Gravel Atlas only works if the routes are real and the information is useful. These guidelines are how we keep it that way.
Surface, distance, elevation, remoteness. The colour you see on a route card maps directly to one of these.
The four tiers
Beginner · Intermediate · Expert · Ultra
Beginner
Smooth gravel or dirt roads, under ~40 km, limited climbing. The kind of ride you'd take a friend on their first time off-road.
Intermediate
Mixed surfaces, moderate climbing, longer distances. Requires fitness and some off-road experience. Rougher sections, but nothing that demands advanced bike handling.
Expert
Challenging terrain, serious elevation, longer or more remote. May include technical descents, hike-a-bike sections, or limited resupply. You need to know what you're doing.
Ultra
Multi-day, extreme distance or elevation, self-sufficiency required. Remote, exposed, weather-dependent. Plan accordingly.
When you upload a route, the name is generated automatically from the location, style, and shape of your ride. Something like:
Ljubljana — Krim scenic gravel loop
Big Bear → Bishop alpine gravel route
You can always adjust the name manually, as long as it makes sense and another rider can tell what they’re getting into.
Be useful, be respectful, don't waste people's time.
A community of riders
The people behind the routes
Be constructive
Comments should help other riders. “This route sucks” isn’t feedback. “The water crossing was impassable in late summer” is. If you’ve ridden a route and conditions have changed, say so. That’s how the platform stays useful.
Flag hazards, don’t hide them
If a route has access issues, safety concerns, or seasonal closures, say it clearly. Transparency protects riders and builds trust. This ties back to our ethos: do the homework.
Respect the space
No harassment, no discrimination, no spam. Routes aren’t billboards. Keep promotional content and affiliate links out. If you’re a business or tourism board, you’re welcome here, but lead with genuine routes and local knowledge, not a sales pitch.
Respect the land
Make sure your routes respect access rights. Private property needs permission. Protected areas have rules. Seasonal closures exist for a reason. If you’re unsure about access, note it. Routes on disputed land may be unpublished.
Your photos
Originals only
Upload your own photos. You keep the copyright, and we just need permission to display them on Gravel Atlas. Don’t upload images you don’t have rights to, and don’t use stock photos. The whole point is showing what a route actually looks like.