You may have heard of Waco, Texas, as the setting for the HGTV hit show Fixer Upper or because of its unfortunate history with a classic cult, but few are in on the secret— Waco is a gravel goldmine. There's a lot of great riding you can access from the heart of downtown. No matter your skill level or ability to ride, there’s a little bit of everything for every rider. This gravel guide is my attempt to make sure that you get the most out of your next Waco visit. 

When to Visit

You’ll want to dodge the hottest summer months (July to September), and you may need an extra layer or two during the winter (December to February). Outdoor activity in Waco during summer is not a recommended experience. The temps rarely drop below 95 during peak summer months, and 100 plus degree temperatures are common as early as June and as late as October. On the flip side, winter months like January and February can have an average day in the 60s or 70s. The lows that Waco sees fall anywhere from the teens to low 20s, but these temps are rare. The average temperatures during the spotty fall, lengthy winter, and sporadic spring months will be anywhere from 40° to 60°— perfect for gravel.

Events

The Waco area offers a multitude of gravel events, ranging from world-class-talent-drawing races to backyard parties. Wacos largest gravel event, Gravel Locos, brings some of the world's greatest gravel pros to the area. The roads found in Gravel Locos resemble the Unbound Gravel roads. The opportunity Gravel Locos presents to practice and tune-up the legs attracts a lot of international attention in the run up to Unbound. Organizations like Spinistry, a big cycling event organizer in Central Texas, host multiple events every month located 30 minutes to two hours away from Waco. As the gravel community grows in the Central Texas area, more and more events have sprouted up. Many new gravel organizers have entered the scene. Many road cycling event organizers have added gravel rides to their offerings, like the Hotter than Hell event in Wichita Falls, TX. It’s exciting to witness the growth of the gravel scene in Central Texas, and opportunities to ride and race are only getting better every year.

Gear Selection 

First, let’s talk tires. To be on the safe side, I recommend a 40-45mm width. It’s tricky to select the perfect tire size because of Waco’s geographic diversity.

Working your way south and east takes you into the Coastal Plains area, which is very flat and riddled with open fields. This area is home to relatively smooth gravel that can be run on tires as small as 35mm. You can expect straight roads, nicer gravel, and high winds. 

If you head out to the north and west, you’ll enter the Central Plains. The farther you venture out, the taller the hills get. The gravel also gets quite rough out there. The combination of more varied elevation and poorer road quality warrants a wider tire, around 42-47mm. 

When it comes to gearing, you can get away with a lot of different setups. A speedy 1x setup will work well thanks to a lack of climbs requiring more than a few minutes’ effort. You’ll need to push it over some of the steeper pitches, but they are few and far between. A compact road setup will also work nicely. You’ll end up in the big ring often, but you’ll be thankful for the small ring on hard climbs.

Riding Hot Spots

While there are plentiful gravel roads in this area, us locals tend to start most of our rides from only a few locations. One of our go-tos is Talbert Ranch. Talbert Ranch has some of the most fun and tricky terrain features that you can find in this area. Be careful of the open range cattle and wildlife that can meander a little too close for comfort. Despite being a bit distant from the center of town, we love going out to Talbert Ranch for a unique gravel experience.

It's also possible to start your ride from downtown. You can have an excellent ride at a minimum distance of around 30 miles from the heart of Waco. You can even dabble with some single track in Cameron park if you enjoy getting a little rowdy on your gravel bike. Starting downtown also gives you great options for food, beer, and relaxation after the ride. Keep in mind that you will encounter more pavement than on your typical gravel ride when starting from the downtown area.

If you're wanting something a little more gravel heavy and out of the way, try starting your rides from some of the small towns around the Greater Waco area. Places like Lott, Valley Mills, and Clifton provide resources for fueling up, reliable places to park your vehicle, and immediate access to gravel. Starting from these locations allows you to see some of the coolest and most interesting parts of the rural areas of Texas.

You can find routes for a variety of experience levels and desired intensities in the Gravel Routes section of this website. These routes serve as great starting points to get out and explore. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about routes and rides in the area. We’re always happy to help!