Fistful Of Dirt
About this race
Welcome to the 7th annual Fistful Of Dirt - the wild west of gravel riding right here in Cody, Wyo. Get your bike tuned up and pull your hat down tight – this ain’t your mama’s gravel bike race. Sunday, September 6th will be a wild west gravel grinder of grand proportions.
The Sheriff offers you 4 distances and whether you choose to ride The Good (20 Miles), The Drifter (47 Miles), The Bad (67 Miles), or The Ugly (108 Miles), you’re sure to get a hearty mouthful of our Whiskey Gravel – we leave the champagne to the city folk. From the Peaks of the McCulloughs, to Oregon Basin and through exclusive access on the iconic Hoodoo Ranch – The Sheriff of Fistful Of Dirt brings you the very best of the west. Smooth and chunky gravel, nicely packed dirt, some single track, some rocks, and a little bit of sand thrown in for good measure are what make up The Sheriff’s Whiskey Gravel. **Please note that our gravel comes in all shapes and forms - part of the fun and challenge of Fistful Of Dirt is the potential roughness and unpredictability of our terrain. Our courses are definitely designed for gravel bikes, but for the 20-Mile course, some folks may be more comfortable on a mountain bike.**. E-Bikes only allowed in the 20-Mile "Good" distance.
AND, for 2026, we're continuing the Sheriff's Purse the Fistful Of Dirt Ugly & Bad distances with separate and equal divisions for men & women. The Sheriff's Purse is our very own purse-prize structure in which everyone has a chance at winning, and you won't know 'til you finish where you stand. Scroll to the bottom for Sheriff's Purse details.
Once you cross the finish line, the party is on for all riders! Cool your blazing saddle with a bustlin’ post-ride shindig – the music will be pumping and the beer will be cold. Enjoy Cody for a weekend full of bikes, brews, and attractions. Whether you ride, or just come for the fun, it’ll be a wild west weekend to remember.
This year's race will be capped at 300 racers - so get in there early! AND, if you register by April 8th, you'll have an exclusive opportunity to purchase a new custom FFOD 3/4 sleeve shirt at cost - these will NOT be available any other time at cost!
What you get when you register:
- An amazing race through beautiful Wyoming public lands, and some very special private land
- Custom FFOD Schwag - Socks for the The Good & The Drifter, Beanies for The Bad & The Ugly
- Free drinks and music at packet-pick up on Saturday
- Free beer and food truck meal ticket at the finish line on Sunday
- A chance at winning a custom FFOD bolo tie for the top 3 male and female finishers in each race (first place only for E-bike division unless we get a bigger turnout)
- A chance at winning some of the Sheriff's Purse - check out fistfulofdirt.com for more details on that
- A dang good time
The Sheriff's Purse - $3500 for The Ugly & The Bad - Here's how it works...
The Sheriff will be awarding cash prizes for 1st place male & female finishers in 3 divisions for The Ugly and The Bad races. The first division will be the 1st overall male & female finishers of each of the two races. The second division will be the 1st male & female finishers that are at least 1 hour after the 1st place male & female finishers (respectively) of the first division. The third division winners will be the 1st male & female finishers at least 1 hour after the 1st male & female finishers (respectively) of the second division.
Everyone has a chance for some cash…
The Sheriff’s Purse not only recognizes elite riders, but also those who have the grit of the west. If you’re a front runner, you know where you stand…but if you’re not, you’ll just need to keep giving it your all to find out where you land when you cross the finish – everyone has a chance to win some of the Sheriff’s Purse – and we sure hope you’re one of them, pardner!
The Fistful Of Dirt brings an exciting 35.4K, Ultra to Cody, Wyoming on September 5, 2021. Don't miss this beautiful event!
Pick your distance
Gravel biking
The Good
This is a 22 mile course designed with the whole family in mind. Apart from one short, steep climb, the terrain is relatively mild. You can easily do this course on your gravel bike, or even your mountain bike if that’s how you roll. Aid Station #1 – Mile 12.5 (Shared with 60) 77% Gravel **Hoodie is NOT guaranteed if you register after 7/25/21
The Bad
This 65 mile course is going to challenge you. The first 12.5 miles start mildly as you take off and ride with the “The Good” riders. Once you get past that first aid station, things get more challenging. At mile 14.5, you start a steady climb that ends in a steep, curvey descent – so pick your lines wisely! Around mile 23.5, you join up with “The Ugly” riders for the remainder of the race. For 10 miles, you’ll crawl through Oregon Basin’s Dry Creek Rd – it’s dry, and it’s hot. Keep your momentum up because there will be sand traps. Once you hit the highway, at mile 34, congrats: you’ve survived the Basin! But now the fun begins…these next 20ish miles will push you to your limit climbing than descending. Once you meet back at the highway, it’s smooth sailing back to the finish. Aid Station #1 – Mile 12.5 Aid Station #2 – Mile 24 (Shared with 100) Aid Station #3 – Mile 34 – Bathroom (Shared with 100) Aid Station #4 – Mile 46 (Shared with 100) 82% Gravel **Hoodie is NOT guaranteed if you register after 7/25/21
The Ugly
The Ugly heads west out of Cody where you’ll have a scenic, paved ride up the North Fork Highway onto the Hayden Arch Road taking you up to the Dam Visitor Center parking lot. From here, you’ll turn left heading west towards the Buffalo Bill Reservoir. Once past the reservoir, the gravel begins as you turn south onto County Road 6KV and then east onto Stagecoach Rd where you’ll enjoy some well-maintained gravel. Around mile 25, you hit pavement again as you navigate the South Fork of the Shoshone to County Rd 6NQ. The next 22 miles or so are courtesy of the Hoodoo Ranch – private rolling hills on well-used gravel roads that are rocky and bumpy in spots. At mile 35.5 stop and take a drink from the freshest spring water you’ll ever taste. Pro-tip: drink from the pipe and not the stock tank. (Since this section is private, we have race day permission only. Pre-riding of this section is strictly prohibited.) Once you hit the highway around mile 49, the next 15 miles are mostly well maintained gravel with a little dirt two-track that’s generally well packed. Around mile 63, you join up with “The Bad” riders for the remainder of the race. For the next 10 miles, you’ll crawl through Oregon Basin’s Dry Creek Rd – it’s dry, and it’s hot. Keep your momentum up because there will be sand traps. Because of this section, we recommend using the widest tires your gravel bike can accommodate. Once you hit the highway, at mile 72, congrats: you’ve survived the OB! But now the fun begins…these next 20ish miles will push you to your limit climbing then descending – but enjoy the views, they’re freakin’ worth it. Once you meet back at the highway, it’s smooth sailing back to the finish. Aid Station #1 – Mile 15 - Water only Aid Station #2 – Mile 32.5 Aid Station #3 – Mile 49 – Bathroom Aid Station #4 – Mile 60 Aid Station #5 – Mile 72 – Bathroom Aid Station #6 – Mile 86.5 73% Gravel **Hoodie is NOT guaranteed if you register after 7/25/21
The Good - E-Bike Division
This is a 22 mile course designed with the whole family in mind. Apart from one short, steep climb, the terrain is relatively mild. You can easily do this course on your gravel bike, or even your mountain bike if that’s how you roll. Aid Station #1 – Mile 12.5 (Shared with 60) 77% Gravel **Hoodie is NOT guaranteed if you register after 7/25/21
About Cody
Fistful Of Dirt takes place in Cody, Wyoming, United States. The local timezone is America/Denver.
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Race information has been sourced from the event's official website and other publicly available resources. For the most up-to-date details, please refer to the official website directly. If you notice any incorrect or missing information, don't hesitate to reach out to us by email.
