KowTown Gravel 2026 Rider Guide

Welcome! We are beyond excited to have you visit the wonderful town of Kremmling, Colorado to ride and explore the terrain. This is the annual KowTown Gravel Bike Race, and we’ve worked hard to bring you the most fun, beautiful, well supported, experience that you’ll be coming back every year and bringing your fellow riders!

Emergency Alerts for KowTown Gravel

Your safety is our top priority. In the event of severe weather, course changes, emergency incidents, or other urgent race-related information, KowTown Gravel will utilize emergency alerts provided through our local Sheriff's Department.

All participants, volunteers, spectators, and support crews are strongly encouraged to sign up before race day.

How to Sign Up

📱 Text KOWTOWN to 67283

Once registered, you will receive emergency notifications specific to the KowTown Gravel event area throughout race weekend.

Important Information

  • Alerts are used only for emergency and safety-related communications.

  • Notifications may include severe weather warnings, course closures, evacuation notices, or other urgent race information.

  • Participants will be automatically removed from the alert list following race weekend.

Stay informed. Stay safe. Sign up today.

Text KOWTOWN to 67283 and ride easy knowing you'll be in the know!🤠🚴‍♀️🐄

Packet Pickup

Packet pickup and camping check-in will be available at West Grand High School Friday June 12 from 5:00 to 7:00PM and Saturday June 13 6:30 am to 8:30 am. Please watch the website and follow us on Instagram for the most updated race details.

Free showers will be at West Grand High School post race 1:00pm to 5:00pm.

Start / Finish Location

West Grand High School - 208 12th St, Kremmling, CO 80459

All races will start and finish on Jackson St. just north of the high School

Parking

There will be parking in the main lot at the high school and in the open space east of the track.

Additional Parking located at the church on the northwest corner of 12th and Jackson.

There will be overflow parking at the West Grand K-6 lot- 715 Kinsey Ave

⚠️ Attention Bull Course Riders ⚠️

Listen up, cowboys and cowgirls — the mountain doesn’t care how tough you are.

Riders who have not reached Mile 44 by 1:30 PM will not be permitted to continue onto the Grouse Mountain climb section (Miles 44–64), which includes a stout 2,000 feet of climbing. At exactly 1:30 PM SHARP, all riders still arriving at Mile 44 will be redirected to continue the course from Mile 64 to the finish at Mile 88.

A course marshal will be stationed at Mile 44 to point tired ponies toward home.

If you miss the cutoff, please DO NOT ride under the official finish line arch, as doing so may create confusion with race results and timing.

We truly hope every rider makes the cutoff and gets the full Bull Course experience. However, in the interest of rider safety, course support, and keeping everyone out of the wilderness after dark, this cutoff will be strictly enforced.

Thank you for your understanding, your grit, and your good attitude. Now saddle up and keep those wheels turnin’.

What You Can Expect at KowTown

Around here, we believe hard rides deserve good support, good people, and a dang good time.

Along the Course

  • Fully stocked feed zones with water, energy drink, bars, snacks, and a few surprises to keep your motor runnin’

  • Course maps include all aid station locations (click the map to view stations)

  • Lead-out and SAG vehicles roaming the course

  • Professional chip timing by Competitive Timing

After the Ride

  • A full-blown post-race party hosted by Elevation

  • Awards ceremony, live music, cold drinks, and plenty of stories gettin’ taller by the minute

  • Plenty of food and beverages for riders and spectators alike — bring the whole family

  • Some sweet KowTown swag to remember the adventure

  • Great times with friends, family, and the entire KowTown community

  • Awards

    • Bull course awards at 1:30 pm

      • Top 5 overall male and female

      • Tope finisher in each age group male and female

    • Cow Course Awards at 12:30 pm

      • Top 3 overall male and female

      • Top finisher in each age group male and female

    • Calf and cow dog awards at 11:30 am

      • Top 3 overall male and female

      • Top finisher in each age group male and female

Race Rules & Rider Etiquette

The Important Stuff

  • Helmets are mandatory. No helmet, no ride.

  • No aerobars allowed.

  • No headphones. Talk to your riding buddies or make a new trail friend.

  • No littering. If you pack it in, pack it out.

  • Be sure you know the start time for the race you signed up for.

  • Unregistered riders are not permitted to ride with participants.

On the Course

All KowTown courses are open courses. Riders are required to obey all traffic laws and ride responsibly. Keep your head up, stay alert, and ride smart out there.

If there is an emergency on course:

  • Call 911 immediately

  • Then notify the nearest course marshal or sheriff

Race officials reserve the right to delay, shorten, reroute, or alter the course if weather or course conditions become unsafe. Mother Nature gets the final say out here.

Mechanicals & Rider Support

If injury or mechanical trouble ends your day early, we’ll do our best to get you and your bike back to the finish safely. Please remember that some sections of the course are remote, and pickup times may vary.

If you need to drop out of the race, notify race officials as soon as possible so we know you’re safe.

Please lock up your bike if left unattended. Cowboys are honest folks, but we still recommend not temptin’ fate.

Timing & Results

Electronic timing and results will be provided by Competitive Timing.

Your official race time begins when your wave starts — not when you cross the timing mat.

Course Changes

While unlikely, course changes may become necessary before race day due to weather, road conditions, or safety concerns. Any updates will be posted to the website as quickly as possible.

Now grease those chains, air up those tires, and come ready to ride some of the finest gravel country around. Stay on the course-Along the route are multiple

Equipment & Gear

Your Steed

By now, hopefully you’ve picked your trusty gravel horse.

Most riders will be on gravel-specific bikes, but mountain bikes are absolutely welcome. E-bikes are permitted on the Calf (28-mile) and Cow (55-mile) courses only.

Tires

The number one KowTown FAQ: “What tires should I run?”

Well partner, you’re gonna get a little bit of everything out here — champagne gravel, rough two-track, minimally maintained roads, chunky loose sections, and even some pavement.

For most riders, the sweet spot is somewhere between 45–55mm tires. A good gravel tire or fast-rolling MTB tire will treat you right on these roads.

Helmet

Helmets are required for all riders and must be worn at all times.

This one oughta be a no-brainer. (Pun fully intended.)

The Rest of Your Kit

Don’t forget the essentials:

  • Cycling shoes

  • Socks

  • Gloves

  • Glasses

  • Bibs & jersey

  • Water bottles

  • Bike computer

  • Timing chip

Basically, if it keeps you rollin’ comfortably for a long day in the saddle, bring it.

Bug Spray

Bring insect repellent and actually use it.

The mosquitoes around these parts can get downright western. Aid stations will have bug spray available if you forget yours or run dry.

Extra Layers

Mountain weather changes quicker than a horse thief’s story.

We strongly recommend bringing:

  • Arm warmers

  • Leg warmers

  • Wind vest

  • Rain jacket

Sunshine, hail, wind, and rain can all happen before lunch in the high country.

Tools & Repair Gear

Carry a cargo/tool bag with:

  • Spare tubes

  • CO2 cartridges and/or hand pump

  • Tire repair supplies

  • Multi-tool

Self-sufficiency goes a long way out here.

Post-Ride Clothes

Bring something comfortable to change into after the ride.

Nobody wants to spend the afternoon walking around in a sweaty, dusty chamois after grinding gravel all day.

Navigation

Riders are responsible for navigating the course.

We’ll mark the routes as thoroughly as possible, but gravel race signs occasionally disappear thanks to weather, wildlife, or wandering pranksters.

We highly recommend downloading the course to your bike computer before race day.

You can also navigate using:

  • The free Ride with GPS app on your smartphone

  • A printed cue sheet

Rules of the Road

This is an OPEN course.

That means riders must obey all traffic laws for the entire event:

  • Ride with traffic

  • Stop at stop signs

  • Yield to pedestrians

  • Stay to the RIGHT side of the road at all times

Please ride respectfully and be mindful of fellow riders, local traffic, ranch traffic, wildlife, and changing road conditions.

Let’s keep this ride fun, safe, and accident-free.

Respect the Land

By participating in KowTown Gravel, you’re riding through BLM land and some of the most beautiful country Colorado has to offer.

Help us keep it that way.

Please do not leave any trash on course:

  • No wrappers

  • No bottles

  • No tubes

  • No “I’ll grab it later” promises

Pack it in, pack it out.

All riders are required to use portable toilets located on course and at the Start/Finish area.

No exceptions. The sagebrush thanks you.

Post-Ride Festivities

After crossing the finish line, come celebrate your KowTown adventure at Veterans Memorial Park at West Grand High School.

Expect:

  • Live music

  • Vendor expo

  • Awards

  • Cold drinks

  • Tall tales from the trail

Local community group Elevation will be serving up post-race burgers and helping host family-friendly games and activities for the kids.

Bring the whole crew — KowTown is as much community gathering as it is gravel race.

Cancellation & Deferral Policy

KowTown Gravel does not offer refunds. However, riders may defer their registration to the 2027 event.

A $25 deferral fee will apply when registering for the following year’s event.

If the race must be canceled due to circumstances beyond our control, participants accept the financial risk associated with their registration fee.

Please understand that after May 1st, entry fees will not be refunded for cancellations outside of our control.

Registration fees are used well in advance of race day to cover essential event costs including:

  • Insurance

  • Permits

  • Vendors

  • Merchandise

  • Aid station supplies

  • Timing services

  • Administrative expenses

  • Safety and operational support

We appreciate your understanding and support in helping make KowTown Gravel possible.

THANKS TO OUR PARTNERS AND SPONSOR

KowTown Gravel Committee: Shawn Scholl, Tyler Scholl, Joy Scholl, Kelsee Hargindine, Roger Ryburn, and Mark Birdseye.

*Special Thanks to the volunteers who donated their time to help us keep the course safe, work the feed zones, and all the selfless tasks that made this event possible.

CONTACT AND FEEDBACK
Reach out with questions by email to kowtowngravel.com. We want to be sure that each of you have an incredible experience. Thanks for rolling with us!

If it is an emergency, please dial 911.