Salida 76
76-mile gravel race through Salida's high-desert ranch roads and the Arkansas River valley. Champagne gravel in one of Colorado's best cycling towns.
The vibe
Champagne gravel, whiskey finish
Salida has quietly become one of Colorado’s best gravel towns — small enough to have character, large enough to have a proper cycling infrastructure, and surrounded by terrain that makes you want to spend a week. The Salida 76 takes full advantage, routing riders through 76 miles of champagne gravel and ranch roads through the Arkansas River valley country that makes this region special.
The course runs through remote terrain that gives you the sensation of riding somewhere truly away from things, without the logistical difficulty of events in genuinely inaccessible areas. Salida sits at 7,100 feet, so there’s enough altitude to affect anyone coming from lower elevation — but nothing extreme by Colorado standards. The climbing is honest without being punishing, and the descents on packed gravel are fast and smooth.
Post-race, Salida delivers: a growing craft beer scene, good restaurants, and a downtown that’s walkable and worth exploring. Several local shops will handle last-minute mechanicals before race day. Arrive Saturday, spend the evening in town, race Sunday, stay Sunday night. The drive home Monday morning will feel like a bonus.