Rio Frio on Ice
Always double-check with the organizer's website! This page may contain affiliate links.
Rio Frio 5K in Alamosa, Colorado
The Rio Frio 5K is a chip timed road race held on January 30, 2027, in Alamosa, Colorado. When ice conditions permit, the course is laid out entirely on the frozen Rio Grande, offering direct views of the San Juan Mountains to the west and the Sangre de Cristo range to the east. If river ice is unsafe, organizers use an alternate 5K course that runs on a 30 acre pond at Blanca Vista Park and on a portion of the levee trail system.
The event includes ice themed awards and a race packet with bib and timing chip. Race registration carries a fee of $20.00; race shirts are not included with registration but may be purchased for $15 during registration with a preorder deadline of December 31, 2026. Shirts may be available at the event after that date while supplies last.
Packet pickup is available the day before at Knee Knockers Bar & Grill and at the Alamosa Senior Citizens Center on race day. Participants wear a variety of footwear for traction on snow and ice; organizers recommend running shoes with microspikes, DIY traction devices, hiking boots, or other shoes with extra tread.
The race has used an alternate course five times in its history due to unsafe river ice and was named an editors pick by Runner's World Magazine in 2015. Visit the organization's website for the most recent information.
