Grand Depart – May 16, 2026
Letter of Intent for Grand Departs & ITTs
If you intend to ride a Grand Depart, ITT, or want to get email updates on any route updates, fill out this Letter of Intent and register on Follow My Challenge.
Ride from DC to Damascus to cross Virginia in 565 miles on mostly unpaved country and forest roads, double track and rail trails. Explore Virginia’s best backcountry riding on this new gravel bikepacking and touring route focused on rideable, non-technical, unpaved terrain intended for multi-day trips carrying overnight gear. The route traverses a variety of challenging climbs in remote areas of VA’s beautiful mountains, national forests and public lands. [about the route] [frequently asked questions]
TransVA Mountain 565:
- Total Distance: 566 miles (912km)
- Total climbing: 47,284 ft (14,412m)
- 9 Days at 62 miles/day, 5253 ft/day (a week and 2 weekends)
Check out trip reports and photos on Instagram and Facebook























