After much consideration, I am going to be making changes to the medium and long Lost River Classic routes in 2025. It’s a difficult decision to make because the Lost River Classic has developed a reputation for being one of the most challenging and technical gravel races in the East, but the most challenging and unique section of the course is incredibly difficult to manage logistically, both in terms of providing mechanical support and dealing with the potential for injury on the singletrack in George Washington National Forest. Post-event surveys from 2022 and 2023 indicated that at least 80% of riders preferred to keep the singletrack and forest service road in the medium and long routes, which is arguably our signature section, but this section is also extremely polarizing–some riders will not return or recommend the race to others. Ultimately, our goal is to bring as many cyclists as possible to Hardy County to increase exposure of cycling here and fundraise for the Lost River Trails Coalition.
With this in mind, I have redesigned the course for 2025, but will solicit feedback after the race and will be open to a return to the original course in 2026, pending further medical or mechanical support stations within the national forest.

This year’s course design stretches further north and includes a lot of roads which are less commonly (or almost never, in come cases) ridden by visitors to Hardy County. I think folks will really appreciate the new designs, as the medium course is now longer (closer to 60 miles) and includes Squirrel Gap Road, which has been requested by medium course riders in the past. The long course will increase from 72 to 85 miles, but the total elevation will decrease from 9,000 to 8,500 feet. These courses are still challenging without crossing over into true sufferfest territory for which the Lost River Classic has become known. I would rate the overall challenge to be more akin to GRUSK.
The new course design is very close to my heart. It now extends to Kirby, in southern Hampshire County, in passes by my childhood house. The course includes a great number of roads I had ridden on as a kid, from Kirby to Old Route 55, which will include the gravel Rock Oak Road, Briar Lick (paved in the late 90s but devolved back into gravel), Constable Hollow, and Lower Skaggs Run Road. The route will include part of Horn Camp Road on the Hampshire/Hardy border, which, like Briar Lick, is ostensibly gravel at this point. This network of gravel and paved roads between Old 55 in the south and Kirby in the north constitute some of the best roads in all of Hardy County, and I think this year’s riders will really, really enjoy them. Although the Basore and Judge Rye climbs are not longer in this year’s course, riders will still be treated to a medium-intensity climb up Lower Cove Road (which has been on the short course) and Helmick Rock as before. The hike-a-bike driveway climb and private farm tracks are tentatively off this year’s course, but may be added back in. Caldwell Hollow Road, parallel to Parker Hollow, is a great gravel substitute. A pretty cool feature of this year’s designs is that all riders will follow the same course for 12 miles before the short loops splits off and 27 miles before the medium splits off.

For those wanting to climb Judge Rye in an organized ride this year, check out Gritventure on April 12, which will start and end in Wardensville.
Long route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49458335
Medium route: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/49458343