RockStar VA Grand Depart is an annual challenge idea "Bike from Rocktown (Harrisonburg) to the Star City (Roanoke) along the RockStar TRAIL, GRAVEL or PAVE routes!"
The Grand Depart inspires folks to enjoy the incredible RockStar routes, maybe test themselves, and it stimulates massive annual trail clearing efforts that all trail users benefit from. Also, by enjoying and caring for these wild backcountry routes and trails we're helping to protect and preserve these places and experiences.
Crucial Note: None of the below is required. Zero. Just like the Appalachian Trail, Colorado Trail, Arizona Trail or Great Divide route - all RockStar routes are on public land and can be travelled by anyone at any time for free!
Registration:
Step 1: Grand Depart Registration: (live NOW!)
www.tinyurl.com/rockstar26register
(how to edit your registration
)
Step 2: Trackleaders.com Registration: (goes live March 2026)
https://form.jotform.com/trackleaders/rockstar26
(how to edit your Trackleaders registration
)
Step 3 - Shuttle Registration:
https://www.roanokemountainadventures.com/rockstar
One-way shuttle ride on Friday from Roanoke to Harrisonburg. Leave your car near the RockStar finish, RMA transports you and your bike to the RockStar start.
Official Routes: www.tinyurl.com/rockstarroutes
Maps: www.tinyurl.com/rockstargooglemap
Start Location = Black Sheep Coffee Harrisonburg | 80 E Market St, Harrisonburg, VA 22801
Finishing Location = Texas Tavern Roanoke, 114 Church Ave SW, Roanoke, VA 24011,
https://texastavern-inc.com
RockStar Hall of Fame:
https://tinyurl.com/rockstarHOF
If renting a SPOT from Trackleaders complete your registration 1 week *before* the Grand Depart. All rented SPOT units will be shipped to Black Sheep Coffee and available for pickup beginning 9am the Friday before the Grand Depart. If you have your own SPOT unit (or similar) then you can Trackleaders register up until the Thursday before the Grand Depart.
Trackleaders RockStar VA 270 2026 Live Tracker:
http://trackleaders.com/rockstar26
(This ^ is the page where fans, family and friends can follow riders and view how the event is unfolding in real-time.)
We recommend that all solo riders and teams have a SPOT tracking device with them and on for the duration of this event and registered with Trackleaders.com. Trackleaders registration is $20 if you have your own tracking device and $80 if you will be renting a Spot Gen3 tracker.
Rental SPOT Return Info:
http://goo.gl/EzXP6Z
Important Notes:
1) Team Idea - Ride a RockStar Challenge route with your friends! Support one another and stay together for the entire event. (Suggested - all team members either do trail work or donate to the Virginia Endurance Series Venmo @virginiaenduranceseries )
2) Install fresh batteries, and turn on and test your tracking device to be sure you’re showing up on Trackleaders the Friday before the Grand Depart! If not, contact Trackleaders to get it sorted out on Friday - don’t wait until Saturday morning!
3) Independent Time Trial (ITT) - anyone attempting the route at a date or time other than the Grand Depart can still register with Trackleaders so family, friends and fans can see their progress.
RockStar Google Map (All Routes + Lodging & POI layers):
http://tinyurl.com/rockstargooglemap
**4 Stages Idea**
Stage 1: Saturday Start = Black Sheep Coffee Harrisonburg, Finish = Braley Pond Dispersed Campground
Stage 2: Sunday Start = Braley Pond Dispersed Campground, Finish = Douthat State Park
Stage 3: Monday Start: = Douthat State Park, Finish = Eagle Rock / Patterson Creek area
Stage 4: Tuesday Start = Eagle Rock area, Finish = Texas Tavern Roanoke
Regarding the courses:
TRAIL - The Trail route is amazing and regarded as a legendary challenge ride. The route does not exhaustively explore all trail areas it touches BUT it will give folks a good taste of each destination. Make no mistake, this is a rider's course. It's not a get you from A to B on dirt as directly as possible. It's a route that will thrill and delight and it's very tough physically, technically and mentally. Before attempting the RockStar Trail route be sure your MTB is in excellent working order and fitted with durable tires that have sidewall protection. (Approx: 65% Trail, 20% Gravel, 15% Pavement)
GRAVEL - Unbelievably beautiful and much more challenging than a traditional gravel event. Gravel bikes with 38c or larger tires or hardtail MTBs work well for this route. (Approx: 65% Dirt/Gravel Roads, 32% Paved Backroads / Paths, 2% Trail)
PAVE - The Pave route is also stunning and it stays mostly in the valleys alongside the ridgelines that the Trail and Gravel routes use. A road bike with 28c or larger tires is the recommended steed. (Approx: 85% Country Backroads, 15% Road-bikeable Dirt Roads)
Racers will be finishing over a number of days and at all kinds of hours, so, after summiting at the Roanoke Star racers will DH to downtown and finish at the one and only iconic Roanoke downtown destination where you're guaranteed a friendly greeting 24/7 every day, all year - the Texas Tavern!!!!
Unsupported Guidelines = the exact same Modus Operandi as the Tour Divide. From
https://tourdivide.org/the_rules
“To complete the Route, a rider may resupply food / equipment, rent a room, launder clothing, even service their bike at commercial shops along the way. The intent is to ride unsupported between towns, and function self-supported when in towns. Any services utilized must always be commercially available to all challengers and not pre-arranged[1]. No private resupply, no private lodging.
Tour Divide strives for equal opportunity within the GC. Whether doing an independent time trial or tackling the grand départ, TD requires that every challenger—from those living along the route to those living on other continents—have an equal playing field. Therefore, outside assistance with navigation, lodging or resupply (especially receipt of supplies from a non-commercial shipper) is prohibited. Visitation: Divide racing is not intended to be a spectator sport! However, route-town locals only may interact with (i.e. visit briefly, cheer on) thru-racers as they pass through their locale. Out-of-town visitation to the GDMBR mid-race from challengers' family or friends—even if only a 'loosely-planned', remote possibility for rider rendezvous—is prohibited.”
Supported = riders who complete a RockStar route and receive any level of support at any time are listed are noted as supported in the RockStar Hall of Fame.
Support Safety and Fun - Riders should conservatively arrange for enough support for them to be safe and have fun. If support at any time will increase your safety and / or maximize your fun - then arrange for and enjoy some support! Completing RockStar is difficult. Supported or not! If the weather becomes severe it can even be dangerous. Please be safe out there! And, have funs!
Future RockStar Grand Departs:
2027 = April 17
2028 = April 22
2029 = April 21
2030 = April 27
2031 = April 19
Mark your calendars!!!
The RockStar Challenge is a Self-Supported Bikepacking Idea.
If you decide to try to ride Tour Divide or hike the Appalachian Trail - if you need help during one of those adventures it's up to you to figure it out. RockStar Trail, Gravel and Pave routes are exactly like that. The annual Grand Depart idea adds camaraderie and fun, and because other people are attempting the challenge during the same timeframe, if you need assistance another rider might be able to help. Note: the folks that came up with the RockStar Challenge idea (aka the VES middle management team) … are in the woods riding it too!
In general, if you are in the woods and you ride up on someone that's unconscious or seriously injured, if there's cell service call 911. If there's no cell service, and you or the injured person have a tracking unit, press the SOS button on a tracking unit and do all you can to keep them safe until help arrives.
2025 RockStar Participant Pre-Event Info Email (2026 version will be similar):
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1FmvsU1zi1W1Y7FAG8cJr9tzNOdY4aKo7XDN17PwfFuo/edit?usp=sharing
Also check out other Trips & Adventurous Activities in Harrisonburg, Sports events in Harrisonburg, Workshops in Harrisonburg.
