From Gravel to Trails: How Gravel Cycling Events Support Rural Tourism and Trail Development


In Patagonia, Arizona, the air hums with the sound of tires rolling over gravel. Riders from across the country gather under the wide desert sky, not just to race but to celebrate what makes this place special. Patagonia may be small, but it carries a big spirit. It is a gateway to the San Rafael Valley, the Arizona Trail, and a growing movement of communities discovering how outdoor recreation can shape their future.


On Thursday, October 23rd, I will be here not as a racer but as one of the featured speakers for the Spirit World Fundraiser for the Arizona Trail, an evening that blends storytelling, community, and purpose. The dinner, hosted at the Patagonia Lumber Company, raises funds for the Arizona Trail Association’s ongoing work maintaining and expanding one of the most iconic long-distance trails in the country.


Alongside another guest speaker (Eddie Kessler of Ptarmigan Ptrails, whom we featured HERE), I will share insights drawn from my Trail Towns from Scratch: How Small Communities Can Revive Their Economy Through Trails eBook, lessons on how gravel cycling and trail building can go hand in hand to fuel sustainable economic growth in rural communities.

Gravel Cycling as a Gateway to Trail Development in Rural Communities


Why Gravel Events Are the First Step Toward Becoming a Trail Town


Trails do not just appear because we wish them into existence. They are built out of passion, collaboration, and belief. Belief that the work of shaping a trail can also shape a community. Gravel events like the Spirit World 100 often become the first spark.


In Trail Towns from Scratch, I wrote:


“Gravel is the gateway. It is the bridge between what is and what could be. It opens the door for communities to dream about trails, tourism, and a future rooted in both adventure and place.”


That is what makes the Spirit World special. While it is a world-class race and event ... it is more than that. It is a model for what is possible when event organizers, local businesses, and trail advocates work together. The event brings in hundreds of riders and visitors to Patagonia each year, filling local inns, restaurants, and coffee shops. But beyond the weekend itself, it helps anchor the town’s identity around outdoor recreation and stewardship.

The Economic Impact of Gravel Cycling and Trail Tourism


How Outdoor Recreation Drives Rural Economic Growth


According to the oft-cited Trust for Public Land’s 2024 Economic Benefits of Mountain Biking report, visitors on mountain bike and trail-focused trips spend an average of $416 per visit, generating millions in local economic impact. The pattern is consistent across states. New and expanded trail systems lead to measurable gains in jobs, small business creation, and tax revenue. These numbers underscore something that rural leaders often underestimate: trails and events are not side projects. They are engines for local economies.


When a gravel event like Spirit World attracts riders to Patagonia, those dollars ripple through town at the market, the café, the lodging, and the bike shop. They become fuel for new ideas, partnerships, and projects. Over time, the same people who once came to race begin to invest more deeply, returning to volunteer, build, and advocate for more trails.

How Gravel Events Build Community and Long-Term Trail Investment


From Event Weekend to Year-Round Outdoor Recreation Economy


My work with Trail Builder Magazine has always centered on this intersection of community and place. While most of our stories celebrate the people shaping singletrack with tools in hand, I have found that the story begins long before the first shovel hits the ground. It often starts with events like this, where a community says yes to hosting, welcoming, and dreaming bigger.


Patagonia and the Spirit World team have done just that. They have turned a gravel event into a movement, one that benefits not just riders but trail builders, local businesses, and the Arizona Trail itself.

Why Supporting Trail Fundraisers Matters for Rural Tourism and Conservation


An Invitation to Support the Arizona Trail and Local Communities


If you are anywhere near southern Arizona next week, I would love to see you at the Spirit World Fundraiser Dinner. Come for the meal, stay for the stories, and help support the Arizona Trail Association’s mission to maintain and expand this incredible trail network.


And if you cannot make it, you can still be part of this broader movement by downloading Trail Towns from Scratch, a free resource I created to help small towns and local leaders understand how trails and gravel events can shape a more vibrant future.


Gravel and trails may seem like different worlds. But in truth, they are two parts of the same story, a story about connection, resilience, and the belief that sometimes the best way forward begins on a dusty road.


Photo credit: Shannon Christine