Sarah Swallow to Preview Golden Gravel Trail
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact
Jessica Zephyrs, VP of Marketing
jzephyrs@adventurecycling.org
TAT Pioneer Sarah Swallow to Preview Adventure Cycling’s New 3,688-Mile Golden Gravel Trail
Professional adventure cyclist will be first to ride Pacific-to-Mississippi route, with live tracking beginning August 27
Missoula, MT – August 21,2025 – Adventure Cycling Association announces that professional adventure cyclist Sarah Swallow will be the first person to ride the organization’s newest, in-development epic route, the Golden Gravel Trail, beginning August 27, 2025. The 3,688-mile mixed-surface route spans from the Pacific Ocean in Oregon to the Mississippi River in Missouri, crossing eight states and climbing 234,032 feet through some of America’s most diverse terrain.
Swallow, who made history in 2015 as the first cyclist to traverse the 5,000-mile Trans-America Trail (TAT) designed for motorcycles, will scout, validate, and promote the Golden Gravel Trail ahead of its official 2026 launch. Her preview ride will be trackable in real-time through a Follow My Challenge map on Adventure Cycling’s website, with live updates posted across her social media channels.
“Sarah’s experience pioneering the TAT makes her uniquely qualified to validate this route,” said Adventure Cycling cartographer and route creator Amy Wally. “Her insights from that transformative journey directly informed the development of the Golden Gravel Trail, which was designed specifically to better accommodate the needs of bikepackers and adventure cyclists.”
The Golden Gravel Trail represents a groundbreaking addition to America’s long-distance cycling infrastructure. Starting at the Oregon coast, the route travels through Idaho, Utah, Colorado, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Missouri, offering riders everything from rolling Ozark hills and endless Great Plains to stark deserts and challenging alpine passes. The highest point reaches 12,034 feet at Cumberland Pass in Colorado.
Swallow, based in Durango, Colorado, and Tucson, Arizona, brings nearly two decades of adventure cycling experience across six continents and over 21 countries to the project. Her approach to the Golden Gravel Trail reflects a more reflective, sustainable mindset compared to her TAT adventure, as she plans to complete as much of the route as possible over 40-50 days.
“This is a daunting endeavor, but I’m undertaking it to tune in, meet myself where I am, find my rhythm, and learn through the bicycle and America’s Western landscapes,” Swallow said. “On a professional level, my goal is to document the journey, connect with people along the way, and share knowledge that encourages others to experience the route—whether for a single section or the whole crossing. As the first to ride the Golden Gravel Trail, my mission is to be a thoughtful steward and to showcase what this trail, its communities, and its riders have to offer.”
Fellow ultra-endurance bike rider and racer, Lael Wilcox, will join Sarah for a week along the route starting September 4.
“I’m thrilled to join Sarah for a week of her ride and really looking forward to riding the full trail next September,” Wilcox said. “Adventure Cycling Association is the foundation of bicycle travel in the U.S. I truly believe the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route is the reason bikepacking took off globally, and I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Adventure Cycling’s 50th anniversary than publishing a new epic dirt route. This is wonderful work, and I’m proud to be a part of it.”
The Golden Gravel Trail launches as part of Adventure Cycling Association’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2026, representing five decades of promoting bicycle travel and adventure. Built through meticulous research and local partnerships, the route is designed to redefine long-distance bikepacking in the United States by combining technical off-road challenges with the soul-stirring diversity of America’s most iconic terrain.
Cyclists and adventure enthusiasts can follow Swallow’s progress beginning August 27 at Adventurecycling.org/follow-the-swallow/ and through her social media channels @sarahjswallow. The complete Golden Gravel Trail will be available to the public for free as a digital route on Ride with GPS in early 2026.
Sarah’s account of why she’s taking on this challenge can be found at https://blog.otsocycles.com/2025/08/sarah-swallows-ride-across-the-west-on-the-golden-gravel-trail/
About Adventure Cycling Association Adventure Cycling Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring and empowering people to travel by bicycle. For 50 years, the organization has been America’s premier source for bicycle travel information, advocacy, and community building.
About Sarah Swallow Sarah Swallow is a professional adventure cyclist, route developer, writer, and community organizer. In 2015, she became the first cyclist to complete the Trans-America Trail, covering 5,000 miles of rugged terrain designed for motorcycles. She has since logged tens of thousands of cycling miles across six continents and over 21 countries.
Media Contact:
Jessica Zephyrs, VP of Marketing, Adventure Cycling Association, 406-721-1776, jzephyrs@adventurecycling.org
Sarah Swallow, Adventure Cyclist, Organizer, Content Creator, sarahjean.swallow@gmail.com
Press Kit: https://www.adventurecycling.org/Sarah-Swallow-Preview-Ride-Press-Kit/
