Rad Dirt Fest
Life Time gravel event in Trinidad, CO through remote southern Colorado high desert. 110-mile and 70-mile routes through wide-open Colorado Plateau terrain.
The vibe
Southern Colorado dirt party
Southern Colorado doesn’t get the attention of Steamboat or Leadville, but the terrain around Trinidad is something else entirely — wide-open ranch roads, red dirt, and the kind of relentless horizon that reminds you how big the state actually is. Rad Dirt Fest is Life Time’s entry point into this country, sending riders out on 110-mile and 70-mile gravel loops through the high desert around Trinidad.
Life Time events run a tight operation: properly stocked aid stations, professional timing, and the finish-line infrastructure that makes them reliable even in remote terrain. Trinidad is about three hours from Denver, so it rewards making a weekend of it — the town has a genuine character, and the area south toward Raton Pass is worth exploring before or after race day.
September in Trinidad is excellent timing — the summer heat has broken, the light is golden, and the high-altitude desert is at its most appealing. Sign up through Life Time’s registration platform (fields fill fast once open). Pack for sun, wind, and possible afternoon temperature swings, and expect the 110-mile distance to take all day if you’re not running a competitive pace.