Hellhole Gravel Grind Stage Race & 1-Day Gravel Fondo p/b Lauf 2026

Hellhole Gravel Grind uses gravel roads within Hellhole Swamp in Francis Marion National Forest, near Charleston, South Carolina. The primary event is a three-day gravel stage race covering almost 150 miles. It begins with a night prologue beneath the forest canopy. The weekend also offers one-day gravel fondo options of 45 and 75 miles, allowing participants to select a shorter distance over the full stage race. The course remains within the national forest and is largely flat, though it presents varied terrain. Participants will encounter hard-packed gravel, grassy doubletrack, and sections rated for Roubaix-style riding along the Palmetto Trail. The area is home to forest wildlife including bears, snakes, and boar. The forest is named for Francis Marion, a Revolutionary War figure known as the Swamp Fox, who utilized these swamps and woods for concealment and ambushes against British troops. Mt. Pleasant Velo organizes the event, and its three-day race is the first and longest-running gravel stage race in the United States.