Lake Nighthorse Triathlons
Durango, United States · September · Independent (Durango Tri Club)
Why people love it
- Calm lake swim with volunteer kayakers: 750 m (0.47 mi) sprint or 1.5 km (0.9 mi) Olympic
- Small, friendly club-run race with a field capped at 150
- Sprint bike has 244 m (800 ft) of climbing, a real test
- Lake and dam views on the run
Watch out for
- Run is mostly gravel road, hot and hilly by 2021 reports
- Lake sits at about 2,040 m (6,700 ft); expect slower times
- Parking at the lake is limited; the park stays open to the public
- Wetsuit rule and water temperature are not published; check the race page
- Olympic drew only 19 athletes in 2023, and no racer has written about it
Race
How racers feel about it, how well it is run, and how it treats a first timer. Counts for 30% of the overall score.
Toughness: Very tough
- Racer satisfactionLoved3.8
Racers and the winner praised the lake and community at the 2021 race; only four local news items exist. · Low confidence
- OrganizationWell run3.7
Club-run with sheriff, EMTs and 35 volunteers; the director said the 2023 race went well. · Low confidence
- First timer friendlyDoable3.4
Small field, kayak support and a 750 m (0.47 mi) swim, but a hilly course. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- PR potentialSlow2.0
244 m (800 ft) of bike climbing plus a gravel run. · Low confidence
Swim
Wetsuit odds, water temperature, calm, and the experience of the start. Counts for 16% of the overall score.
- Wetsuit legalUsually3.5
Wetsuits advised but not mandatory; water temperature not published. · Low confidence
- Water temperatureAcceptable3.4
Early September at 2,040 m (6,700 ft); no temperature published. · Low confidence
- Calm waterMostly calm4.2
The lake was calm and easy to sight in 2021. · Medium confidence
- Swim easeEasy4.1
Triangle, calm. · Medium confidence
- Swim experienceGreat4.0
The 2021 winner called the lake perfect; scenic, but few racers describe the swim. · Low confidence
- Swim supportGood4.0
Per the director, volunteer kayakers guide swimmers and the sheriff and EMTs are on site; racers did not comment. · Low confidence
Bike
Road surface, closures, scenery and wind. Counts for 18% of the overall score.
- Road surfaceMixed3.3
County roads, no reports. · Low confidence
- Road closuresPartly closed2.8
Park open to the public during the race; county roads, closure not documented. · Low confidence
- Bike sceneryBeautiful3.9
High-desert country along the lake. · Low confidence
- WindSome wind3.3
No reports. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Bike speedSlow2.2
Hilly, with 244 m (800 ft) of climbing. · Medium confidence
- Bike flatnessRolling2.8
244 m (800 ft) over 20 km (12.4 mi). · Medium confidence
- Bike simplicityMostly simple3.6
Out-and-back county roads. · Low confidence
Run
Crowds, aid stations, conditions underfoot and scenery. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Crowd supportDecent2.6
Fields are small: 77 athletes in 2023. · Low confidence
- Aid stationsStandard3.4
About 35 volunteers; not detailed. · Low confidence
- Run sceneryBeautiful3.9
Lake and dam views. · Low confidence
- Run conditionsHard2.1
Hot gravel. · Medium confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Run flatnessHilly2.3
Climbs to the dam. · Medium confidence
Conditions
Air temperature, how predictable the weather is, setting, and spectating. Counts for 13% of the overall score.
- Air temperaturePleasant3.8
Cool mornings and a warm run (2021); early September runs 8 to 26 °C (46 to 79 °F). · Low confidence
- Weather reliabilityReliable3.8
Early September is usually dry in southwest Colorado; no cancellations found. · Low confidence
- Venue beautyLovely4.1
Blue reservoir in pine hills; winner called the lake perfect. · Medium confidence
- Spectator friendlySome viewpoints3.0
Limited parking at the lake, field capped at 150. · Low confidence
Course traits, not part of the score
- Low altitudeHigh altitude1.3
About 2,040 m (6,700 ft). · High confidence
Stay and travel
Hotels, walkability, getting there, and the town around the race. Counts for 10% of the overall score.
- Hotel availabilityGood4.0
Durango has many hotels; September is shoulder season. · Low confidence
- Hotel valueNormal3.2
Tourist town, no data. · Low confidence
- WalkabilitySome driving3.3
Park lot start; parking limits. · Low confidence
- Travel easeOne connection3.2
Durango-La Plata airport with limited flights, about 30 min away. · Low confidence
- LogisticsSimple3.6
Single park venue; parking limited, packet pickup not found. · Low confidence
- Town and foodGood4.0
Durango has a good food and brewery scene. · Low confidence
Key facts
- Location
- Durango, CO, United States
- Typical month
- September
- Latest or next date
- 12 September 2026
- Organiser
- Independent (Durango Tri Club)
- Field size
- About 58 athletes
- First held
- 2021
- Distances
- 0.8 km (0.5 mi) swim, 20 km (12.4 mi) bike, 5 km (3.1 mi) run
- Swim venue
- Lake Nighthorse swim beach (reservoir)
- Wetsuit
- Advised, not mandatory (race director)
- Swim start
- wave
- Swim laps
- 1
- Bike climbing
- 244 m (800 ft)
- Key climbs
- County Road 141 rollers
- Run laps
- 1
- Run shade
- open
- Air temperature
- 8–26 °C (46–79 °F)
- Humidity
- low
- Altitude
- 2,040 m (6,690 ft)
- Nearest airport
- Durango-La Plata County (DRO)
- Where to stay
- Durango downtown
- Booking
- Plenty of Durango hotels; September is shoulder season.
What racers and reviewers say
- Durango Herald (inaugural race results)Raced 2021 · article · Positive
Inaugural sprint drew 61 entrants (71 with relays), beating the 35 to 40 expected. The lake was calm and easy to sight; the bike and run were described as challenging with ups and downs and a hot gravel run. Racers praised the community.
“It's a great group of people”
- Durango Herald (inaugural preview)Raced 2021 · article · Mixed
Director Dave Rakita described a 750 m (2,460 ft) triangle swim, 20 km (12.4 mi) bike with about 800 ft (244 m) of climbing and a 5 km (3.1 mi) run to the dam. He called it about as challenging as sprints get. Volunteer kayakers guide swimmers.
- Durango Herald (2023 Olympic debut)Raced 2023 · article · Positive
Third year, USAT sanctioned, 77 athletes (19 in the Olympic), 48 from out of the county. Safety planning covered parks, sheriff and EMTs with 35 volunteers; director said the race went well.
“The race went well”
- Durango Herald (2023 Olympic announcement)Raced 2023 · article · Positive
The 2023 race added an Olympic distance on request from serious athletes, with a cap of 150 partly because of lake parking. The director says the sprint is viewed as a beginner race and the bike has more climbing than most sprints.
“It's a good course”
Raced Lake Nighthorse Triathlons? Your notes on the course, conditions and logistics help the next athlete decide.
Sources
Pages we used for facts and ratings. See how we rate.
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