Bikers in the 16th annual Gravel Grinder take to local roads Sunday

May 3, 2024  |  By Waterbury Roundabout 

The Waterbury Area Trail Alliance hosts its 16th annual Gravel Grinder ride this Sunday, May 5, with routes taking up to 350 bikers through Waterbury, Moretown and a section of Stowe. 

The event is expected to run from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. with the start and finish at Pilgrim Park in downtown Waterbury with Rusty Parker Park the central gathering spot.

Motorists in town should keep an eye out and use caution during the ride when bikers will be on the courses.  

Registration for the event is full but organizers encourage community members to cheer on the riders along the routes. The traditional 28-mile course is mainly in Waterbury with a section in Stowe Hollow; the “big grind” is 47 miles that covers the traditional course plus another 20-mile route through Moretown. 

Participants pay a registration fee of $65 making the Gravel Grinder the nonprofit trail group’s main annual fundraiser. Proceeds support its work on local trail-building, maintenance and land stewardship, particularly in the Perry Hill and Little River State Park trail areas. Funds also support the group’s long-range plans to link WATA trails to other local trail systems.

Ride day features food and beverages before and after and at aid stations along the way. The Gravel Grinder takes place rain or shine. 

For those who missed the signup this year, organizers advise to watch WATA social media in March when registration opens. Find more information online at waterburytrails.com.