The AlKEMist Gravel Fest

The AlKEMist Gravel Fest starts and finishes at Graner Park / Sugarloaf Bottoms, south of Mandan, North Dakota, sending riders onto Morton County gravel in the fall. It began in 2018 after organizers mapped the area’s gravel roads, and it offers two distances: the 55-mile AlKemist and the 30-mile Elixir. Both distances use chip timing, and e-bikes can ride either route, but they do not count for podium awards. The course climbs out of the Missouri River Valley onto the Morton County bluffs, then mixes fast descents, minimum-maintenance roads, and some of the region’s longest climbs. Riders receive an aid station with hydration and fuel, a finisher patch, and post-race awards with grilled food, a meal ticket, and a drink. Aero bars are banned, keeping the focus on bike handling, and camping is available at the start/finish area. The race is also part of the 701 Race Series with Capitol City Crit, Otter Creek Mountain Bike Race & Trail Run, and Lyons-Heart Gravel Classic; riders who finish all four cycling events earn a Rad Vest.