Belgian Waffle Ride Arizona, live.

Sandy washes and desert trails in the Hell of the North Desert

The fifth Belgian Waffle Ride Arizona opens the 2027 BWR season in the Sonoran Desert on 5 and 6 March.

BWR Arizona is the early season appointment of the Belgian Waffle Ride series, nicknamed the Hell of the North Desert and, by the organiser, the Disneyland of gravel. The weekend is centred on McDowell Mountain Park near Fountain Hills, and race day is Saturday 6 March.

The terrain mixes open gravel, sandy washes, not too rocky ground and twisting trails, with pavement connecting the sectors. For planning, the organiser publishes the 2026 figures: the Waffle at 101 miles with 6,770 feet of climbing, the Wafer at 67 miles with 3,715 feet, and the Wanna at 42 miles with 2,172 feet. Final 2027 routes and start times will be announced separately.

As the organiser puts it, it takes more than a big engine to ride this place well: carrying momentum through the sand and choosing lines matters. The Wanna is the friendliest way in for riders new to desert gravel, while the Waffle is a full day. Each rider gets a number with an RFID timing tag for an official finish time, stocked feed zones and on-course support.

The weekend brings together rider check-in, the Unroad Expo, the ride and the post-ride gathering with waffles, so supporters have a base at the venue.

On Livebib you can follow a rider who chooses to share their own live position from the phone they carry on the bike. That position comes from the rider, not from the organiser's timing, and the official results are published by the organiser.