2024 Sea Otter Gravel Race Route & Preview
Sea Otter is just around the corner and we were curious to see what Lifetime had in mind for the 2024 version of its gravel race. The 2024 Sea Otter Gravel Race will take place on Saturday April 20, 2024, and feature a new gravel route around the beautiful Fort Ord National Monument in Salinas, CA. The organizers moved the event from Friday to Saturday this year, and seemed to have dropped the name “La Gravilla”, the name it gave the race in 2023. Also worth noting is that compared with last year, the route looks considerably easier. Once again the ride involves two laps of the same course, but the overall distance and elevation was dropped to 50-miles with 5600ft of climbing. In 2023 the course was a hefty 60-miles with 7000ft of elevation gain. Likely the organizers received feedback that the two 30-mile loops were just too hard, and several participants skipped the second lap in its inaugural year. For 2024, Lifetime is hoping to hit the sweet spot with two 25-mile loops and a more manageable overall elevation. Start time for the race is 7:45AM at the Sea Otter Classic Bridge, with the first lap and finish at the top of Pilarcitos Canyon Rd at BLM Gate.
If you find yourself signing up for this Sea Otter Gravel Ride, expect lots of flowy singletrack, wide-open fire roads, and all the natural beauty of the Fort Ord National Monument. Although it’s only 50-miles we expect this Fort Ord Gravel Race to prove challenging, and will be enjoyed most on a gravel bike with 40-42mm tires, or hardtail MTB. The Fort Ord National Monument is open to visitors during Sea Otter. Riders need to adhere to trail rules and passing speed limits when passing a rider going in the opposite direction. Passing speed limits during the tours (5 mph on single-track and 10 mph on roads) will be enforced.
Register for the 2024 Lifetime Sea Otter Gravel Race here
Recap, route, and photo gallery from the 2024 Shakeout in the Hills event in San Marcos, CA ahead of the 13th annual BWR CA.