Fall-ing for Colorado’s Rio Grande County! South Fork, Del Norte & Monte Vista CO. Three towns to stay in just minutes apart.  Play Everywhere! Fall is our most spectacular season September is the month to Remember…. Join us for South Fork’s  Alder Ass Race a sanctioned Wester Pack Burro Association race on September 2.  Del Norte CO hosts October Fest on September 8th from 5-10 pm with food, vendor fair, live music and of course local brews from our craft breweries & distilleries like Three Barrel Brewery and 1874 Distillery.  PotatoFest Sept 9th Celebrating the heart of Potato harvest in the Monte Vista CO Area. Watch potato harvest on farm tours in this farm to table day of fun, education and of course the flavors of the best Colorado Grown Potatoes you could ever taste!  Followed by  ColorFest held in South Fork CO September 23 when the Aspen trees turn gold, orange and red. Color Fest is filled with fall driving tours and a free community Hog Roast.   On your driving tours to view the aspens don’t miss some of our spectacular waterfalls. It’s a GRANDE Place to Visit!

Join us for the inaugural South Fork Alder Ass Race!

Pack Burro Race September 2, 2023 starts at 10am at Brown’s Park in South Fork.

Runner must have personal burro or have made arrangements to borrow a burro. Runners cannot participate in this race without a burro (no other equine permitted)- this is a burro race.  Solo runners are NOT allowed to participate.  No riding allowed- this is an in hand trail race with a burro.  Burros shall be in good health and sound condition.  Any runner mistreating their burro will be disqualified.

COURSE: There are 3 distances.

• The intro course is 3 miles.  Pack saddles, gold pan, pick, and shovel are optional for this distance.  The majority of this course is on pavement for an out and back route.
• The short course is 8 miles.  Boots or alternative hoof protection is recommended, but not mandatory. Course may include water crossings.
• The long course is 19.25 miles.  This course is challenging, rocky, and may include water crossings.  Boots or alternative hoof protection is HIGHLY recommended, but not mandatory.  Leadville short’s 2021 course has an elevation gain of 2184 ft.  South Fork’s elevation gain is 2862 ft.

The Alder Ass Race is a pack burro race sanctioned by The Western Pack Burro Racing Association.

Fall-ing for Celebrating the Fall weather in Del Norte, CO with Great Mountain Biking, Aspen’s Gold and AMAZING fall Fly Fishing on the Rio Grande River, plus our own Three Barrel Craft Brewery & 1874 Craft Distillery in our Mountain Style OctoberFest.  Colorado’s Own Famous Gosar Sausage Company will be at the  Downtown Street Fair along with Live Music, Vendors & Food, Craft Brews and More!  Event kicks off at 5:00 pm on Columbia Street in Downtown Del Norte, CO.

Celebrate America’s most popular vegetable and a day at the park. This is no ordinary food fest! This is a celebration of American Farms and Colorado’s Best Farm to Table Experience.
There will be the annual 5K Spud Run, Craft and Food Vendors, GUIDED AG TOURS….see harvest in action and educate your kids where their food is grown with the pride of Colorado Grown Farms!  Chef Demonstrations and the famous mashed potato dunk tank! Freshly harvested Colorado Potatoes and much more.

Rio Grande County Museum will be hosting their Cabinets of Curiosity exhibit from Aug. 20 through Oct. 31 with a special presentation and story telling on Oct. 13 at 4 p.m. with a Mystery Dinner in partnership with the Historic Windsor Hotel to follow. Tickets are $100 each which includes the presentation, Hayride Through History and the dinner. To reserve tickets please visit button below or by calling 719-657-2847 for more information and ways to sign up! Seats are limited, so be sure to grab one today! All proceeds go towards saving the Barlow and Sanderson Stagecoach Office.