2027 Muddy Onion Spring Classic Gravel Grinder

 2026 MUDDY ONION SPRING CLASSIC GRAVEL GRINDER

p/b Onion River Outdoors and in conjunction with Montpelier Alive's MUDFEST and VT Gear Makers Festival!

Come out of your winter hibernation for a fully-supported gravel grinder looping many of the amazing dirt roads Central Vermont has to offer! These early spring roads can be challenging (could they possibly be as challenging as 2025, though??!!), but the views, exploration, and camaraderie are definitely worth it. For those who are just getting their bike legs under them, there is a shorter 20-mile loop that will still give you plenty of dirt, ponds, streams, mud, fun, and cow sightings, in addition to the longer 40 and 60+/- mile XL options.

FOR 2027: ONLY TWO STAGGERED START TIMES!

Start time for XL loop: 8:30am. Start time for 20 and 40-mile rides is 9:30am. We're hoping to get everyone back to the finish and post-ride party at more similar times this year. Our start times are based on average rider speed but your speed may be different. Regardless of which route you choose, please choose your start time accordingly!

As always, we will have fully-stocked aid stations with everything you could ever hope for while out on an April gravel ride with all of your friends. Turn-by-turn cue sheets and maps will be available and the courses will be fully marked. 

We are still cooking up the routes for 2027 but you can review the 2026 routes HERE!

We will update these maps as soon as we work out the details for the 2027 routes! 

2026 XL ~60-mile Ride

2026 Classic 40-mile Ride

Hibernator 20-mile Ride

Cap off your amazing Saturday ride with delicious food from our local restaurant Enna and drinks (included with entry or volunteer role) from our friends at Good Measure Brewing and 1000 Stone Farm/Farmer's Hand at the post-ride party back at Onion River Outdoors! 

For anyone wishing to attend only the party after the ride, food/drink tickets are available for a pre-reg rate of $25 or $35 day-of.

To relive the fun from past rides, check out these amazing photos by John Lazenby.

REGISTRATION:

Early Pre-reg (11/1 - 2/28): $85 for the XL ride and Classic 40, $75 for the Hibernator 20

Late Pre-reg (3/1 - 4/16): $100 for the XL ride and the Classic 40, $90 for the Hibernator 20

Week Before registration  (4/17-4/22) (if it doesn't sell out beforehand): $110 for the XL ride and Classic 40, $100 for the Hibernator 20

Day Before and Day Of Reg (4/23-4/24): $120 for the XL ride and the Classic 40, $110 for the Hibernator 20

CANCELLATION POLICY: We get it, things come up. We want to make sure you have options. We allow cancellations through 3/1 for a refund. If you cancel after 3/1 through 4/17 you can choose ORO store credit or ORO event BikeReg credit. We have to buy meals, drinks, and other food and equipment well in advance of the event. Thank you for your understanding.

                            From 4/21 - 4/24, we'll be in full event prep mode and very busy! We can't guarantee we will see or be able to accommodate any last minute requests. 

Pre-reg packet pickup party runs from 4-7pm on Friday 4/23 and reopens at 7am until the start of each ride on Saturday at Onion River Outdoors. 

VOLUNTEERS – We need your help making the 2027 Muddy Onion a raging success! If you have non-riding family or friends accompanying you to beautiful Montpelier for the weekend, please consider asking them to join the party via a volunteer slot HERE . Thanks in advance!

Thank you to our local VMBA chapter, the Montpelier Area Mountain Bike Association, for being a great partner year-round and creating and maintaining amazing local trails, holding events and clinics, and for you mutual support of our local VTYC youth cycling team, the Central Vermont Trailblazers!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      

LOCAL LODGING

We're super excited to be working with two local lodging options for Muddy Onion riders for 2027: the historic Inn at Montpelier just a stone's from Onion River up Main Street and Capitol Plaza Hotel Montpelier, Tapestry Collection by Hilton, also just a stone's throw away from us down State Street.  We will update the Local Lodging as we work out more details with these two amazing Montpelier hotels! 

So make a weekend of it and stay downtown within walking and easy riding distance of the ride!

Please note that we cannot recommend the Economy Lodge in Montpelier as a local lodging option. 

PARKING options will be clarified as we approach the 2027 Muddy Onion and on-the-ground marking will designate a few key lots around Montpelier. Parking in metered spots in the core downtown will be strongly discouraged as a courtesy to our fellow businesses. For general reference, public parking can be seen here:

Can't wait to see you there!! #muddyonion2027 @muddy_onion #vermontgravel

Get after it! - The ORO Team