World Championship Pack Burro Race
About this race
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'!
Short Course Map
Long Course Map
***Disclaimer: Staff are currently discussing a time limit for each course. Racers will have until a certain time to reach a specified checkpoint. If they reach the checkpoint after the required time, they will be directed to turn around and will receive a DNF.
Free race photos provided by Pack Burro Racing Photographers at PBRphotos.org
Pick your distance
Trail running
Long Course, 29+ miles
Each runner must be accompanied by a Burro! It is the responsibility of the runner to acquire their own burro. They may use their own animal or borrow/rent someone else's. Each burro will be required to be equipped with a regulation pack saddle, packed with a pick, shovel, and gold pan. It is strongly recommended that all participants carry at least one - two quarts of water, food, and clothing for all types of weather. Loss of all or part of the pack and paraphernalia will eliminate the contestant. See more detailed equipment information on our website. ***Disclaimer 3/21/25: Jack chains are no longer prohibited. Jack chains may be used only if used with a pressure-release technique. (A jack chain is a chain or strap which is used to apply pressure over the muzzle, under the chin, or through the mouth).
Running
Short Course, approximately 12.3 miles
Each runner must be accompanied by a Burro! It is the responsibility of the runner to acquire their own burro. They may use their own animal or borrow/rent someone else's. Each burro will be required to be equipped with a regulation pack saddle, packed with a pick, shovel, and gold pan. It is strongly recommended that all participants carry at least one - two quarts of water, food, and clothing for all types of weather. Loss of all or part of the pack and paraphernalia will eliminate the contestant. See more detailed equipment information on our website. ***Disclaimer 3/21/25: Jack chains are no longer prohibited. Jack chains may be used only if used with a pressure-release technique. (A jack chain is a chain or strap which is used to apply pressure over the muzzle, under the chin, or through the mouth). ***The Short Course route has been updated. While the new course is shorter (12.3 miles approx.) than the traditional course (15 miles), racers will find a more challenging experience with several steep ascents and descents after diverging from the original outbound path. Racers will navigate wooded dirt roads, giving access to beautiful views of the surrounding mountains and will be greeted by a tranquil high alpine pond as they pass the halfway point. Upon completing the loop, burro teams will finish the race along the traditional inbound trail.
Typical race-day weather
Based on 9 years of Open-Meteo archive data for this event's race dates in Fairplay, plus the 3 days either side.
The sun rises at 5:59 AM and sets at 8:21 PM local time (MDT) in Fairplay on July 26, 2026 — 14h 22m of daylight.
Course
No course map published yet.
The organizer hasn't released a route for this event, and we don't publish guesses. If you're the organizer, send us a GPX file and we'll draw the profile.
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2026 results — World Championship Pack Burro Race
98 finishers across 2 distances · leading places in the Long Course, 29+ miles
| Place | Name | Time | Pace |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Marvin Sandoval | 5:53:37 | 11:24 /mi |
| 2 | Kevin McNamee | 6:25:39 | 12:26 /mi |
| 3 | Bryan Ray | 9:46:17 | 18:55 /mi |
| 4 | Chris Rahn | 9:50:14 | 19:02 /mi |
| 5 | Tom Bergstrom | 10:03:14 | 19:28 /mi |
Every finisher is on the results page, filterable by distance, gender and age group.
All results by year
Other races near Fairplay
Different organizers, within 40 miles, in the next three months
Buena Vista Turkey Trot 5K & Family Fun Run
McGraw Memorial Park "Quick Draw @ McGraw" 2 Mile Trail Race
285 Turkey Trot -
Sawmill Trail Runs
Where this page comes from. Race details were last updated on . We re-check listings regularly and again in the week before race day.
- Entries, prices, waves and inclusions — the event's official registration page
- Temperature and humidity — Copernicus ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0)
- Elevation and terrain relief — Copernicus DEM GLO-90, ESA (CC BY 4.0)
- Comparisons and counts — Race Discovery calendar, 3 Fairplay events
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