The Iditarod Trail

The Most Common Question Asked About the Trail

Why does the trail go one way in even years (northern) and the other way in odd years (southern)?

Both sections of trail are a part of the Iditarod National Historical Trail which was used in early years for all winter travel. Dog sleds delivered the mail, the preacher, the groceries, and hauled out gold and furs all the way to Anchorage or Fairbanks.

During the early years of the Iditarod Race, the mushers only traveled the northern trail. After several years, the Iditarod Board of Directors realized that the smaller villages were being heavily impacted by the race coming through their village year after year. It was decided to use both sections of the trail.

This decision had a three fold effect. The northern villages of Ruby, Galena and Nulato only had to deal with the large group of mushers, press, and volunteers every other year. The second effect was that the race was able to pass through the actual ghost town of Iditarod. Lastly, the villages of Shageluk, Anvik, and Grayling were able to participate in the race.

Don Bower’s Trail Notes

To read Don Bower’s notes on each leg of the race, click on any of the checkpoints listed in the tables below.

Northern Route

Checkpoints Distance between Checkpoints Distance from Anchorage Distance to Nome
Total Distance 975
Anchorage to Campbell Airstrip     975
Campbell Airstrip to Willow 11 11 964
Willow to Yentna Station 42 53 922
Yentna Station to Skwentna 30 83 892
Skwentna to Finger Lake 40 123 852
Finger Lake to Rainy Pass 30 153 822
Rainy Pass to Rohn 35 188 787
Rohn to Nikolai 75 263 712
Nikolai to McGrath 48 311 664
McGrath to Takotna 18 329 646
Takotna to Ophir 23 352 623
Ophir to Cripple 73 425 550
Cripple to Ruby 70 495 480
Ruby to Galena 50 545 430
Galena to Nulato 37 582 393
Nulato to Kaltag 47 629 346
Kaltag to Unalakleet 85 714 261
Unalakleet to Shaktoolik 40 754 221
Shaktoolik to Koyuk 50 804 171
Koyuk to Elim 48 852 123
Elim to Golovin 28 880 95
Golovin to White Mountain 18 898 77
White Mountain to Safety 55 953 22
Safety to Nome 22 975 0

Southern Route

Checkpoints Distance between Checkpoints Distance from Anchorage Distance to Nome
Total Distance 1131
Anchorage to Campbell Airstrip 20 20 1131
Campbell Airstrip to Willow 29 49 1082
Willow to Yentna Station 52 115 1016
Yentna Station to Skwentna 34 149 982
Skwentna to Finger Lake 45 194 937
Finger Lake to Rainy Pass 30 224 907
Rainy Pass to Rohn 48 272 859
Rohn to Nikolai 75 347 784
Nikolai to McGrath 54 401 730
McGrath to Takotna 18 419 712
Takotna to Ophir 25 444 687
Ophir to Iditarod 90 534 597
Iditarod to Shageluk 65 599 532
Shageluk to Anvik 25 624 507
Anvik to Grayling 18 642 489
Grayling to Eagle Island 60 702 429
Eagle Island to Kaltag 70 772 359
Kaltag to Unalakleet 90 862 269
Unalakleet to Shaktoolik 40 902 229
Shaktoolik to Koyuk 58 960 171
Koyuk to Elim 48 1008 123
Elim to Golovin 28 1036 95
Golovin to White Mountain 18 1054 77
White Mountain to Safety 55 1109 22
Safety to Nome 22 1131 0

*PLEASE NOTE:  THE CORRECT DISTANCE BETWEEN CHECKPOINTS WILL BE UPDATED AT A LATER DATE.  THE SOUTHERN ROUTE DISTANCES ARE ESTIMATIONS AND NOT ACCURATE.

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