Lead Ore Gravel

Welcome to the 2026 Driftless Gravel Festival!
We have teamed up with the ultra distance race, the Driftless Dagger, to form a weekend long festival in the most underrated cycling destination the Midwest. The party will get started on Friday afternoon with shakeout rides, a kids race, and packet pick up. The festival will take place at Chestnut Mountain Resort which is located in the heart of Driftless country while also overlooking the Mighty Mississippi.
The Galena territory was founded by resilient, industrious folks who put the area on the map by being the first major site of the mineral rush in the United States. They mined over 21 million pounds of lead in just a 3 year period. If you want to finish The Lead Ore, you’ll need the same tenacity that these early pioneers demonstrated. The Lead Ore will take place from Chestnut Mountain Resort which is situated smack dab in the middle of the Illinois driftless region. This is arguably the most scenic region Illinois has to offer. If you have never been to the Galena area, you're in for a surprise. The area offers many activities for couples and families. We recommend making a weekend out of this one and taking in the full experience. There are no refunds or deferrals. BikeReg does offer registration insurance at checkout.
Routes-
The Pioneer- https://ridewithgps.com/routes/55767956
The Settler- https://ridewithgps.com/routes/55994680
The Explorer- https://ridewithgps.com/routes/55994737
Race the Clock, get the buckle!
Anyone competing in the 105 mile distance who finishes in 7 hours or under will be recognized at the podium ceremony and awarded their sub 7 finisher buckle. It will take grit and perseverance along with a little luck. The same attributes the lead miners had over 100 years ago.
Looking for more information, check out https://www.leadoregravel.com