Ruta Del Jefe 2027
Ruta del Jefe is a four-day adventure festival in Patagonia, Arizona, featuring immersive rides through the Sky Islands, educational programming, community camping, and fundraising for organizations working throughout the borderlands. Centered on community over competition, the event invites participants to explore, learn, and contribute while building deeper connections to people, place, and one another.
When registration opens
- Registration for Mexican nationals Mexican national residing in Mexico · Mexican national residing in the United States October 19, 2026 at 10:00 AM
- Registration for BIPOC participants BIPOC October 20, 2026 at 10:00 AM
- Registration for LGBTQIA+ participants and participants with a disability LGBTQIA+ · Person with a disability October 21, 2026 at 10:00 AM
- General registration Everyone October 22, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Ticket Pricing Options
All ticket options include the same event experience of three nights of camping, three breakfasts and three dinners, supported adventure rides, aid stations, workshops, presentations, live music, a Saturday night dance party, community programming, giveaways, and more.
General Event Ticket: $595.00
- Basecamp + Private-Land Programming Covers camping, meals, workshops, activities, entertainment, and programming held at basecamp and on private land.
- $452.20
- National Forest Service Ride Access Covers access to all Ruta del Jefe rides taking place on National Forest Service lands on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
- $142.80
- Subtotal
- $595.00
Access Fund Ticket: $345
A limited number of reduced-cost tickets are available for individuals for whom the full registration price would be a significant barrier to attending. You must apply to qualify for an Access Fund Ticket. Tickets are still available on a first-come, first-served basis and are not guaranteed by acceptance into the Access Fund.
Scholarship Ticket: No cost
10 scholarship tickets are available for individuals who would otherwise be unable to attend without financial assistance. Scholarship recipients receive: complimentary event registration, exemption from the $250.00 Community Impact Commitment, up to a $500 travel stipend based on financial need, access to camping and bike gear through the Ruta del Jefe gear library.
Mexican nationals residing in Mexico, people with meaningful ties to the borderlands, BIPOC individuals, and trans individuals are especially encouraged to apply.
Community Impact Commitment
In addition to the ticket price, each participant commits to raising or contributing $250.00 to support Ruta del Jefe’s nonprofit beneficiaries. You may fulfill this commitment through fundraising, a personal contribution, or a combination of both. Any remaining balance not raised by April 10 will be charged to the credit card on file. Together, Ruta del Jefe participants and supporters are working toward a collective fundraising goal of $100,000.
To Border Restoration Network
- Community Impact Commitment In addition to the ticket price, each participant commits to raising or contributing $250 to support Ruta del Jefe’s nonprofit beneficiaries. You may fulfill this commitment through fundraising, a personal contribution, or a combination of both. Any remaining balance not raised by April 10 will be charged to the credit card on file.
- $250.00
- Subtotal
- $250.00
- Total
- $845.00
What You’ll Be Registering For
As part of registration, you’ll select your preferred activities, workshops, and Saturday ride. The activities below do not represent Ruta del Jefe’s full schedule. They include only activities with limited capacity or those that require an accurate participant count, so you must reserve a spot in advance.
Friday Morning Activity
Choose one:
- Bird Ride
- Bird Walk
- Eco Ride
- Eco Walk
- Yoga & Meditation
Friday Workshop, Session One
Choose one:
- Cholla Bud Processing and Indigenous Food Sovereignty - San Xavier Co-op Farm Learn about traditional Sonoran Desert food systems, cultural preservation and Indigenous food sovereignty.
- Community Science and Groundwater Monitoring - Friends of Sonoita Creek Digital tools to collect, organize, and share data
- Natural Building, Permaculture and Land Stewardship - La Tierra del Jaguar Get hands-on with natural building, local materials, permaculture and ecological stewardship.
- Not participating I will not be attending Workshop Session One
- Seed the Borderlands - Borderlands Restoration Network make native seed pellets, learn how they support restoration, and take them with you to disperse along your ride
- Standing in Solidarity: Transforming Empathy into Action - Kino Border Initiative How can we foster migration with dignity? Join the Kino Border Initiative for an engaging session on building local impact. Systemic change takes a community, but it starts when one person stands up to bear witness and mobilize others. Learn how to transform compassion into concrete action for our migrant brothers and sisters.
- The Spirit of Sonora: Discovering Bacanora Through Culture & Cocktails - Manu Hidalgo Join Agave Spirits Specialist and Mixologist Manu Hidalgo for an immersive introduction to Bacanora, Sonora’s iconic agave spirit. Explore its history, traditional production methods, cultural significance, and unique sensory profile while discovering its versatility in modern cocktails through a guided tasting experience.
Friday Afternoon Activity
Choose one:
- Community Ride - 24 miles / 2,400 ft Mix of Arizona Trail singletrack and dirt roads
- Natural Building - La Tierra del Jaguar Get hands-on with natural building, local materials, permaculture and ecological stewardship.
- Nature Writing by Ecologist and Environmental Journalist, Joan Meiners Spend time outside exploring observation, reflection and writing as tools for connection and action.
Friday Workshop, Session Two
Choose one:
- Cholla Bud Processing and Indigenous Food Sovereignty - San Xavier Co-op Farm Learn about traditional Sonoran Desert food systems, cultural preservation and Indigenous food sovereignty.
- Community Science and Groundwater Monitoring - Friends of Sonoita Creek Digital tools to collect, organize, and share data
- Natural Building, Permaculture and Land Stewardship - La Tierra del Jaguar Get hands-on with natural building, local materials, permaculture and ecological stewardship.
- Not participating I will not be attending Workshop Session One
- Seed the Borderlands - Borderlands Restoration Network make native seed pellets, learn how they support restoration, and take them with you to disperse along your ride
- Standing in Solidarity: Transforming Empathy into Action - Kino Border Initiative How can we foster migration with dignity? Join the Kino Border Initiative for an engaging session on building local impact. Systemic change takes a community, but it starts when one person stands up to bear witness and mobilize others. Learn how to transform compassion into concrete action for our migrant brothers and sisters.
- The Spirit of Sonora: Discovering Bacanora Through Culture & Cocktails - Manu Hidalgo Join Agave Spirits Specialist and Mixologist Manu Hidalgo for an immersive introduction to Bacanora, Sonora’s iconic agave spirit. Explore its history, traditional production methods, cultural significance, and unique sensory profile while discovering its versatility in modern cocktails through a guided tasting experience.
- Wildlife Watching with Trail Cameras - Sky Island Alliance Learn the basics of setting up trail cameras, identifying wildlife, and contributing your observations to Sky Island FotoFauna community science.
Saturday Ride
Choose one:
- Not Applicable Non-Riding Participant
- Cinco - 55 miles / 4,969 ft Adventure route from staging area (transportation required): A mix of dirt roads and doubletrack that may include loose, steep, rocky, and uneven terrain.
- O:Shad - 45 miles / 3,289 ft Gravel+ route from staging area (transportation required): A mix of dirt roads and doubletrack, with less technical terrain than the Adventure routes.
- El Jefe - 78 miles / 6,000 ft Adventure route from basecamp: A mix of dirt roads and doubletrack that may include loose, steep, rocky, and uneven terrain.
- Sombra - 68 miles / 4,447 ft Gravel+ route from basecamp: A mix of dirt roads and doubletrack, with less technical terrain than the Adventure routes.
- Adela - 30 miles / 1,859 ft Gravel route from staging area (transportation required): 100% dirt roads with generally smoother, less technical terrain.