The PERFECT family event. Over 50 teams (donkey+runners) coming to Silver City!
When: Sunday, October 19. All teams start en mass at 10:00AM. They will return in about 30 mins -2 hours depending on which route they take.
*** Gila Regional Medical Center will be giving away 300 donkey plushie toys to spectators at the start line!****
Where: In front of the Murray hotel on Broadway- park your vehicle as you can find it near Broadway.
Event Information:
The inaugural Silver Lode Scramble brings the grit, history, and spirit of pack burro racing to the heart of Silver City, New Mexico. Starting on historic Broadway Avenue, runners and their burro partners surge through the vibrant downtown before climbing into the rugged trails of Boston Hill Open Space. Once a hub of hard-rock mining, Boston Hill is now a unique landscape of winding singletrack, panoramic views, and relics of the mining era—making it a perfect stage for this heritage-rich sport.
Athletes tackle both 6-mile and 3-mile courses, each filled with steep climbs, sharp descents, and the unpredictable dynamics of working alongside their burros. Cheered on by crowds lining Broadway and at trailheads across the course, the race captured the small-town energy and community pride that define Silver City.
This year’s event is held alongside Western New Mexico University’s Homecoming Weekend, weaving the race into a larger celebration of culture, tradition, and endurance. From first-time participants to seasoned racers, the Silver Lode Scramble is more than just a race—it is a living connection to New Mexico’s mining past and its adventurous present.
The Silver Lode Scramble is now a cornerstone of the Strike It Rich Burro Race Series, joining Cerrillos, Magdalena, and other historic mining towns in honoring the legacy of the burro while building a bold, community-driven future for outdoor adventure in New Mexico.
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Race Stagging and Start (above)
Stagging:
· Potential Trailer Staging options are marked with yellow P Symbols
· Trailers will start arriving from the Southwest Horseman’s Rodeo Arena about 8:00AM
Start:
· Start near to the front of the NM History Museum on East Broadway at 10:00AM, marked with green X on map above.
· Racers will depart/start west towards courthouse and then turn south on to North Cooper St.
· Racers will proceed south 0.7 mile to the Adonis Loop on the Gold Hill Open Space. (Turn onto open space near water tanks).
Broadway will be clear of racers by 10:05AM, South Cooper Street will be clear by 10:15AM
Race Course Overview (below)
10k/6 mile route (blue):
· Racers will do a large loop on the blue line within the Gold Hill open space. Route marked is approximate and may change slightly depending on trail conditions prior to race day.
5k/3mile route (pink):
· The pink like designates the 5k/3m cut off. Racers on this course will cut across the course and join the latter part of the 10k/6m course.
