If it’s your first time at a motorcycle rally, you might wonder what to expect. While each rally is unique, there are some experiences common to most motorcycle rallies. Vendor areas are always a feature. There are also plenty of races, food, live music, and fun at any motorcycle rally, but if you can make it to the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally, you’ll find out what makes Colorado’s largest motorcycle rally so much fun.
Where and When Will the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally Happen?
2024 marks the 30th anniversary of the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally, held annually on Labor Day weekend in beautiful Durango, Colorado. The dates this year are from August 29 through September 2 at the La Plata County Fairgrounds.
What to Expect at the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally
When you attend the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally you can set your expectations high. Stop by the vendor section to get T-shirts, plus a range of merchandise from motorcycle gear, patches, and parts to fun mementos.
This rally features lots of races to enjoy as a spectator or a participant. You can expect flat-track races, a T.T. race, and minibike races. What’s a T. T. race, you ask? A Time Trial (T. T.) is one where the motorcyclists race against the clock instead of racing to a finish line with lots of other participants. Typically, the racers start a few seconds apart to avoid a crowded track and the one with the best time wins.
With minibike racing you might wonder if the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally is a family friendly event, and the answer is yes! Children are welcome at the daytime activities, but keep in mind, they are not allowed in the campground area or at evening 21+ activities.
Live music, parties, and food vendors are other great features of this rally. The Ives Brothers Wall of Death is a must-see event at this motorcycle rally. This spectacle involves a cylindrical structure, referred to as the “wall” that is usually made of wooden planks and stands vertically. Members of the Ives Brothers team start from the bottom and ride their bikes inside this barrel-shaped arena, using speed and centrifugal force to ascend its walls.
The riders are defying gravity and riding sideways, so if they slow down or don’t pay attention, they could fall, hence the name “Wall of Death.” As they near the top, to further add to the excitement, they grab dollar bills out of spectators’ hands as they zoom by.
Have fun in a poker run where you’ll travel to designated spots within and around the rally to collect playing cards, with the best poker hand at the end winning.
Places to Stay While Attending the Rally
Make your reservations ahead of time for one of many Durango area hotels, casinos, or area B & Bs. From budget-friendly to upscale, you’ll find lodging to suit your needs. Many options are also available for RVers nearby. If you’re a tent camper, you can stay right at the La Plata County Fairgrounds. For a small fee, you can rent a small, medium, or large campsite conveniently located near all the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally festivities.
Drive the Million Dollar Highway
While you’re in the area for the rally, you might want to experience the Million Dollar Highway. Starting in Silverton the next 25 miles to Ouray are referred to as the Million Dollar Highway which purportedly cost at least a million dollars per mile to build. This road in the San Juan Mountain Range is considered Colorado’s most famous mountain pass. It features plenty of dramatic turns as you wind along the road with the mountains on one side and epic views on the other.
Visit Durango During the Motorcycle Rally
Durango is the largest town near the Million Dollar Highway, but that’s not all it has to offer. This beautiful mountain town has museums, restaurants, boutiques, and plenty of nightlife with live music, brew pubs, and more. Check out what this scenic town has to offer during your time at the Four Corners Motorcycle Rally. Take a walk along the Animas River, soak in a nearby hot spring, explore one of many trails, or just drive around town on your motorcycle.