Photo by Josh Kowaleski

HECK OF THE NORTH gravel cycling classic

100 mile 50 mile 20 mile Courses

Event Date: Saturday, September 26, 2026

Welcome to this special 18th year of The Heck of the North Gravel Cycling Classic. This year, we are starting and finishing in Two Harbor's historic downtown. Our inaugural Heck Fest, located next door to our friends at Castle Danger Brewery, will present a special live performance by Charlie Parr at 4 PM at our Heck Fest tent. We are thrilled and honored to have him back for our post race celebration. We'll have food trucks and Castle Danger Brewery’s finest drinks on tap. Bring a friend to celebrate with us. We are excited to start a new Heck of the North tradition. 

This year's courses are retooled and showcase the best sections of classic Heck routes. Come prepared for some of the most beautiful and challenging Heck sectors ever.

Please consider volunteering! We rely on our amazing corp of volunteers and offer opportunities from Friday afternoon to Saturday afternoon. Thank you! 

I hope you an join us this year. And please welcome someone new to gravel cycling. It’s going to be a good Heck.

  • Riders 17 and younger Ride Free with an accompanying adult.

  • Riders must be at least 10 years old for the 20 mile event

  • Riders must be at least 14 years old for the 50 mile event

  • Riders must beat least 16 years old for the 100 mile event.

  • All participants must be able to ride their bicycle independently. We will not allow child seats or tag-alongs. This is a change from previous years. Thank you for your understanding.

  • We will not allow E-bikes this year in any Heck events. 

100 Mile: Course Highlights: 3400 ft of elevation change. Course is mostly well maintained gravel road (80% unpaved.)

Key sectors include:

  • Knife River stream crossing at mile 10

  • Briton Pit Sector (5 miles of two track) at mile 13

  • Bear Pit Sector (8 miles of two track) at mile 30

  • Aid Station mile 40. Volunteers, water, Skratch Labs hydration, snacks, toilet

  • King Lake Sector (5 miles of two track) at mile 62

  • Aid Station mile 66 Volunteers, water, Skratch Labs hydration, snacks, toilet

  • North Shore State Trail (1.5 miles of snowmobile trail) at mile 89

50 Mile: Course Highlights: 2000 ft of elevation change. Course is mostly well maintained gravel road (78% unpaved)

Key sectors include:

  • Knife River stream crossing at mile 10

  • King Lake Sector (5 miles of two track) at mile 20

  • Aid Station mile 24 Volunteers, water, Skratch Labs hydration, snacks, toilet

  • North Shore State Trail (1.5 miles of snowmobile trail) at mile 42

20 Mile: Course Highlights: 800 ft of elevation change. Course has maintained gravel road (58% unpaved) and paved sections.

Key sectors include:

  • Knife River stream crossing at mile 10

  • Aid Station at mile 11

Though all of the Heck routes include short sections that would be more comfortable to ride on a suspension trail bike, a gravel bike is still the way to go. Mountain bikes work, too. We recommend tires at least 40-50 mm wide.

We welcome back our amazing Sponsors including Lovin Lake County.

We will see you at the finish line!

Volunteer!