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.

• View Printable Map of Northern and Southern Route (1200 x 866 pixels)
• Download Printable Map (Right Click or Ctrl-Click on the link, Choose Save as...)

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			1112
Anchorage to Campbell Airstrip	20	20	1112
Campbell Airstrip to Willow	29	49	1063
Willow to Yentna Station	52	115	997
Yentna Station to Skwentna	34	149	963
Skwentna to Finger Lake	45	194	918
Finger Lake to Rainy Pass	30	224	888
Rainy Pass to Rohn	48	272	840
Rohn to Nikolai	75	347	765
Nikolai to McGrath	54	401	711
McGrath to Takotna	18	419	693
Takotna to Ophir	25	444	668
Ophir to Cripple	59	503	609
Cripple to Ruby	112	615	497
Ruby to Galena	52	667	445
Galena to Nulato	52	719	393
Nulato to Kaltag	42	761	351
Kaltag to Unalakleet	90	851	261
Unalakleet to Shaktoolik	42	893	219
Shaktoolik to Koyuk	48	941	171
Koyuk to Elim	48	989	123
Elim to Golovin	28	1017	95
Golovin to White Mountain	18	1035	77
White Mountain to Safety	55	1090	22
Safety to Nome	22	1112	0

Southern Route

 

Checkpoints	Distance between Checkpoints	Distance from Anchorage	Distance to Nome
Total Distance			1131
Anchorage to Campbell Airstrip	20	20	1131
Campbel 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