — spots go fast for the crown chasers.