Pocket Gopher Challenge

The Pocket Gopher Challenge is the race that started it all for Howling Adventurer LLC. This year the PG Challenge will be a 12-hour race in southern MN. This race will offer the absolute best single-track mountain biking in Southern MN. Racers will navigate the land of 10,000 lakes, and climb over steep terrain with beautiful summit views. This year the PGC will offer epic paddling on southern MN rivers. If you raced the PGC last year this is completely new terrain. Sign up today slots will fill quickly.

If you are looking for a tougher challenge please jump over to the Pocket Gopher Extreme race Click Here

If you are looking for our smaller race the Pocket Gopher Mini is located Here

PGC Series Partners

Distances

Bike: 35-40 miles

Trek/Orienteering/Land Navigation: 8-10 miles

Paddle: 8-10 Miles

*Distances are estimates and subject to change

Disciplines

Paddling

Road/Mountain Biking

Orienteering

Trekking Land Navigation

Divisions

3-4 person coed team

3-4 person all male

3-4 person all female

2 person coed team

2 person all male

2 person all female

Solo Male

Solo Female

RACE DAY SCHEDULE

12 Hr Race 19 July 2025

06:00 Race HQs Open

08:00 Race Start

20:00 Race Ends

Early registration (ends 17 May)

Team: $170/per racer

Soloist: $170/ per racer

Regular registration (ends 30 June )

Team: $180/per racer

Soloist: $180/per race

Late registration (ends 12 July*)

Team: $200/per racer Soloist: $200/per racer *The last day to guarantee t-shirts in 30 Jun

CANOE/KAYAK

For the PGC 12hr TBD, more to follow

Mountain Bikes

It is not our goal to limit the type of bike that you choose to race with. The 6/12/48hr course will be a combination of blacktop, gravel, double track, and single track.

Having said all that we do have a few requirements/suggestions.

Suggestions for 6/12/48hr Race

We highly recommend that you DO NOT use a Cyclocross bike. You will see single-track trails on the course and if you choose to go Cyclocross it will not go well. If you are hell-bent on using one they are permitted.
We also recommend that you DO NOT use a gravel bike. Again, they are not designed for single-track trails
We DO recommend mountain bikes. This is the best bike for this course. There are a ton of options out there but they all come down to personal preference.
We also DO recommend fat bikes. Again more of a personal preference but we have used fat bikes on all the course trails as well as mountain bikes.