Irish Hills Gravel

Irish Hills Gravel begins and ends at the NASCAR Fan Zone at Michigan International Speedway in Brooklyn, Michigan, directing cyclists onto rural gravel roads in the Irish Hills region. The event takes place in October, offering 100 km, 50 km, and a mini course of 20 miles or less. Riders can select a long day on backroads or a shorter first gravel effort. It is part of the Michigan Gravel Race Series, but the organizers aim for a local feel, describing it as a gathering rather than a corporate race or polished tour. The route connects townships across South-Central Michigan, utilizing quiet roads through Brooklyn and parts of Lenawee and Washtenaw counties. Participants may use flat-bar bikes, drop-bar bikes, gravel bikes, mountain bikes, touring bikes, or e-bikes, broadening the field beyond a typical race-only group. Experience Jackson, the county tourism bureau, organizes the event as part of an initiative to attract visitors to the Irish Hills through outdoor recreation. The official jersey reflects the location with a Colored Hills design inspired by rolling terrain and autumn colors, alongside the Irish phrase “Ceol na beatha foirfe,” meaning “the perfect music of life.”