TLDR: Its dangerous and too rough for a gravel bike. Dont do it.
Would NOT recommend. Did not have fun. Here's my experience:
1) Not 100% gravel as stated. Paved section to climb the top of Wolf Creek Pass.
2) I tried this route 3 years ago (June 2020) on 700c x 42mm Maxxis ramblers. I tried it going clockwise but got to a section about 5 miles in that was way too steep, chunky and loose to be able to climb. You'd need a MTB at least - I really don't think a gravel bike would be capable. So I turned around, explored a bit more and called it a day.
3) I returned yesterday (6/29/23) and did the route with 650b x 1.9'' Panaracer Gravelkings going counter-clockwise as suggested by Terry below. It was better, but still very rough. The roads are washboarded with chunky surface all over so it's practically impossible to maintain a decent speed. My avg speed for the entire ride was 8mph, and that's not for a lack of fitness.
4) About half way thru the route there's a 5mi "double track" section (not a road from miles 15-20; a descent and climb) that you cannot ride a gravel bike on. No way - way too steep (12+% gradient), way too loose, way too chunky for a gravel bike. It's dangerous. Again, you'd need a MTB and even then the descent would be rough and sketchy and the climb up the next mountain practically impossible. I had to mostly hike-a-bike thru this section and shredded my cleats and shoes. When I could ride I was going 3-6mph picking my lines carefully. When I got to the section that I stopped at my first time here, I hike-a-biked down that too. I had to hike-a-bike most of the descents and climbs in the last half of the ride. Again - too steep, too loose, WAY too chunky, it was dangerous.
5) This might be my mistake and underestimation, but I figured this route would take me ~3 hours. 10-12mph avg seems reasonable, yes? Not at all for this route. It took me 4hr 45 mins. Ran out of water, food, and morale. Was saved by a family who gave me 3 bottles
Awesome little loop. Riding it counter clockwise makes the most technical parts downhill, which was super fun on a gravel bike. Not sure what the previous comment was about "how impossible much of this ride is on a gravel bike." Seemed pretty standard fare for some of the mountain gravel loops on the backside of the Wasatch and Uintas.
On a dirt bike, yes. On a gravel bike, no. Kind of wish Nate S had provided a description on how impossible much of this ride is on a gravel bike.
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