Chasing the Two Gravel Bears of the Wisconsin Northwoods

If you’re a gravel rider seeking your next adventure - something that tests your legs, rewards your curiosity, and anchors a weekend in wild country - northern Wisconsin deserves a hard look. Two gravel rides stand out for riders across the Midwest who love remote forest roads and small-town hospitality: the Hungry Bear in Cable and The Bear 100 in Laona.

Each May, these little Northwoods villages, about 150 miles apart from each other, swell with several hundred riders eager to test themselves on gravel that winds through the vast Chequamegon-Nicolet National Forest while soaking in both rugged scenery and a warm community welcome.

While both events have some very fast riders at the “pointy end”, the vast majority of riders show up for a non-competitive experience in a beautiful Northwoods location, the personal challenge, and the community vibe. Though their names invite comparison, these two events are shaped by slightly different personalities. Ride both, and you’ll understand why northern Wisconsin’s forest roads have become a destination of Midwest gravel culture.

Hungry Bear

Location: Cable, Wisconsin

Date: May 9, 2026

Distances: 30, 60, 100 miles

More info: hungrybeargravel.com

From the mass start in tiny downtown Cable, riders fan out onto forest roads where towering pines and shimmering lakes replace the horizon. The Climbing Cub (30 miles) offers an accessible intro, the Snacking Bear (60 miles) delivers a balanced mix of challenge and flow, and the Hungry Bear 100 (100 miles) is a true test of endurance.

I rode the 60-mile Snacking Bear in 2025, and it felt like a different world from the more open Midwest gravel I’m used to. Here, the forest surrounds you, the light filters through the trees, and the ride feels less like a race and more like a moving meditation - punctuated by climbs, rollers, and just enough technical terrain to keep things interesting.

Event director Daryl McNutt, a former road and mountain racer turned community builder, says that sense of place is central to the event’s appeal. “Part of gravel racing is feeling like you’re out there kind of in the middle of nowhere,” McNutt told me. “You’re out there having that inner peace with yourself in the forest. It’s quiet, secluded. I’ve come across bears, elk, and great horned owls flying overhead while riding. There’s great energy in the forest - you really feel like you’ve been out on an adventure.” His voice carries the kind of lived experience that you can feel in each twist and rise of the course.

From DIY Roots to Midwestern Favorite

Hungry Bear began humbly. Established by Mick Endersbe, the original owner of The Rivers Eatery, along with former local Tim Krueger, they envisioned putting together a 100-mile loop that left from Cable and circled back to the restaurant. Early editions had riders sign a piece of paper at the finish, without timing or much fanfare. “A finish line was chalked on the pavement,” McNutt says. “People showed up and left when they wanted- no real timing.” As participation grew, McNutt and other event organizers gradually added course markings, professional timing, and local sponsorships while keeping the event’s grassroots soul intact. “It’s a big area up in the Chequamegon Forest, and it’s easy to get lost. I have! We want riders to have that Northwoods experience, but I also don’t want anyone to get lost in the middle of the forest!” McNutt mentions the vibe remains welcoming and inclusive. “We keep the entry fees low so everybody can participate,” he says. “I’ve had dads or moms ride the 100, and the rest of the family do a shorter distance. They cheer each other on, then have a picnic. When it comes together like that - that’s what it’s about.”

More Than a Ride -
A Community Celebration

There’s no reason to go hungry at the Hungry Bear finish. When registering for the event online, you can choose to have a slice of Tilly’s pie waiting for you at the finish (highly recommended, based on my experience!). The Rivers Eatery is the unofficial post-race headquarters for Hungry Bear. Stone-fired pizzas, craft beer, live music, and a relaxed vibe make it the perfect place to relive the day’s miles.

There’s no high-stakes prize purse, and that’s intentional. “We don’t have a lot of awards,” McNutt says. “It’s a fun competition - top three for each race, men and women. But most people are there to ride, be together, and share the joy of cycling.” That community-first ethos is one reason riders return year after year.

The event’s charitable backbone runs deeper than numbers on a results board. Organizers donate a significant portion of proceeds back into the surrounding communities and causes, supporting groups such as the Cable Volunteer Fire Department, regional hospice services, Lac Courte Oreilles school scholarships, the Cable Bike Park, and the Steve Tilford Foundation. These efforts help cultivate a sense that the event isn’t just happening in the Northwoods - it’s helping sustain them.

The Bear 100

Location: Laona, Wisconsin

Date: May 2, 2026

Distances: 31, 61, or 103 miles

Website: thebear100.com

Held a week before Hungry Bear, The Bear 100 explores even quieter corners of the Nicolet National Forest. The roads here are scenic, remote, and occasionally sandy - true Northwoods gravel that rewards patience, grit, and a bit of an adventurous spirit. According to Brent Schmaling, The Bear 100 director, “This area of the Nicolet has no big lakes, few cabins, and no reason to pave the roads. On a 100-mile ride, you are likely to see more deer or grouse than cars.”

The courses may change somewhat from year to year, but you can always expect a mix of gravel, two-track, and brief stretches of pavement, with distance options that welcome riders of all abilities. The event starts and ends just outside Kippy’s Bar & Grill in Laona, so there are options for post-ride food and drink right at the finish.

I rode The Bear 100 in 2022, and it remains one of my most memorable gravel experiences. Coming from Iowa and compared to most Midwest gravel roads I ride, I found the winding, remote, and heavily forested terrain disorienting in the best possible way. Without distant landmarks in sight, you’re forced to stay present, pay attention to navigation cues, and embrace the unknown. The back half of the route featured some gloriously rugged, rocky forest roads and a beautiful crossing over the Peshtigo River. I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy watching a couple calmly fishing from the bank while I rolled past, a bit grimy and awaiting the next hill out of that valley!

Grit Recognizes Grit

When the event began in 2013, some Laona locals weren’t sure what to make of a bunch of cyclists descending on their quiet town. Over time, curiosity gave way to respect. “The connection between Laona and cyclists from all over the upper Midwest has been fun to watch,” Schmaling says. “There’s mutual respect for the grit it takes to ride these routes and the grit it takes to carve out a living here.”

In the early years, there were no prizes or podiums. Schmaling recalls a group traveling from Ontario for one of the first editions. “Jack Podaga had an impressive ride and finished first,” Schmaling says. “It felt wrong not to give him something. So I wrote ‘Bear 100 First Place’ on the back of a wooden arrow we used to mark the course and sent him home with that.”

Chip timing eventually arrived, mostly because volunteers struggled to keep track of finishers. It’s competitive at the front for those who want it to be, but the last-place rider is celebrated just as enthusiastically.

Gravel With a Mission

Like the Hungry Bear, The Bear 100 is built around giving back. All proceeds benefit the Laona Rescue Squad, the volunteer EMS team serving more than 400 square miles of rural forest territory, often traveling 40+ miles for medical transports. Funds support equipment, training, and emergency response capacity that saves lives year-round.

And while the camaraderie around the finish outside Kippy’s Bar & Grill - with post-ride food, free camping behind the bar, and shared tales of gorgeous forest terrain - feels rugged and grassroots, the underlying benefit to the community is concrete and lasting. Riders come for the challenge; they leave knowing they contributed to something greater than themselves.

I asked Schmaling what he hopes riders take away from the Bear 100. “We gather, ride, and celebrate in this remote corner of Wisconsin. I suspect everyone takes away something a little different. Maybe wonder, curiosity, gratitude, accomplishment, humility… that’s up to them.”

Final Thoughts

It’s tempting to ask, “Which Bear should you chase?” But after my experiences riding each one, I’d say the better answer is both. Each event offers a fantastic, although slightly different, lens through which to experience the Chequamegon-Nicolet forest.

And each makes you want to return, not just for the miles, but for the feeling that you were part of something genuine in a place that still feels wild. If you’re like me, either one will leave you feeling both exhausted and exhilarated…and looking forward to another Northwoods adventure.