The Old Church Gravel Loop -bikepacking route 440 km

The Old Church Gravel Loop is an epic 442km and 5-8-day gravel bikepacking route on some forgotten backroads of the western Jyväskylä region. It connects the rural villages and towns of the area as well as a number of splendid natural sites to some great services mainly on rarely-used logging routes and old connecting routes. The route features nicely rolling and flowy gravel roads deep in the Jyväskylä Region’s taiga, a loads of little sand beaches for swimming as well as several unique lodging options. Naturally, there are loads of great quality camping on the way too. The route also passes by the UNESCO wolrd heriateg site, Petäjävesi Old Church. Built in 1763–1765, the church is one of the seven UNESCO sites in Finland and is a masterpiece of Nordic wooden arhictecture.

The Old Church Gravel Loop is a one of the three Lakeland by Cycle bikepacking routes: the Old Church Gravel Loop (440 km), the Goblin’s Gorge Gravel Loop (349 km) and the Green Gold Gravel Loop (333 km). These three circular routes pass through the Lakeland landscape of the Jyväskylä Region, offering unique views of the region’s geology and nature.