Escape the Badger Gravel Event is Back (Year 3… Let’s Go)

Alright, it’s happening again.

Escape the Badger Gravel Event is back for year three, and if you’ve ridden it before, you already know — this one’s a little different (in a good way).

If you haven’t… this is your sign to stop thinking about getting into gravel and just send it.

Not Just Another Gravel Ride

Yeah, it’s a gravel ride. But it’s also a fundraiser for the Baraboo Area Mountain Bike Association (BAMBA), which means your entry fee actually does something useful — like helping build and improve trails right here in Sauk County.

Ride bikes → build trails → ride more bikes. Pretty solid system.

Last year we had 100+ riders show up, which is honestly awesome for a grassroots event like this. Good people, good vibes, and just enough chaos to keep it interesting.

The Setting is Kinda Wild

You’re riding through the Sauk Prairie State Recreation Area, which used to be the Badger Army Ammunition Plant. So yeah… it’s got a weird, wide-open, slightly post-apocalyptic feel to it.

In other words: perfect gravel terrain.

You’ll hit a mix of:

• Gravel
• Pavement
• Dirt
• Grass
• Some rough old asphalt that’ll rattle your teeth a bit

If you show up on skinny road tires… I mean, you can… but you’re gonna have a bad time.

Pick Your Route (Or Regret It Later)

This isn’t a one-route-fits-all kind of ride. You’ve got options:

Short Route

• Super approachable
• Mostly flat
• Family-friendly
• One short climb (walk it, no one cares)

Medium Routes

• 25 miles (all within Sauk Prairie)
• 32 mile “Enhanced” route
  • Burma Road
  • Through Devil’s Lake
  • Quick rip on Hwy 113

Long Route

• Feeling bold? Do two laps of the medium

You can keep it chill… or accidentally turn it into a life choice you question halfway through.

Event Day Info

April 25, 2026
Sauk Prairie State Recreation Area

• 9:00 AM — Check-in / registration
• 10:00 AM — Everyone rolls out
• 4:00 PM — “Alright where is that last rider” sweep

What the Day Looks Like

This is a self-supported ride, so bring what you need:

• Water
• Snacks
• Flat kit
• Extra layers if Wisconsin decides to be Wisconsin

There’ll be:

• Water + restrooms at the start
• Pit toilets on course
• Food trucks + coffee waiting at the finish

Last year’s food setup was legit (shoutout to The Frenchie Press and Las Milpas), so showing up hungry is the right move.

Quick Heads-Up

You’ll need a Wisconsin State Park pass to park. Don’t forget it unless you enjoy unnecessary side quests before a ride.

“Not a Race”

Officially — not a race.

Unofficially – you and your friends are absolutely going to race at some point. It just happens. No one talks about it, but it happens.

Why You Should Come Out

• It supports local trails (BAMBA is doing real work out here)
• It’s one of the more unique rides in the area
• Good mix of riders — beginners to “I brought two GPS units just in case”
• Solid way to kick off the spring riding season

Final Thought

This is one of those events that’s still got that grassroots feel, not overbuilt, not overhyped, just a really fun day on the bike with good people.

If that sounds like your thing, you should be there.