Being that I’m based out of Denver, my bias is obvious, all the events listed are in Colorado. Sorry, I simply don’t have time to track all the gravel events out there.

The 2026 Colorado Gravel & MTB Race Calendar: A Strategic Guide

The 2026 endurance cycling calendar for the Rocky Mountain region represents a watershed moment in the evolution of the sport. A detailed analysis of confirmed dates, organizer announcements, and historical trends reveals a fundamental restructuring of the traditional racing season.

For the Colorado-based athlete, the 2026 schedule is no longer a linear progression from base miles to a singular August peak; rather, it is a complex, bi-modal season defined by a high-intensity "June Compression" and a secondary, high-altitude climax in late summer.

The Big Shake-Ups for 2026

1. The "June Compression"

The most disruptive variable for 2026 is the rescheduling of SBT GRVL in Steamboat Springs. Historically an August fixture, the event has moved to June 26–28, 2026. This singular change decouples the famous "Leadboat" challenge (the back-to-back execution of the Leadville Trail 100 and SBT GRVL), fundamentally altering training periodization. Athletes can no longer rely on a single taper for both events; instead, they must manage a peak in late June, recover during the hottest weeks of July, and rebuild for the high-alpine demands of August.

2. The "Impossible Weekend" of June 13

Data indicates a saturation point on the weekend of June 13, 2026. Four major regional events—The Hundo (MTB), Pikes Peak APEX (MTB), Kowtown Gravel, and Robidoux Rendezvous (Gering, NE)—are scheduled simultaneously. This cluster forces athletes to specialize early, choosing between the technical singletrack of the Front Range or the high-exposure gravel of the plains.

3. The Rise of "Adventure Gravel"

A third trend is the expansion of ultra-endurance and "adventure" formats. Events like Desert Gravel (formerly Co2uT), The Rexy, and Salida 76 are pushing distances beyond the standard 100-mile format, favoring 125-mile to 200-mile point-to-point challenges that require self-sufficiency and navigation skills alongside raw fitness.

February & March: The Winter Systems Check

Old Man Winter Bike Rally & Run

• Date: February 1, 2026
• Location: Lyons, CO
• Discipline: Mixed Surface / Winter Gravel
• The Lowdown: The traditional "gathering of the tribe." Equipment choice is the primary governor of performance here. In years with heavy snowfall, athletes running 40mm studded tires or even mountain bikes often outperform those on standard gravel setups.

The Mid South

• Dates: March 13–14, 2026
• Location: Stillwater, OK
• The Lowdown: While not in Colorado, this is the first "Monument" of the year for Rockies athletes. Note the format change: Pro athletes will race on Friday, March 13, while the amateur field retains the Saturday, March 14 slot.¹¹

April: Desert Season

The Bear XC Mountain Bike Race

• Date: April 4, 2026
• Location: Lakewood, CO (Bear Creek Lake Park)
• The Lowdown: A non-technical "roadie's MTB race" that serves as the perfect FTP test to kick off the dirt season.

Desert Gravel (Formerly Co2uT)

• Date: April 25, 2026
• Location: Fruita, CO
• The Lowdown: Rebranded as "Desert Gravel," this event explores the "Book Cliffs" terrain. The flagship 125-mile "Utahraptor" course features dinosaur-sized gravel that demands 42mm+ tires. It is an attrition race of steady-state power.

Boulder Roubaix Road Race

• Date: April 26, 2026
• Location: Boulder, CO
• The Lowdown: A bi-annual classic. For 2026, it features a new 30-mile circuit that incorporates a "tricky gravel section" over the Boulder Reservoir dams.

May: The Spring Classics

Pony Xpress Gravel 160

• Date: May 9, 2026
• Location: Trinidad, CO
• Update: The 100-mile format has changed to two laps of the 50-mile course rather than one large loop, simplifying support but altering the mental challenge.

Wild Horse Gravel

• Date: May 16, 2026
• Location: De Beque, CO
• The Lowdown: Hosted at the High Lonesome Ranch, this offers exclusive access to private ranch roads. Expect "baby head" rocks and steep, punchy climbs. New for 2026: Start/Finish moves directly to the Ranch.

Gunnison Growler

• Dates: May 23–24, 2026
• Location: Gunnison, CO
• The Lowdown: Technical, desert singletrack at Hartman Rocks. The "Classic" 32-mile race is Saturday; the "Pup" 20-mile is Sunday.

Iron Horse Bicycle Classic

• Dates: May 22–24, 2026
• Location: Durango, CO
• Gravel Option: The La Strada La Plata gravel race takes place Sunday, May 24.

Unbound Gravel

• Date: May 30, 2026
• Location: Emporia, KS
• The Lowdown: The world's premier gravel event moves to a May 30th date for 2026.

June: The Month of Conflict

The Dead Swede

• Date: June 6, 2026
• Location: Sheridan, WY
• The Lowdown: Red scoria roads in the Bighorn Mountains. A perfect recovery week option post-Unbound.

The "Impossible Weekend" (June 13)

You must choose one:

1. Pikes Peak APEX (Colorado Springs): Now a 2-day MTB stage race (June 13-14).
2. The Hundo (Bailey): Fast, flowy singletrack in Buffalo Creek. 50mi / 100km.
3. Kowtown Gravel (Kremmling): High-alpine, exposed gravel valleys.
4. Robidoux Rendezvous (Gering, NE): Technical, sandy gravel on the Oregon Trail.

Summer Vibes Bike Rally

• Date: June 20, 2026
• Location: Lyons, CO
• The Lowdown: A relaxed, festival-atmosphere gravel event. The perfect taper ride before SBT GRVL.

SBT GRVL

• Date: June 28, 2026
• Location: Steamboat Springs, CO
• The Shift: Moving to June eliminates the "Leadboat" double. Expect greener scenery but potentially higher water crossings than the traditional August date.

Bighorn Gravel

• Date: June 28, 2026
• Location: Gypsum, CO
• Conflict: Currently scheduled for the same weekend as SBT GRVL, presenting a direct conflict for gravel racers.

July: High Altitude

Firecracker 50

• Date: July 4, 2026
• Location: Breckenridge, CO
• The Lowdown: Leads out the 4th of July parade. Two laps of grueling climbing at 10,000+ ft.

Crusher in the Tushar

• Date: July 11, 2026
• Location: Beaver, UT
• The Lowdown: A Life Time Grand Prix event. 60/40 gravel/tarmac split with a mountaintop finish.

Ned Gravel

• Date: July 11, 2026
• Location: Nederland, CO
• The Lowdown: Steep, rugged, and technical gravel in Boulder County.

Silver Rush 50 MTB

• Date: July 12, 2026
• Location: Leadville, CO
• The Lowdown: The primary qualifier for the Leadville 100. 50 miles of pure climbing and descending in the mining district.

FoCo Fondo

• Date: July 19, 2026
• Location: Fort Collins, CO
• The Lowdown: A festival vibe with a "dare" based route system. The 118-mile route is flat and fast compared to the mountains but often hot and sandy.

August: The Championship Window

Crooked Gravel

• Date: August 1, 2026
• Location: Winter Park, CO
• The Lowdown: High-alpine gravel starting at 8,700 ft. A massive lung-buster ideal for Leadville sharpening.

Emerald Mountain Epic

• Date: August 8, 2026
• Location: Steamboat Springs, CO
• The Lowdown: 52-mile MTB race on Saturday (90% singletrack).

Breck Epic

• Dates: August 9–14, 2026
• Location: Breckenridge, CO
• The Lowdown: 6 days of backcountry singletrack.

Leadville Trail 100 MTB

• Date: August 15, 2026
• Location: Leadville, CO
• The Lowdown: The "Race Across the Sky." With SBT GRVL moved to June, athletes can empty the tank here without saving legs for the next day.

Gravel Worlds

• Date: August 22, 2026
• Location: Lincoln, NE
• The Lowdown: 150 miles of rolling hills. The "grassroots" world championship.

September & October: The Fall Finale

The Gunni Grinder

• Date: September 5, 2026
• Location: Gunnison, CO
• The Lowdown: 120 miles of remote, challenging gravel.

Fistful of Dirt

• Date: September 6, 2026
• Location: Cody, WY
• The Lowdown: A "wild west" gravel race with 100-mile and 67-mile options.

Mad Gravel

• Dates: September 5-7, 2026
• Location: Elbert, CO
• Update: Organizer Rattler Racing has announced a shift to Labor Day weekend for 2026.

Grand Traverse Mountain Bike

• Date: September 6, 2026
• Location: Aspen to Crested Butte, CO
• The Lowdown: A 40-mile point-to-point high-alpine backcountry mission.

Vapor Trail 125

• Date: September 12, 2026
• Location: Salida, CO
• The Lowdown: Starts at 10:00 PM. A cult-classic night ride on the Monarch Crest.

Salida 76

• Date: September 19, 2026
• Location: Salida, CO
• The Lowdown: "Champagne gravel with a whiskey chaser." 76 miles of hard climbing.

The Mane Event

• Date: September 19, 2026
• Location: Sheridan, WY
• The Lowdown: Gravel grinder in the foothills of the Bighorns.

Rad Dirt Fest

• Date: September 26, 2026
• Location: Trinidad, CO
• The Lowdown: A fast, 110-mile Life Time event in Southern Colorado.

Grassroots Gravel

• Dates: October 10–11, 2026
• Location: Pueblo, CO
• The Lowdown: Extends the season with warmer temps and unique "mesa" gravel.

Beti Bike Bash

• Date: October 18, 2026
• Location: Elbert, CO (McNeil Scout Camp)
• Update: The largest women's MTB race returns after a hiatus with a new October date and venue.

The Rexy (Queen of the Desert)

• Date: October 31, 2026
• Location: Fruita, CO to Moab, UT
• The Lowdown: 200 miles point-to-point. The ultimate season closer.

2026 Comprehensive Race Table