pacertrip.Races
PACERTRIP CITY EDITIONUS / RACE GUIDE
El Vaquero Loco race video

El Vaquero Loco

The city you want to run becomes your next trip.

USAug 7, 202750km
YouTube · Kevin Rowe
Race date in 298 days
Aug 7, 2027 Sat
City · Distance
Afton · 50km
Entry fee
$150Varies by event and entry period
2027Date Aug 7, 2027 · Entry Oct 1, 2026 ~
2026
2026Date Aug 1, 2026
Official website ↗D-day as of Oct 13, 2026
About the raceRunner storiesHow to enterCourseRace PrepTravel
Why you dream of this race

THE DREAM

About El Vaquero Loco — what makes it special

ABOUT THE RACE

A day you'll remember,
long past the finish line.

A trail race held in the rugged terrain of western Wyoming since 2004.

Events include the 31K and 50K.

The road to your own record

Picture the course in advance
and find the pace that fits you.

When the city cheers

Streets lined with cheers, runners all around.
You'll be part of that scene.

The trip that follows the run

Take it slow with the finish still in you,
and meet the city all over again.

El Vaquero Loco runner reviews and race reports

Stories from runners who've been there.

From the joy of finishing to the tough moments — read what runners wrote themselves.

Race reports: 2
Happy Utah Mountain RunnersRan in 2014 · Finish time 7:40
“Overall, I was happy with my performance. I came in at 7:40.”

At El Vaquero Loco 50km, the runner enjoyed mountain trails with lakes and waterfalls. A wrong turn added roughly 2 miles, but they returned to the course and finished.

Read the original on Happy Utah Mountain Runners
Jonathan AllenFinish time 5:33:32
“I was pleased how good my body felt, and how I was able to run through my foot pain.”

At El Vaquero Loco 50km, foot pain initially made the runner hesitant to race, but they enjoyed the mountains and misty scenery. They accelerated on the final descent to finish second.

Read the original on Green shorts running

We translated a short line from each public race report and summarized the experience. Finish times are as stated by the author, and past editions may differ from this year's weather and operations.

See it on video,
feel it through their stories.

Preview the course and read what runners who went before you wrote.

Full recap

Kevin Rowe · Full recap

View on YouTube

This may be from a past edition. Check the organizer for this year's course and operations.

The way in that fits you

YOUR ENTRY

How to enter El Vaquero Loco — registration routes

How to reach the start line —
start with what fits you.

Here are the ways to enter and what each requires.
Check the organizer's page for whether entries are open.

First come, first served · Ultra

Entry cost $160

Entries open on RunSignup from 8:00 am (MDT) on 1 October 2026.

Organizer's page

First come, first served · Trail

Entry cost $120

Entries open on RunSignup from 8:00 am (MDT) on 1 October 2026.

Organizer's page
Official race websiteEntry options
From the start line to the finish

RACE WEEK

El Vaquero Loco course map and elevation

Your 50km

Know the course and time limit, and race day comes into focus.

Runners start · local timeFrom 06:00
EventStart
Ultra50km06:00
El Vaquero Loco 31k31km07:30
City center · not the start line

We have not confirmed the start line coordinates yet. The map shows the host city.

START

Cottonwood Lake (50K) / Canyon View Park, Afton (31K), WY

FINISH

Cottonwood Lake, WY

Show more

El Vaquero Loco is a trail race in Afton, Wyoming, that has been held since 2004.

It began as a community event supporting the Star Valley High School track and cross-country teams.

True to its 'old school' character, the race is known for emphasizing rugged terrain and an authentic trail-running experience rather than flashy marketing.

The race offers two divisions, 50K and 31K, with a distinctive course setup.

The 50K starts and finishes at Cottonwood Lake, while the 31K starts at Canyon View Park in downtown Afton and reaches finish at Cottonwood Lake —

in other words, the two divisions have different start locations and share only finish.

Course mainly follows rugged mountain singletrack in the Wyoming wilderness,

with plenty of technical terrain that makes it popular with experienced trail runners.

Held for more than 20 years,

the race is notable for maintaining its charitable focus of supporting local school athletics rather than pursuing unchecked growth.

It has established itself as a signature summer trail race for the Star Valley area at the foot of the Rockies.

Terrain
technical mountain singletrack, Wyoming Wilderness

Participant benefits

Not yet confirmed in the official race guide

Where and when to collect your El Vaquero Loco race bib

To the start line,
step by step.

Pick up your bib, check your wave.
So on race morning, you can just run.

From the 2026 edition

Stations & transport near the venue

  • Getting to the start50k: Cottonwood Lake (Cottonwood Campground), southeast of Afton, WY.
  • Getting to the finishCottonwood Lake for both the 50k and 31k
  • Transit cardNo dedicated transit card system for this rural Afton, WY venue; standard car access applies.

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026

More details

Getting to the start

50k: Cottonwood Lake (Cottonwood Campground), southeast of Afton, WY. 31k: Canyon View Park, Afton, WY.

No public transit; car access only, remote Star Valley/Wyoming wilderness venue. Community race benefiting Star Valley High School track/cross country.

No public transit, car access only. The official page currently displays the 2026 edition (Aug 1, 2026); the 2027-07-31 date follows the race's annual early-August Saturday pattern.

Map

Getting to the finish

Cottonwood Lake for both the 50k and 31k

31k is point-to-point (Canyon View Park to Cottonwood Lake); 50k is out-and-back/loop from and to Cottonwood Lake.

Map

Start shuttle

No official shuttle service mentioned; the 31k's point-to-point layout implies participants need to arrange their own transport back or leave a second vehicle, not stated explicitly.

Transit card

No dedicated transit card system for this rural Afton, WY venue; standard car access applies. There is no public transit in this area, so a personal vehicle is required to reach the course, with cash or card accepted for any local fuel/parking needs.

Source · checked Aug 24, 2026
READY TO RUN

From race morning to after the finish.

Your start time, fuel and bag drop.
Know them ahead and the run feels easier.

The 50K starts and finishes at Cottonwood Lake, while the 31K starts in downtown Afton at Canyon View Park and finishes at Cottonwood Lake.

Be sure to confirm the start location for your event in advance.

Because of this setup, it is best to plan your vehicle or shuttle arrangements separately for each distance.

The course is rough and technical, consisting mainly of singletrack, so trail shoes and trekking poles are worth considering.

As this is high-altitude mountain terrain, allow time for acclimatization and prepare for strong sun exposure.

For the entry fee, exact cutoff time and bib-pickup location, check the latest notice on the annual RunSignUp registration page.

Times are local to Afton. Check the latest official information before the race.

A trip built around the race

STAY A LITTLE

MAKE IT A RUNTRIP

The race is one day,
the trip can be longer.

From a hotel that makes race morning easy,
to the meals and views you'll enjoy with the medal on.

Salt Lake City Grand Teton & Yellowstone Multi-Day Guided Tour

$406

View on Klook

Hotels near the El Vaquero Loco start line in Afton

Hotels that make race morning easy

View all →

Distances are straight-line from the start.
Check real travel times and booking terms with each hotel.

Swipe sideways to see more hotels.

Trip.comClosest to the start lineView on Trip.com

Time for you, before and after the finish

View all →

Rest a little, wander a little.
Pick what suits you and whoever you're with.

Salt Lake City Grand Teton & Yellowstone Multi-Day Guided Tour

$406

View on Klook
Eating well is part of the tripA meal before the race, a dinner to celebrate the finish.View on mapSeeing Afton with the medal onThe city you ran — this time, a little slower.View on map

Hotel distances are straight-line from the start. Experiences, food and sights are travel products in Afton.

Total cost and budget for El Vaquero Loco

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS

Trip prep too,
light and in one place.

ChecklistLocal eSIM · Trip.comFlight delay or cancellation compensation · AirHelpPace calculator

Once saved, you can open this page without an internet connection

Runner stories and questions about El Vaquero Loco

RUN TOGETHER

With runners who dream of
the same start line.

Be the first runner
Leave this room's first post

Afton runners' room

Frequently asked questions about El Vaquero Loco

FAQ
When does El Vaquero Loco 2027 take place?

It takes place on Sat, August 7, 2027 in Afton, WY, United States.

How much is the El Vaquero Loco 2027 entry fee?

The main event costs $150.

What distances does El Vaquero Loco 2027 offer?

Ultra.

What time does El Vaquero Loco 2027 start?

The race starts at 06:00.

Where does El Vaquero Loco 2027 start?

Cottonwood Lake (50K) / Canyon View Park, Afton (31K), WY.

Where does El Vaquero Loco 2027 finish?

Cottonwood Lake, WY.

PacerTrip connects you to races, stays, flights and tours. You book and pay on each service; when you go through these links we earn a commission.