The Creede Donkey Dash starts at 10:00 AM on June 6, 2026, giving travelers time to arrive the morning of the race or the evening before. Located at 13 S Main Street in Creede, Colorado, the event offers two distances: a 10-mile option for serious runners and a 3-mile option for those seeking a shorter effort. Entry is $70.00. The June date places the race in early summer at elevation in the San Juan Mountains, so plan accordingly for the climate and terrain conditions at that time of year. Whether you're targeting the longer distance or using the 3-mile as part of a race weekend, this small-town Colorado event provides a straightforward racing opportunity without the logistics of larger urban marathons.
From the Race Organizer
Please join us for the 9th year of the Creede Donkey Dash on Saturday, June 6, 2026! IMPORTANT REGISTRATION INFORMATION: Each runner must have a donkey secured prior to registering for the race, either by owning one or arranging a rental in advance. Donkey rentals are an additional fee and are separate from the race entry. If you do not currently own a donkey, please visit the following link before registering: https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/egw6UZs/Runwithus PLEASE DO NOT MAKE UP A DONKEY NAME. Please note that donkey rentals are not first-come, first-served. Each donkey has a unique pace and temperament and is carefully matched with runners to ensure the best possible pairing. A brief history of the donkeys that now run Pack Burro Races Donkeys first arrived on US soil in 1784 as a royal gift from King Charles III of Spain to George Washington. The donkeys first worked the plantations, but by the 1800s, were helping to build the American West. They were used by miners during the Gold Rush era, but by the turn of the century, many of these hearty little donkeys were abandoned. The donkeys found ways to survive the most unforgiving, yet extreme terrains around the American West. Resilient, they can feed on desert vegetation. While herds of wild burros now face the same threats today as wild horses, they are also being rounded up and domesticated. After being gentled and trained, many who run their donkeys find that the running activities are quite therapeutic and offer a great outlet for rehabilitating once wild and/or feral donkeys. “Burro” is the Spanish word for small donkey. However, many different sized donkeys from mini to mammoth can race in a Pack Burro Race and are interchangeably called “burro.” They only have chestnuts on the forelegs, while animals of the same equine family, such as mules (a hybrid cross between a donkey and horse) or horses, have these chestnuts on the hind and forelegs. The tail of a donkey has shorter hair, except on its lower part, which has a brush. Only a burro/donkey is allowed to run in a Pack Burro Race as we do nothing half-assed. The Rules: Pack Saddle & Paraphernalia Requirements Each burro must be equipped with a pack saddle carrying prospector's paraphernalia, including a pick, gold pan, and shovel (no toys permitted). There is no minimum weight requirement for the paraphernalia. If any of these items are missing or get lost on the trail, the runner/burro team will be disqualified (DQ). Lead Rope The burro must be outfitted with a lead rope for handling that is attached to a halter (a flat-nosed halter is preferred for safer racing over rope halters which tend to get loose and shift on the burro’s face, yet rope halters are a better tool for groundwork training). The runner may only be attached to the burro with a single lead rope that does not exceed 15 feet in length (measured from the end of the rope to the tip of the snap). The lead rope may only be connected to the halter. Control of Burro Burros are controlled by way of the runner handling a lead rope that is attached to the halter of the burro. All runners must keep their burro under control on the course, and not cut switchbacks (except for a single-track trail, runner/burro teams can pass as long as they remain near the course edge if slower teams are blocking the course or obstructing the advancement of another team). If the runner/burro interferes with another runner/burro team, the out-of-control team may be disqualified or given a warning. If the runner loses control of their burro, by way of dropping the lead rope, the team must return to the point where the lead rope was dropped to stay in the race in order to not obtain a DQ. We encourage you to take your burro back and not give up on your burro’s race to get an honorable finish. Jack/Stud Chains Jack/Stud chains may be used with a pressure-release technique, to safely control a higher-spirited burro. (A jack/stud chain is a chain or strap which is used to apply pressure over the muzzle or under the chin.) Any racer coming across the finish line with any injuries on the burro resulting from the jack/stud chain may be disqualified. Team = 1 Runner & 1 Burro The runner and burro starting this race must remain a team throughout the race. No assistants will be allowed to accompany any team. Spectators or anyone outside of the race are not allowed to assist the forward progress of any team. No swapping burros with another runner or both teams will be disqualified (“You gotta dance with the one that brung ya.” ~ Curtis Imrie). The winning combination consists of a runner and burro, who must cross the finish line as a unit. The runner may be leading or following the burro, but the burro's nose crossing the finish line first, constitutes the winner. In the event of a tie, the prize money involved, if any, will be equally divided between the teams involved. However, this is ultimately up to the race director’s discretion. The runner may push, pull, a
