Clear Creek County is Real Colorado

Clear Creek Pack Burro Races are Memorial Day Weekend in Georgetown and Idaho Springs, Colorado! 
Spectators are always FREE!

Georgetown, Colorado Pack Burro Race – Saturday, May 27th

8 miles – From Georgetown to Empire Pass and back. Remember to follow traffic pattern around the round about, yield to downhill runners, and stick around after you’re done to check for ticks. And, there will be a prize for the runner who picks up the most trash on the course along with Race Prizes!

• Race entry details + burro rental ~ please visit www.ccburroracing.com
• Check in + Weigh-in time: 9:00 am
• Start time: 11:00 am

Idaho Springs, Colorado Pack Burro Race – Sunday, May 28th

5 miles – Great distance for first timers! Rolling start after Parade down main street begins at Citizens Park, heading east turning north up 17th Ave, across Colorado Blvd up Virginia Canyon on the dirt road that features a 12% grade/climb, switch back down following flour arrows to old miners driveway at the open gate, up and over, down and winding around down Rose Gulch, over logs, under trees, coming out over the Argo Mill, heading back west on Riverside turning right at 23rd, left on Virginia Street toward the back of the Elks Lodge with a sharp left on 16th to the finish.

• Race entry details + burro rental ~ please visit www.ccburroracing.com
• Check in + Weigh In: 8:30 am
• Start time: 10:30 am

CC Burro Racing Series – Run both races!

Do you feel energetic and ready to keep going after Georgetown’s Race? Then gear up your burro and run the Idaho Springs race too! WIN both races with the same burro for your chance to win “Red Tail’s Miner Challenge Trophy”!

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Did you know? The Burro is the Colorado State Animal and that Pack Burro Racing is the only sport indigenous to the State of Colorado? It has its roots in the State’s mining heritage. In the early days of the mining industry, miners would take burros, which is the Spanish word for donkey, through the mountains of Colorado in their search for gold. Because the burros were carrying supplies, the miners could not ride the animal and so they would walk, leading the donkey. The burro races commemorate these men and their burros.

Format: In a typical burro race, a runner and a burro race complete a prescribed course together, with the runner leading the burro on a rope. Riding the burro is not allowed. In fact, the human may carry the burro, but the burro may not carry the human. The burro must be on a lead rope, which is limited to 15 feet. Runners must maintain control of their animals at all times. Burros must also carry a pack saddle with 33 pounds of traditional mining gear, including a pick, gold pan, and a shovel. Runners may also include other gear in their saddles, such as windbreakers, water, food, etc, but the surplus gear cannot be counted in the 33 pounds. Cruelty to the burro is prohibited and racing officials have the right to hold any burro for 30 minutes following the race for an inspection by a veterinarian.

Lore: There are two legends concerning the beginning of these burro races. The first states that the races began when two miners found gold and had to race back to the claims office. Because they could not ride the burros the miners were forced to run, leading the burros. The second legend is somewhat vague but concerns a few drunken miners at a bar in Leadville, Colorado.

This Memorial Day enjoy the ambiance of the majestic Rocky Mountains as you listen to the sounds of Clear Creek, enjoy a cozy getaway at a unique bed and breakfast, or stroll through the Victorian communities and feel the warmth of historic nostalgia. Your adventure awaits.