Creede Mountain Run

50k - 22 Mile - 12 Mile - 2  Mile Races
AUGUST 31, 2024

The Race Is On! The Creede Mountain Run, established in 1987, celebrates the end of summer and the beginning of fall in our small historic mountain town. This event offers participants the opportunity to enjoy the breathtaking San Juan Mountains in Colorado on a 2, 12, 22 mile, or 50K course!

The race begins within the town of Creede, leading racers along Main Street early in the morning, as sleepy stores open and coffee shop patrons step onto the street to cheer racers on. The course follows Willow Creek out of town and up towards the Black Pitch, testing their endurance for quick altitude gain while piquing their interest with old mines hanging precariously from vertical cliffs. The 12-milers round out the Bachelor Loop, while the 22-milers climb up to the top of the Continental Divide, before making their return into Creede and the finish line. 

Registration for the 22 Mile and 50K Closes at 7am with a prompt 7:30 start time.

Registration for the 12 Mile and 2 Mile Run/Walk closes at 8:30 am with a prompt 9:00 start time.

The Course

The 50k - 22 Mile - 12 Mile - and 2 Mile races begin within the city of Creede, a historic mining community in the San Juan Mountains at an elevation of 8850 feet. From Creede, the racers head north up Willow Creek Canyon for one of the toughest and scenic “up and over” races Colorado has to offer.

A gentle gain of 100 ft in the first mile leads to the turnaround where the 2 milers turn back and follow their tracks to the start/finish line.

The course continues up West Willow Canyon, facing a steep climb and passing historic mining sites in the rugged landscape. Racers have come to know a few of the tougher sections as “the Pitch” and “Heartbreak Hill,” both within the first 3 ½ miles.

The ascent continues a bit more gently to “Allen’s Crossing” where the 5-mile mark has an elevation of 10,500 feet. 12-mile racers continue on rolling terrain to the old Bachelor Townsite, elevation 10,700, followed by the brisk 4 ½ mile descent back into Creede on a well-graded dirt road. All 50K runners and 22 Mile Runners should be at Allen's Crossing within 1.5 hours.

22 milers and 50k runners should be just getting warmed up at “Allen’s Crossing” with the real climbing still ahead. The next 5 ½ miles run on jeep roads through the Equity Mine site and a section known as “The Ladders,” a series of chin-scraping hills that top out at 12,500 feet.

This is the Continental Divide, and runners should be prepared for anything Colorado mountain weather can dish out. Heat, lightning, rain, hail, snow, and wildlife might visit the course on race day. At least six miles of this section are exposed to the elements with nowhere to hide, so be ready!

After topping out, runners will enjoy the 2 ½ mile descent through the “Neverending Valley” followed by one last incline up from "Rat Creek," a late sting in the tail. At 18 ½ miles, the 22 milers reconnect with the 12-mile course and can savor the last few miles as they descend upon Creede.

Come test yourself and have fun in a challenge that the city of Creede has been proudly hosting 38 years!

 revised map w 50k course

Creede Gravity Derby

creede gravity derby raceCreede Gravity Derby - Saturday, July 20th, 2024

Join the annual free-style soapbox derby down Main Street! The races begin at 10am in a double elimination showdown. The spectacle features 4 age groups, with the latest addition of "the littles" who will ride the "short course," finishing 1 block down at the fudge shop.  Age brackets are 3-6, 7-11, 12-17, and 18 and older.   Kids under 15 must have a parent present; parents of children under 6 are encouraged to be as hands on as necessary!  Only 3 rules: riders must steer, brake, and stop! (well, and no motors or pedal power - let gravity do the work!).  Cash prizes for those 17 and UNDER.

Pre-register at the Visitor Center, with Parks and Rec, or on the day of the race at the north end of Main Street.  Vehicles should be brought to the staging area in front of the main stage Theatre between 8-9am for inspection, waivers, and registration.  Come early to help us get started!

Creede Donkey Dash

DonkeyDash Logo 01

Saturday, June 8, 2024

Main Race & NEW this year, the Short Course approximately 3 miles!!!

  • The Races Begin and End on Main Street - 10am
  • Main Race is about 10 miles, through the historic Creede Mining District
  • Short Course is about 3 miles on popular Up and Over trail
  • Bring your own burro, or call the Visitor Center for rental info
  • Prizes awarded in Male/Female Categories: 1st $300, 2nd $200, 3rd $100

Race A Mini Donkey on Main street - 10:15am - $20 - All ages - donkeys provided

Farmers Market and Live Music all day!

The History of Burro Racing

Burro racing is a great sport begun by some of Colorado’s 19th-century miners. Those hardy characters used burros to carry mining tools and supplies through the Rocky Mountains as they prospected for gold, silver, and other valuable ores. Since the burros were carrying a full load, the miners had to walk, leading the animal with a rope. Legend has it that two miners found gold in the same location, and raced each other back to town to be the first to stake a claim to the find. Neither could ride their animal because of its load, so one of the basic rules of burro racing was established.

Creede's Burro Race: The Donkey Dash

The Creede Donkey Dash starts and finishes on Main Street adjacent to Basham Park. Teams consist of a burro and runner. The Main course covers about 10 miles through Creede’s Historic Mining District. Competitors will pass by the Creede Underground Mining Museum, past the Commodore Mine UP the "Black Pitch", run through the Weaver Town Site, follow the 4x4 Road by the Midwest Mine, up and over through the switchbacks, pass Phoenix Park and then down the East Willow Canyon, through North Creede, and then south back into town to finish off the final three miles of the race with a gradual downhill that ends on a cheering Main Street! Several mines can be seen along the racecourse, including the remnants of the Kentucky Belle, gripping the cliffs hundreds of feet above the road.

The NEW Short Course follows all the same standard rules of pack burro racing and is approximately 3 miles long, starting with the Main Race on Main St in front of Basham Park.  Runners and their burros will head north into the canyon, but will diverge from the others racers by turning right onto the East Willow Canyon.  They will follow the road for about a 1/4 mile through North Creede and turn right again onto the Up and Over Trail, following this up the back side of the Pinnacles, then cresting over and coming down the ridge that borders the town of Creede to the east.  Finally exiting the trail onto 7th St, runners will turn right and follow La Garita St north, turning left onto Wall St, passing the Tommyknocker Tavern on the right and making a left at the Post Office, back to the START/FINISH line in front of Basham Park.  While we've added the Short Course to include more participants, it should be noted that any race involving trail running AND burros should not be taken lightly!!!  

Note: The courses are subject to change due to FS Road Conditions. Our Alternate course loops in front of the Court House from Main Street to Loma Avenue up towards Capital Avenue and picks up Forest Road 504/Bachelor Loop Road. Runners will turn around and follow the course back to the Start Finish Line.

In the News

Fall Colors Car Show, Fly-in & Arts Weekend

The Car Show is an Autumn event that inspires car fanatics to motor along the beautiful Upper Rio Grande and enjoy the fall landscapes of red, gold, and yellow. Final destination: Creede, where Main Street is lined with a kaleidoscope of colors and the public is welcome to stroll through the variety of vintage vehicles, enjoy the ‘50s, ‘60s, ‘70s, and ‘80s music, and vote on their favorites. The day ends with a Rod Run to the famous North Clear Creek Falls Overlook and a burger at Freemon’s Ranch. Finish the weekend with Sunday morning breakfast and Fly-In at the Mineral County Airport. Dozens of planes come in and out of the valley, putting on quite the show! Listen to the podcast here.

2023 Schedule of Events (Subject to Change)

Friday, September 15, 2023:
9:30 am - 6 pm:  Pre-Registration at the Creede/Mineral County Visitors Center
4:00 pm - 6 pm: Meet and Greet at the Creede/Mineral County Visitors Center

Saturday, September 16, 2023:
8 am - 10:30 am:  Registration - Mineral County Courthouse parking lot (upper Main Street)
9 am - 3 pm:  Show and Shine - Creede Main Street
9 am - 5 pm: 3rd Annual Steamroller Printmaking Event
3 pm: Car Show Awards, the intersection of Wall Street and Main Street
4:30 pm:  Rod Run to North Clear Creek Falls Overlook followed by Burgers at Freemons’ Store. Meet back at the Visitor Center.

Sunday, September 17, 2023:
9am:  Airplane Fly-in Breakfast at the Mineral County Airport

Silver Threads Quilt Show

Silver Threads Quilt Guild puts on a quilt show in Creede, Colorado every 2 years.  This year on September 15-17 at the Community Center come experience the creativity and quilts that our members create…you are sure to be inspired!  Shop the Treasure Trove of handmade items, enjoy the Quilters Cafe, visit Vendors and Quilt Appraisals on site.  Friday 9/15 and Saturday 9/16 from 9am-5pm, and Sunday 10am-2.  Admission is $5.  Learn more here

 

Steamroller Printmaking Event

The Creede Arts Council holds its annual Steamroller Printmaking event on Saturday September 16, from 9am to 2pm. This is an outdoor printmaking event held during the Cruisin’ the Canyon Car Show. We’ll be located on N. Main Street toward the canyon cliffs. You can’t miss the giant Steamroller waiting and ready to help us print some beautiful artwork. 

About sixteen artists will have created unique and artistic designs on 24”x32” pieces of MDF board.  After months of planning, drawing, and carving, on the day of the event, the boards will be hand-inked, laid on the street with fabric placed carefully on top of them, and while the audience watches, rolled over with the Steamroller to press the image onto the fabric. The results are large, limited edition fine art prints. 

The artwork will be available for purchase on-site to help fulfill the nonprofit Creede Arts Council’s mission to promote the arts and humanities in our community through education, exhibition, and performance and to foster local artistic talent.  Learn more from the Creede Arts Council by following this link.

steamroller printmaking

 

Creede Chocolate Festival

Friday, November 24
 11am-4pm Chocolate Festival (SOLD OUT)
 445pm - Chocolate Festival Awards
 5pm - Parade of Lights & Tree Lighting
 7pm - "Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol" @ CRT

Saturday, November 25
 11am-4pm Chocolate Festival  (SOLD OUT)
 11am - 3pm Holiday Market
 1-3pm - Live Music at Sunnyide - Caldera
 2pm - "Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol" @ CRT
 445pm - Chocolate Festival Awards
 7pm - "Jacob Marley’s Christmas Carol" @ CRT

The Creede Chocolate Festival is an annual two-day event beginning the Friday & Saturday after Thanksgiving. This event showcases luscious samples of chocolate specialties created by local business owners and individuals. All participants must abide by a few simple regulations concerning their chocolate delicacies: samples must contain chocolate, carob, cocoa, or white chocolate and cannot be commercially made or prepared from a box. Wonderful, yet sometimes unusual, chocolate delights range from tiramisu, tortes and chocolate covered pretzels, to jalapeno bean fudge and chocolate-dipped bacon. Eating your way around Creede will be easy —but casting your vote for the People's Choice award can be challenging!

Often, Santa and Mrs. Claus can be found around town! Live music can often be found in the late afternoon and evening. Many of Creede's businesses will also be holding sales and offering specials during the festival weekend, and Main Street will feature a Winter Market. Several businesses will be open for Black Friday Shopping, offering deep discounts from 7:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.

While busy in the summer months, winter brings tranquility and a slower pace to Creede that is appreciated by locals and visitors alike. Surrounded by 96 percent public lands, Creede provides great opportunities for sledding, ice skating, cross-county and backcountry skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiling. Local clubs groom ski trails close to town, and miles upon miles of GPS-mapped snowmobile trails traverse peaks, valleys, and plateaus. Winter sports equipment can be rented or purchased through local merchants.

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Creede & Mineral County Visitor Center & Chamber of Commerce

Open Tue-Sat 9am - 4pm, Lunch 1-2
904 S. Main St., PO Box 580
Creede CO 81130
Area Information Located North of Door. Free WiFi is always on!

719-658-2374
office@creede.com

Donations are appreciated. As a non-profit organization, we thrive on the kindness and charity of our visitors. Thank you!