World Championship Pack Burro Race
World Championship Pack Burro Race is an ultra and running race on July 26, 2026 in Fairplay, CO, with an entry fee of $70.
- Date
- July 26, 2026 (3 days to go)
- Location
- 531 Front Street, Fairplay, CO
- Price
- $70
- Sports
- UltraRunning
From the Organizer
The first year of the World Championship Pack Burro Race in 1949 saw 21 entrants with only 8 finishing the race. These days there are nearly 100 racers and burros that take on this historic challenge. Some choose the “lower altitude” short course of approximately 12.3 miles while others take on the long course and attempt the grueling climb to the top of Mosquito Pass and back, 29+ miles and an elevation change of 3,232'! The racers start at 9,953 feet in Fairplay with long course runners hitting their halfway point at the top of Mosquito Pass, elevation 13,185'!
***Disclaimer: On June 15th the Town of Fairplay Board of Trustees voted to set a Long Course time cutoff for Checkpoint 6 Outbound at 4:00pm. Checkpoint 6 is at the Y intersection of CR 12 and 696 before racers go up through the mine and American Flats. Long Course racers have been reaching Checkpoint 6 by 1:30pm at the latest in the last few years; 4:00pm should be a generous cutoff time. The start time of the Long Course has not changed. There is no cutoff time for the Short Course. The added rule reads as follows…
“TIME CUTOFF
Teams registered for the Long Course must reach Checkpoint 6 - Outbound by 4:00pm in order to continue the course. If the team does not meet this requirement, they will have two options. The team can choose to turn around and take the designated course back to town in order to receive credit for their completed miles OR the team can choose to be trailered out which will result in a DNF. The runner is responsible for organizing transportation off of the course. Town of Fairplay will not provide transportation.
There is no cutoff time for the Short Course.”
This rule change has been in discussion for the past couple of years and has been implemented with the safety of the burros, racers, owners, volunteers, and staff in mind.
Free race photos provided by Pack Burro Racing Photographers at PBRphotos.org
Events
Weather
Race-Day Forecast
Live forecast from the U.S. National Weather Service.
Race Day
Sunday, 7/26
High
77°
Low
54°
Conditions
Mostly sunny then chance showers and thunderstorms
Chance of Rain
54%
Wind
3 to 7 mph
Host City
About Fairplay, CO
Population
851
as of 2023
City Elevation
9,941 ft
Nearest Airport
ASE
Aspen-Pitkin County Airport (Sardy Field) · 47 mi
Major Hub
COS
City of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport · 75 mi
Time Zone
Mountain Time
From Endurance Grid
A small town race. Lodging near the start could be limited, so book early.
Race Location
Your Next Start Line
What Are You
Waiting For?
Every finish line starts with a single decision. Claim your spot at World Championship Pack Burro Race, put it on the calendar, and turn “someday” into a start date.
3
Days to train
- Race
- World Championship Pack Burro Race
- Date
- July 26, 2026
- Location
- 531 Front Street, Fairplay, CO
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From Endurance Grid
About These Sports
This race spans more than one sport — here’s a guide to each, so you can understand what’s involved and decide if it’s the right fit. For course distances, logistics, and race-day specifics, always defer to the race organizer’s event page.
Ultramarathon
An ultramarathon is anything beyond the standard marathon — 50K, 50-mile, 100K, 100-mile, and timed events. Crossing the line is less about speed and more about not quitting.
Running
From 5K to marathon, running races are an accessible entry point into endurance sport. There's a distance for every fitness level and a community at every start line.
Coming Up
More Ultra races near Fairplay, CO
Sheep Mountain Trail Runs
Ultra · From $100 · Platte Drive
Less than a mile away
West Line Winder
50K · From $125 · 402 E Main St
27 miles away
Sawatch Ascent
50K · From $159 · Co Rd 321
36 miles away
Suffer Better 10th Annual Fall Trail Runs
50K · From $25 · Staunton State Park
38 miles away
Plan your trip
Make it a Racecation
Coming from out of town? There's more to Fairplay than race day. We'll help you line up nearby lodging, flights, a rental car, and things to do so you can make the most of your racecation.
Plan your trip to FairplayFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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World Championship Pack Burro Race
Jul 26, 2026