REN Cycles is proud to be the original Industry Partner of what has rightly been dubbed AMERICA'S GNARLIEST GRAVEL RACE, teaming up with a wonderful crew of folks from the Harney County Chamber, the US Forest Service, US Bureau of Land Management, and Oregon State Parks to present the annual Skull 120/60/30 backcountry cycling event every summer.

This fantastic endurance/gravel/XC/weekend adventure event in the Eastern Oregon high desert debuted in 2017 and proved to be an inspiring weekend of bike fun that immediately became one of our all-time favorite races. (The term “race” of course being loosely interpreted; the sweeping vistas and rugged natural beauty provide undeniable photo ops, and it is easy to linger for a quarter hour at a water station with fresh slices of watermelon 80 miles in to the day. 😋 )

The Skull 120 is unique event that is put on by the Harney County Chamber and a group of volunteers from County, State, and Federal agencies, rather than a traditional event promoter. The locals know their backyard better than anyone, and they have put together an epic cycling event in some of the most remote and beautiful country in the Northwest.

GO HARD FOR THE 120 PODIUM OR ENJOY A BEAUTIFUL RIDE ON A MARKED ROUTE. EITHER OPTION IS A FANTASTIC WAY TO SPEND A WEEKEND.

The REN modus operandi is light hearted and laugh filled fun on bikes, and the Skull 120 is right up our alley. The event vibes are very casual, and the location is a boon for serious racers and weekend bikesplorers alike. The current route differs slightly from the inaugural ride in 2017, with que sheets and maps are available in advance each year.

The course routes all begin and end in Burns, a small town set in terrain as lonesome as it is handsome and 10 minutes from the wild in all directions. If escaping into the thousands upon thousands of miles of gravel and dirt roads on public lands surrounding it isn't your thing, Burns is also well equipped with grocery stores, laundry facilities, restaurants, bars, coffee shops, a vintage movie theater, Oregon's smallest craft brewery, nearby hot springs, a local historical museum and numerous lodging options from camping to vamping to AirBnB to hotels.

Entry fees are very modest -- starting out at $40 for early birds the first year! -- and though growing the event has necessitated a gradual fee increase the Skull remains the best bargain on source material to melt your social media feeds. The routes are remote but clearly marked, there are multiple aid stations and water fill-ups, and the course is monitored by Rangers, Search & Rescue teams, and local volunteers.

REN is thrilled to support the role cycling can play in having fantastic fun and fostering clean, sustainable, and low impact tourism opportunities for the communities in and around our beautiful and remote public lands. Did we mention we like having a really good time?

Please grab a friend and join us at this epic annual event in #EasternOregon every Father’s Day weekend in June!

SKULL 120/60/30

WHEN / FATHER’S DAY WEEKEND / MID-JUNE
WHERE / TRIANGLE PARK, BURNS OR 97720 USA
WHAT / Rugged | Remote | Adventure
WEB / www.adventureharney.com

SKULL 120 SOLO

Overview:
Total Miles = 126
Elevation Gain/Loss = 11,030'
Min. Elevation = 4,150'
Max. Elevation = 7,000'
Avg. Grade = 2.8%
Cattle guards = 31
Water Crossing = 3

Surface Types:
Natural = 14 mi / 12%
Gravel = 86 mi / 68%
Pavement = 26 mi / 20%

Land Administration:
Forest Service = 79 miles / 63%
BLM = 22 miles/ 18%
Private = 23 miles / 18%
Burns Paiute Tribe = 1.5 / 1%

Landscape Features:
Forest = 60 miles / 48%
High Desert = 30 miles / 24%
Canyon Lands = 33 miles / 26%
Urban = 3 miles / 2%

SKULL 60 SOLO

Overview:
Total Miles = 65
Elevation Gain/Loss = 5,344'
Min. Elevation = 4,150'
Max. Elevation = 5,300'
Avg. Grade = 2.9%
Cattle guards = 13
Water Crossings = 2

Surface Types:
Natural = 25 miles / 39%
Gravel = 23 miles / 36%
Pavement = 17 miles / 25%

Land Administration:
Forest Service = 1.6 miles / 4%
BLM = 46 miles / 66%
Private = 29 miles / 29%
Burns Paiute Tribe = 1.5 miles / 2%

Landscape Features:
Forest = 9 miles / 14%
High Desert = 47 miles / 71%
Canyon Lands = 6 miles / 9%
Urban = 3 miles / 5%

SKULL 30 SOLO

Overview:
Total Miles = 37
Elevation Gain/Loss = 2,400'
Min. Elevation = 4,150'
Max. Elevation = 5,250'
Avg. Grade = 2.1%
Cattle guards = 12
Water Crossing = 0

Surface Types:
Natural = 3 miles / 8%
Gravel = 17 miles / 46%
Pavement = 17 miles / 46%

Land Administration:
Forest Service = 1.6 miles / 4%
BLM = 16 miles / 46%
Private = 18 miles / 49%
Burns Paiute Tribe = 1.5 miles / 4%

Landscape Features:
Forest = 3 miles / 8%
High Desert = 31 miles / 84%
Canyon Lands = 0 miles / 0%
Urban = 3 miles / 8%

SKULL 120 // 3 RIDER RELAY

Skull 120 Relay Section 1 = 39 miles
Elevation +3,894ft -2,348ft
Gravel = 24.5 mi / 63%
Natural Surface = 9.5 mi / 25%
Pavement = 5 mi / 13%
Cattle guards = 12
Water Crossings = 3

Skull 120 Relay Section 2 = 40 miles
Elevation +4,053ft -5,120ft
Gravel = 30 mi = 75%
Natural Surface= 3.5 mi = 9%
Pavement = 6.5 mi = 16%
Cattle guards = 10
Water Crossings = 0

Skull 102 Relay Section 3 = 48 miles
Elevation +2,997ft -3,463ft
Gravel = 32 mi / 67%
Natural Surface= 0 mi = 0%
Pavement = 16 mi / 33 %
Cattle guards = 6
Water Crossings = 0

Land Administration Miles and Percentages
US Forest Service = 79 miles / 63%
Bureau of Land Management = 22 miles/ 18%
Private = 23 miles / 18%
Burns Paiute Tribe = 1.5 / 1%