Created by legendary endurance athlete Rebecca Rusch to share her backyard with the gravel community. What started as an intimate gathering has become one of gravel's marquee events. Founded in 2013. By Rebecca Rusch.
Reputation: Where gravel royalty meets grassroots community. The event Rebecca built in her backyard.
Rebecca Rusch—4x world champion and 'Queen of Pain'—hosts personally
Queen's Stage format added elite racing element
Draws elite riders through Rebecca Rusch's reputation and Sun Valley setting
Known for exceptional community vibe and post-race party
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The Course
Photo: YouTube / iowagravelgang
104 miles and 6,860 feet of climbing on a redesigned gravel route with a sustained 2,500-foot climb over Corral Creek Summit.
Signature challenge: The 104-mile distance, 6,860 feet of climbing, and sustained 2,500-foot climb over Corral Creek Summit.
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MILE
RIDERS REPORT
Trail Creek Summit MI 10-15
A 20-30 minute climb that's the crux section of the whole course. Half paved, half dirt, about six percent average grade. Critical to be in a good group going over the top or you'll be chasing for a long time on the fast sections that follow.
Copper Basin Loop MI 40-62
A huge 22 mile loop with pretty rough roads, bumpy washboard surfaces. Gets hot and dusty, described as a sufferfest. Pretty rolling terrain, nothing too crazy for climbing but it goes on forever.
10-Mile Slog Back to Trail Creek MI 70-80
The hardest, most intensely mental part of the whole course. Really straight, slightly uphill, usually has a huge headwind and is insanely brutal at the end of the race.
The road surface is pretty rocky and bumpy throughout the course. You definitely can pick a good line. Course has washboards because a lot of four-wheelers and vehicles use these roads during summer.
The descent off Trail Creek has very washboard roads with a lot of pretty big chunky rocks, so you have to pick your line pretty well and not take it too fast.
[04]
From the Field
This climb is very much a crux section of the whole course because it's followed up by a fast downhill and then a very fast long straight section so if you don't go over the top with a good group you're gonna be chasing for a long time.
FasCat Coaching · 4.9K views
The first six miles the hardest okay so just get through this and keep moving... this is about 18 right now, can you hear me i'm breathing like crazy.
iowagravelgang · 2.5K views
Rebecca Rush is the Rebecca of Rebecca's Private Idaho. She is a female athlete of renown, a multi-sport athlete with a long long palm maris of victories and races won. She's a significant person in the history of mountain biking and gravel racing.
Old Guy And A Bike · 3.2K views
We rolled into Ketchum Sun Valley on Friday, Saturday morning got up, walked over to the registration area, got my number, all that stuff taken care of. Then rolled over to the expo that was set up around the registration area.
Old Guy And A Bike · 3.2K views
FasCat Coaching · 4.9K views · 7:25
iowagravelgang · 2.5K views · 23:11
Old Guy And A Bike · 3.2K views · 14:51
RACER
Racer Reviews
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Training
September 12, 2026 REBECCA'S PRIVATE IDAHO
RIDERS REPORT
You probably shouldn't need more than a 35mm tire to get through the day. You could even probably run a 32 if you're feeling ambitious.
[08]
Train for Rebecca's Private Idaho
RACE DEMAND PROFILE
Durability
6
Climbing
7
VO2 Power
9
Threshold
8
Technical
6
Heat
3
Altitude
8
Race Specificity
10
3 WORKOUTS BUILT FOR THIS RACE
Each workout below is selected from our archetype library based on Rebecca's Private Idaho’s specific demands. Click any workout to see the full execution protocol.
VO2maxNorwegian 4x8
1.25hr+
4×8min at VO2max intensity — the Norwegian method pushed to aerobic ceiling.
6,860ft of climbing means repeated surges above threshold. VO2max work is how you survive the fifth climb, not just the first.
EXECUTIONLonger VO2 intervals demand pacing. Don’t start at 120% and crater at minute 4. Hold steady at your 8-minute maximum sustainable intensity. Breathing should be maximal but controlled. If you can’t finish set 4, your target was too high.
POSITIONSeated in drops. Aero position for final 2 minutes of each set if possible.
RPESets 1–2: 8 | Sets 3–4: 9
RACE-SPECIFIC: REBECCA'S PRIVATE IDAHO
NUTRITION Target 60–80g carbs/hour for Rebecca's Private Idaho’s 104 miles. Start fueling within the first 30 minutes — early fueling prevents late-race collapse. Bonking at mile 60 is a nutrition failure, not a fitness failure.
ALTITUDE Rebecca's Private Idaho with 6,860ft of climbing, much of it above 8,000ft demands altitude preparation. Arrive 5–7 days early for acclimatization. Expect 5–15% power reduction at altitude. Increase iron intake 4 weeks out. Hydrate aggressively — altitude increases fluid loss by 20–40%. Altitude at 6,000-8,000 feet.
TERRAIN Mixed terrain at Rebecca's Private Idaho requires surface adaptability. Include weekly rides on high desert gravel with sustained climbs to build confidence. Expect: high desert gravel, mountain passes, scenic forest roads.
DurabilityProgressive Fatigue
2hr+
Power targets INCREASE as duration goes on — reverse-pacing that builds race-finishing strength.
At mile 60 of 104, glycogen is gone. This workout teaches your body to produce watts on fumes.
EXECUTIONEach block is harder than the last. By the time you hit threshold, you’ve been riding for 80+ minutes. The final VO2 effort is the test — can you go HARD when everything says stop? This is how you win the last 20 miles of a gravel race.
NUTRITION Target 60–80g carbs/hour for Rebecca's Private Idaho’s 104 miles. Start fueling within the first 30 minutes — early fueling prevents late-race collapse. Bonking at mile 60 is a nutrition failure, not a fitness failure.
ALTITUDE Rebecca's Private Idaho with 6,860ft of climbing, much of it above 8,000ft demands altitude preparation. Arrive 5–7 days early for acclimatization. Expect 5–15% power reduction at altitude. Increase iron intake 4 weeks out. Hydrate aggressively — altitude increases fluid loss by 20–40%. Altitude at 6,000-8,000 feet.
TERRAIN Mixed terrain at Rebecca's Private Idaho requires surface adaptability. Include weekly rides on high desert gravel with sustained climbs to build confidence. Expect: high desert gravel, mountain passes, scenic forest roads.
Race SimulationSector Simulation
1.5hr+
Timed race sectors with transitions — practice racing in segments, not just riding.
Race-pace efforts that mimic Rebecca's Private Idaho's demands. Pacing, fueling, and tactical decisions under fatigue. Practice the race before September.
WU 10m
SECTOR 1 12m
TRANSIT
SECTOR 2 6m
TRANSIT
SECTOR 3 12m
TRANSIT
SECTOR 4 6m
TRANSIT
FINAL 8m
CD
STRUCTURE10min warm-up → 5 sectors (12-6-12-6-8min) at race pace / 4min transit between → cool-down
EXECUTIONEach sector is a race within the race. Sector 1: settle into race pace. Sector 2: short, hard — a hill or technical section. Sector 3: sustained power. Sector 4: another hard punch. Final sector: everything you have left. The transits are active recovery — drink, eat, prepare for the next sector.
POSITIONRace position on sectors. Sit up and eat during transits.
RPELong sectors: 7–8 | Short sectors: 8–9 | Transits: 3
RACE-SPECIFIC: REBECCA'S PRIVATE IDAHO
NUTRITION Target 60–80g carbs/hour for Rebecca's Private Idaho’s 104 miles. Start fueling within the first 30 minutes — early fueling prevents late-race collapse. Bonking at mile 60 is a nutrition failure, not a fitness failure.
ALTITUDE Rebecca's Private Idaho with 6,860ft of climbing, much of it above 8,000ft demands altitude preparation. Arrive 5–7 days early for acclimatization. Expect 5–15% power reduction at altitude. Increase iron intake 4 weeks out. Hydrate aggressively — altitude increases fluid loss by 20–40%. Altitude at 6,000-8,000 feet.
TERRAIN Mixed terrain at Rebecca's Private Idaho requires surface adaptability. Include weekly rides on high desert gravel with sustained climbs to build confidence. Expect: high desert gravel, mountain passes, scenic forest roads.
FREE
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Boise (BOI) - 2.5 hours to Ketchum. Sun Valley (SUN) has limited flights.
Lodging
Book 6+ months early. Sun Valley/Ketchum prices are resort-level. Consider VRBO for groups.
Food
Ketchum has excellent restaurants. Plan a post-race dinner.
Packet Pickup
Friday at event expo. Small-town vibes, quick process.
Parking
Start area parking requires early arrival. Shuttles may be available.
RIDERS REPORT
It's paramount to be in a good group over Trail Creek Summit. A big mistake people make is going too hard over the climb and getting into a group that's too hard for them, then getting dropped in no-man's land during the rolling section.
You have to be prepared and ready to kind of suffer through to get into a good group on the first climb. It uses a lot of energy and it's really early on in the race.
There will be an aid station at the top of Trail Creek Summit but you probably won't need to stop because it's very early on in the race.
high puncture protection for sharp surfaces. excellent wet grip
2
Maxxis Reaver
40mm · $80 · 35W
high puncture protection for sharp surfaces
3
Pirelli Cinturato Gravel S
40mm · $74
high puncture protection for sharp surfaces. excellent wet grip
FRONT/REAR SPLITVittoria Terreno Dry 40mm / Schwalbe G-One Bite 40mmFaster front for reduced rolling resistance on straights, grippier rear for traction on loose climbs and corners
What is the climate like at Rebecca's Private Idaho?
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Historical weather data shows average highs of 72°F and lows of 41°F, with a 23% chance of rain on any given day. Labor Day weekend in the Idaho mountains can swing from perfect conditions to cold rain or even early snow. The 2023 edition dealt with showers and fog that had riders questioning their gear choices. At elevation, weather changes fast and temperature swings are real, but it's not the brutal heat of desert races or guaranteed suffering of winter events. Similar climate challenges to SBT GRVL.[11]
How are the logistics for Rebecca's Private Idaho?
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Getting to Ketchum means flying into Sun Valley Airport or driving mountain roads from Boise. The event caps at 1,500 riders and sells out fast, so registration timing matters. Once you're there, the festival setup handles most needs, but you're dealing with resort town pricing and limited accommodation options during Labor Day weekend.[1]
How adventurous is Rebecca's Private Idaho?
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This route drops you into wilderness through Copper Basin, where mechanicals or bonking become real problems miles from help. The combination of remote terrain, high altitude, and variable mountain weather creates consequences for poor decisions. You're riding through country where cell service disappears and the next rider might be an hour behind you. "Even though I am a mountain biker, racer and athlete at heart, I launched one of the first gravel events in the U.S."[1]
How prestigious is Rebecca's Private Idaho?
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Founded by Rebecca Rusch, 'Queen of Pain.' Listed as a potential 'Monument of Gravel' by VeloNews. Part of the original wave of destination gravel events. Strong reputation.[3]
Should I race Rebecca's Private Idaho?
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Yes—if you can afford the trip and want to experience gravel at its most soulful. This isn't just a race; it's a community gathering hosted by royalty.
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Sources & Citations
Research sources used to build this race profile. Always verify details with official race sources before making travel or registration decisions.
