Please secure a burro prior to registering!  Burro rental is a separate fee, not included with race registration.  

 Proceeds from the Burros in the Pines race proudly support:

Forever Home Donkey Rescue & Sanctuary

Set against the scenic backdrop of Flagstaff, Arizona, the Burros in the Pines Race celebrates a community built on adventure. Teams of one human and one burro can tackle a 3, 6, or 9-mile course through the beautiful Fort Tuthill County Park. This unique pack burro race honors the historic role these resilient animals played in mining and hauling supplies across Arizona's rugged terrain.

Race Rules

General Rules

RACERS MUST SECURE A BURRO PRIOR TO REGISTERING! If you don’t own a burro, rental burros may be available.  Burro rentals are an additional fee and separate from the race entry.  Visit the race website for a list of burro rental companies and individuals renting burros.  

No solo runners allowed!  Pack burro racing is a team sport, 1 human runner & 1 burro.
Only donkeys/burros (Spanish for donkey) are allowed!  No other equines are permitted to race, no horses, no hybrids (mules, hinnies, zedonks, etc.) no exceptions.
No riding! This is an in-hand trail race.
Donkeys must be sound, healthy and fit to race.  Do not sign up for a race that you or your burro are not fit enough to complete.  
No mistreatment of burros! 
Race Teams

A pack burro racing team consists of 1 human runner & 1 burro.  The runner and burro starting the race must remain a team throughout the race. The runner may push, pull, apply pressure release, or carry their burro across the finish line, but no riding is allowed!  No assistants will be allowed to accompany any team.  Spectators or anyone outside of the race are not allowed to assist the forward progress of any team. No swapping burros with another runner during the race or both teams will be disqualified.  To win, the runner and burro team must cross the finish line as a unit. The runner may be leading or following the burro, but the burro's nose crossing the finish line first, determines the winning team. In the event of a tie, the prize money will be equally divided between the teams involved. 

Pack Saddle & Gear

3 mile Fun Run - pack saddle optional
6 mile Short Course - pack saddle optional
9 mile Long Course - To qualify for prizes, the burro must be equipped with a pack saddle carrying a pick, gold pan, and shovel.  Pick/shovel combo tools are permitted. There is no minimum weight requirement for the saddle and equipment. If any of these items are missing or get lost on the trail, the runner/burro team will be disqualified (DQ). Hoof boots are recommended for this course.  
Halter, Lead Rope & Jack Chains

The donkey must have a halter and lead rope. The halter can be a strap halter or rope halter and should fit the donkey properly so as not interfere with the burro’s eye.  The lead rope can be no longer than 15 ft, measured from the end of the rope to the tip of the snap. The lead rope may only be connected to the halter.  The lead must be held in the runner's hands and cannot be tied to the runner or a harness/belt worn by the runner.  Jack/Stud chains may be used with a pressure-release technique, either over the muzzle or under the chin.  Any racer coming across the finish line with injuries on their burro, resulting from the jack/stud chain may be disqualified.  No needles, electric prods, clubs, whips or other tools besides the halter, lead rope and stud/jack chain may be used during the race.  

Control of Burro 

All runners must keep their burro under control, stay on the designated trails, not divert off course or cut switchbacks. On single-track trail, runner/burro teams can pass as long as they remain near the trail's edge if slower teams are blocking the course or obstructing the advancement of another team.  If a runner/burro team interferes with another team, the offending team may be given a warning or disqualified. If the runner loses control of their burro and drops the lead rope, the team must return to the point where the lead rope was dropped to stay in the race and not receive a DQ.  If you get off course, you must return to the point where you left the designated course and continue on the correct course.  We encourage all racers to take your burro back if you lose them, make course navigation corrections, not give up on your burro’s race and receive an honorable finish. 

Trail Courtesy

Please allow the front runners to easily pass.  Do not impede faster teams or block the trail. Don’t be an ass, let them pass!   Move over and cheer them on!  

Veterinary Checks - Coggins - Health Certificate

All burro owners should consider getting their burro a veterinary check before the race.  Sick, injured or unsound burros will not be allowed to race. Out-of-state donkeys must obtain a negative coggins test and health certificate from their veterinarian before entering the State of Arizona, as required by state law.  Burros residing within the State of Arizona are NOT required to have a negative coggins or health certificate.  

Course Check-points

There will be 1 check-in/aid station for the 6 mile short course and 2 check-in/aid stations for the 9 mile long course.  ALL RACERS CHOOSING THE SHORT OR LONG COURSES MUST CHECK IN AT EVERY CHECKPOINT!  Volunteers manning the aid/check-in stations will note your bib number and check your time to make sure you are on track to finish before the final race cut-off time (1:00 p.m.)   Please do not obstruct the view of your bib or continue past a check point until you hear the aid station workers indicate that they have noted your bib number.  ALL RACE TEAMS MUST DO A FINAL CHECK AT THE FINISH LINE!  We need to know that all racers are accounted for.  If you choose not to finish the race, please make your way to the finish line to let race timers know that you are off the course.  These check-ins are part of the safety plan and will help track any runner in need of emergency services.

Disqualifications - DQ’s

The following infractions may result in a disqualification (DQ):

• Mistreatment of burro
• Losing the require pack saddle or equipment on the course
• Burro injuries due to stud chains
• Use of any tool other than a halter, lead rope or stud chain
• Interference with another team
• Leaving the designated trail course and not making trail navigation corrections
• Losing your burro and not going back to where you dropped the lead rope
• Should a runner be disqualified by a race official, he/she may continue the race and appeal his/her grievance to the race director. The decisions of the race director will be final.

Participant Waivers/Release of Liability

No town, county, or private property owners along the course, sponsoring businesses, governmental agencies, persons, volunteers, race officials, or organizations will be liable in case of accident, injury or death to a runner or burro. Each runner must sign a waiver and/or release of responsibility before the race.

Arizona Equine Limited Liability Statute

Arizona has enacted legislation to protect those in the equine industry from liability if a participant suffers an injury or death from an inherent risk of an equine-related activity. Arizona’s Equine Limited Liability statute provides an equine owner is not liable for injury or death if: (1) the participant took control of the equine prior to injury or death; (2) if the participant or the parent or legal guardian of a minor participant signed a release before taking control of the equine; (3) if the owner or agent has properly installed suitable tack or the participant personally tacked the equine with tack provided by the owner or agent of the equine; or (4) the owner or agent assigns a suitable equine based on a reasonable interpretation of the participant’s representation of his or her skills, health and experience with and knowledge of equines. A.R.S. § 12-553(A).

Burro Camp

$20 per night, per camp space - dry camping – and $14 per stall per night - paid at camp to Camp Host.

(If you are staying in town, but need to house your donkeys in camp, you must pay the stall fee.) 

Burro Camp Hours: Fort Tuthill is open until October. So feel free to stay as long as you like, but the cut off is noon to not have to pay an overnight fee. 

Provided:

• Potable water
• Portable toilets
• Hand wash stations
• Manure pick up
• Stalls for your burros (NOTE: THE PARK DOES NOT ALLOW PORTABLE PENS)

Camp Rules

Campers must adhere to the following rules.  

ALL CAMPERS MUST CHECK IN WITH THE CAMP HOST!

Designated Spaces:

Camp will be set up RV park style with appropriately spaced rows and driving/fire lanes.  There will be marked, designated camping spaces and all trucks and trailers, tents, etc. must stay within their assigned space.  These spaces are close to the stalls.

Camp Fires:

Camp fires will be permitted as long as Coconino National Forest does not have any fire restrictions during our event.  Camp fires must be a designated number of feet away from any trailer or vehicle.  More specifics to come.

Camp Courtesy:

• Leashed dogs are welcome!
• Clean up after your pets!
• Quiet Hours: 10 p.m. - 5 a.m. (no generators after 10 pm)
• Leave camp cleaner than you found it!
• Day of Haul-ins

Racers living nearby are welcome to haul-in the morning of the race.  Please make sure to arrive early, park in the designated trailer parking area and check-in with Race Director. 

Schedule

Listed times may change.

Thursday, June 24, 2027

• Travelers start to arrive and get settled in
• 12:00 pm Race Director arrives on site

Friday, June 25, 2027

• 3:00 pm Obstacle course set up — use it at your leisure for a donation to benefit Forever Home Donkey Rescue & Sanctuary (stays up through Sunday morning)
• 3:00 – 7:30 pm Meet and greet your leased burro
• 6:00 – 7:30 pm Registration — sign waivers, pick up bibs and swag bags
• 9:00 pm (or after dark) Treasure Hunt with burro — $10 per person to participate

Saturday, June 26, 2027

🏁 Race Day

• 6:00 am Race burro preparations and meet-and-greet your leased burro
• 7:00 am Mandatory race meeting at the grandstands by the race track
• 8:30 am RACE STARTS — all distances, at the race track
• 9:00 am Finish line festivities at the race track — the finish chute is the best show in town, running until every racer is in
• 2:00 pm Awards ceremony
• 6:00 pm Musical Chairs with Burros — $20 per person with burro, winner takes all

Sunday, June 27, 2027

• 9:00 am Mad Ass Dash — 350 yards, $10 per person with burro, winners take cash
• 2027 Burros in the Pines concluded

An inaugural weekend — times and details may shift slightly as race weekend firms up.