This route is more of an XC MTB route than a gravel route. A suspension fork with some travel would go a long way here. Rode this counter clockwise a month or so ago. The lower gravel sections, the road to Tolland from Rollinsville, all fine. But the road up from Tolland (4N) is an easy offroad trail, not a gravel road. Something you can get a Rav4 up but not a sedan (unless you are extremely motivated), and it rides like it too. Very rocky, loose. The descent off the top heading south to Apex is also heinous for about a half mile. Totally doable, especially if you take your time, but I was desperate for a dropper post and a suspension fork for a bit. The other climb and descent had some chunk to it too, but it wasn't as bad. Just don't plan on doing any appreciable speed for about half of this route, unless you want to really test your bike's durability. I would consider this near the limit of what one should reasonably be doing on a gravel bike. My friend who was with me would probably think I am being too charitable with that assessment.

Rode this recently with a Salsa Cutthroat on 2.35" Mezcal XCs and had a blast. Perfect bike/tire to be able to still ride the chunk down 4-N and not get worked. If anything overbiked for the smooth gravel sections that run a lot of this loop. Excellent riding!

Comments here are mostly correct - 4-N is pretty chunky, I've ridden it with 45C tires aired down a bit, and its hard but doable. Definitely underbiking, but some of us love that. The rest of it is pretty perfect.

Elk Park and County Rd 4-N from Apex to Tolland are atrocious quality — It’s actually dangerous on non-suspension rig (like 99% of gravel bikes)… The 4 wheeler locals coming up the backside of 4N thought I was nuts - and I was - this section is not gravel…it’s full suspension bouldering washouts and sand - too steep for traction in some places.

Covered these roads June 2020. Should really be 4 separate segments, with very different character. - Apex Valley Rd to Apex Ghost Town is good quality. - Elk Park and County Rd 4-N from Apex to Tolland are atrocious quality - Tolland Portal Rd is excellent, busy but wide - Gamble Gulch / Missouri Gulch is a great gravel pypass of P2P Hwy - deteriorates a bit over the top but fine to ride on a gravel bike.