Birdeye 2026

The Birdeye 500 challenges riders to complete the 250-mile Crowley’s Ridge Gravel Trail twice, totaling 500 miles of self-supported gravel riding in eastern Arkansas. The event begins and ends at a family farm in Birdeye, Arkansas. Participants depart in the fall, opting for either a multi-day touring pace or a competitive race effort. There are no entry fees, support crews, organized aid stations, or sag wagons. Each rider must carry their own food, water, gear, and the necessary judgment to navigate the route. The course traces Crowley’s Ridge, a significant geological formation dividing the Mississippi Alluvial Plain from adjacent farmland. Riders will encounter rolling terrain, small towns, gravel and clay surfaces, and flat stretches through cotton fields. The cloverleaf design returns participants to Birdeye multiple times, offering opportunities to resupply or withdraw. Between these points, riders depend on local general stores, parks, family businesses, and informal water stops. Elite riders target a sub-48-hour finish, while others use the same path for an ultra-distance bikepacking journey.