1 cycling and mountain biking event in Garrattsville, New York

2026 Butternut Valley Gravel Grinder & Harvest Festival A Ride (Not a Race) to Celebrate Summer, Community, and Gravel!

New this year: a 5K trail run alongside our annual Gravel Grinder, followed by the Summer Harvest Festival in the afternoon.

The Harvest Festival features live music, vendors, food trucks, craft beer & cider, plus a bounce house and petting zoo for the kids.

This is our 5th year partnering with Bassett Cancer Institute for fundraising.

Register by 8/17 to receive your meal ticket. No day-of registration.

Routes

• Long Route (45 miles): https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48072998

• Short Route (15 miles): https://ridewithgps.com/routes/48296343

Event Overview

CNYC, Butternuts Brewery, and the Butternut Valley Alliance (BVA) invite you to enjoy some of the best dirtphalt terrain in the region. The BVA is a community nonprofit dedicated to protecting the environmental, agricultural, and cultural heritage of the Butternut Creek watershed.

Parking is at Butternuts Brewery, and from there you’ll head into some of the nicest, and steepest, roads in the area.

This is not a race. Think of it as a cycling challenge. Ride at your own pace, chase Strava segments if you want, or simply enjoy the scenery. Above all: have fun and stay safe.

Ride Protocol & Safety

We plan to have motos and follow vehicles for both routes. Marshals will be stationed at major intersections, but all riders must obey traffic laws. Marshals do not control motor vehicles; they control rider flow for safety.

If a marshal instructs you to stop, you must stop. Safety comes before speed.

Course Info

Choose between a 15-mile or 45-mile challenging route. Please review the course profiles and select gearing appropriately.

Expect:

• Fast, smooth dirt roads

• Some technical, potentially hazardous sections

• Seasonal roads that may change depending on conditions

Schedule

• Wave 1: 11:00 AM

• Wave 2: 11:10 AM

There is no time limit, but after ~4 hours on the long course, marshals may begin packing up. Our volunteers mark the course extremely well, but please choose the route that fits your ability.

Suggested Equipment

• Gearing: A 1:1 climbing ratio recommended (e.g., 42×42)

• Tires: 35mm+ suggested; 40–47mm ideal

• Bike Types: Gravel bikes preferred; MTB and road bikes welcome

• Expect smooth gravel, rough seasonal roads, and technical sections

Post-Ride: Summer Harvest Festival

After the ride, enjoy:

• Bands & live music

• Vendors

• Bounce house

• Petting zoo

• Craft beer from Ommegang, Beer Tree, Muddy River, Cooperstown Brewery and More

• Food from Empire House (Gilbertsville) and food trucks

Your first beer is free. Additional pints ~$6. Must be 21+ to drink.

Meal included with entry if registered by 8/17.

Why We Ride

A great course, great people, great food and beer — all supporting:

• Bassett Cancer Institute

• Butternut Valley Alliance

• CNYC

Come ride, celebrate, and support a great cause!