Hell of Hunterdon

The Hell of Hunterdon is the Mid-Atlantic’s Premier Spring Classic & Mixed Surface Ride; it is the ideal way to open your cycling season.

The challenging course features 19 sections of dirt, gravel, and hardscrabble roads (covering approximately 15% of the course) as it winds its way through scenic farmland and country towns in New Jersey’s Sourland Region.

The ride is followed by a Post Ride Celebration that includes hot food, cold beer, and door prizes in a festive indoor/outdoor environment.

Read a ride report.

Registration opens in Janaury.

From its humble beginning in 2009, the Hell of Hunterdon quickly emerged as the premier Spring Classic & Mixed Surface Ride in the Mid Atlantic.

The event pays tribute to the Northern European Spring Classics, in particular to the Ronde van Vlaanderen. The goal was to create a ride that is roughly half of the distance of the professional races with a course that is challenging, but doable, for serious recreational cyclists and amateur racers.

We wanted to celebrate the beginning of a new cycling season, so we created a festive atmosphere and a post ride party. We are humbled by the response from the participants.

How Bad are the Un-Paved Roads?
The dirt/gravel roads on the Hell of Hunterdon are normal maintained public roads, suitable for daily vehicle use; they just are not sealed with asphalt or other paving material. Some of the roads are hardscrabble, some are packed dirt. Most of them also have some loose gravel.  But the roads are generally in good condition.  The amount of gravel and pot holes vary year-to-year, based upon how hard a winter there has been. The chip sealed roads are not counted as unpaved roads.

The course is suitable for the use of standard road bikes. Since the course is 82 miles long, and only ca. 15% of it is dirt roads, we do not recommend the use of mountain or hybrid bikes. Cyclocross bikes are welcome, but certainly not required, as most of the ride is on paved roads.