Vermejo Charcoal Burner

Vermejo Charcoal Burner

The third annual Vermejo Charcoal Burner is scheduled for May 16, 2026 at Vermejo Park Ranch near Raton, New Mexico. The event comprises gravel bike routes and a gravel half marathon held on closed private roads inside a 558,000-acre ranch in the Southern Rockies.

Courses use two-track ranch roads, rural dirt roads, and maintained gravel roads. Aid stations are placed along the routes and support is provided for both the gravel rides and the half marathon. Cellular coverage on the property is extremely limited and course maps can be used offline.

Distances offered:

• 99 miles gravel ride long
• 66 miles gravel ride medium
• 41 miles gravel ride short
• 41 miles gravel ride for eBikes
• Half marathon gravel run about 13 miles / 21 km

Race categories include separate podiums by age and gender for bike and run divisions. The 99 mile long route carries prize payouts for the top five overall finishers with a combined minimum purse. Class 1 and class 3 eBikes are permitted in the 41 mile distance but eBike riders are not eligible for podium places. Start and finish are located at the remaining historic charcoal ovens on the property. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.