Iditarod Trail

The Iditarod Trail is a historic trail that connects Seward, Alaska with Nome, Alaska and the rest of the Seward Peninsula. In winter, it is navigable by dogsled or snowmobile. In summer, segments of the trail can be hiked, while many sections are barely usable. Rivers are used for inter-village transportation instead.

According to the Bureau of Land Management, which maintains parts of the trail, "the Trail demands a high degree of self-reliance by the user, proficiency in extreme winter camping and travel by ski, dog team, snowmobile, or fat tire bike."

Map of the historical and current Iditarod trails. — switch to static map

Most of the trail is far from people, and most inhabited places by the trail are small villages, if that. You will mostly be on your own in real wilderness in a harsh climate. In summer there are hundreds of miles of unfrozen swamps to cross; in winter you have to survive the cold. Anybody who wants to use this trail needs to have adequate skills, do their own research and prepare well.

The trail was mapped in 1908 as the Seward-to-Nome Trail. It was used to get people to the gold fields of Iditarod/Flat and Nome by foot or dog sled. The trail mostly followed old trails of native Indians and Eskimos. The trail is the only National Historic Trail in Alaska. The path of the trail has shifted somewhat over time.

There is a yearly dogsled competition from Anchorage to Nome: the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, in early March, commemorating an emergency delivery of diphtheria antitoxin serum in 1925 by dog sled, partly along this trail.

• Trail website
• 61.15552-149.7948691 Bureau of Land Management Anchorage Field Office, ☏ +1 907-267-1246, [email protected].  (updated Aug 2021)

Thorough preparation is needed.

In winter the trail can be explored by snowmobile, ski or dog sled.

See Cold weather for more general advice.

Do not count on restaurants or shops between communities. Larger settlements such as Seward, Anchorage-area communities, McGrath, Unalakleet and Nome have services, but many villages have limited stores, irregular opening hours and high prices. Some remote lodges or roadhouses may operate seasonally, but should not be assumed open.

Expedition parties generally carry food and a stove, cache supplies in advance where legal and practical, or arrange resupply by air or through villages. In winter, extra fuel is needed for melting snow and ice.

Water availability depends strongly on season. In summer, streams, lakes and rivers are common, but all backcountry water should be treated. In winter, travellers usually melt snow or ice, which requires substantial fuel and time. Overflow, thin ice and open leads can make reaching water dangerous.

Use reliable purification: boiling, filters suitable for silty or cold water, chemical treatment, or a combination. Filters can freeze and fail in winter; keep them warm.

Most travellers need to be self-sufficient with a tent or other expedition shelter. A winter-capable tent, snow stakes, repair materials and a sleeping bag rated for severe cold are essential for winter travel. In summer, a strong tent with insect protection is important.

Some communities have lodging, but availability is limited and reservations or local arrangements are strongly recommended. Do not assume that historic roadhouse sites provide shelter; many no longer exist or are private, ruined or inaccessible.

Wild camping may be possible in many remote areas, but land ownership and local rules matter. Camp away from homes, cabins, traplines, cultural sites and subsistence-use areas.

The Iditarod Trail is mainly a winter route. Winter can bring extreme cold, high winds, blizzards, short daylight, avalanche hazard in mountain areas, unstable river ice and coastal storms. Spring can bring rotten ice and overflow. Summer can bring mosquitoes, bogs, swollen rivers, brush, rain and difficult navigation.

Climate change has made snow and ice conditions less predictable in parts of Alaska. Some years may have poor snow cover, unsafe river travel or altered race and winter-travel routes.

To get in, you have to somehow get to Seward or Nome. You might be able to take a cruise ship or the Alaska Marine Highway to Seward or Whittier, or fly into the Seward Airport, among other ways.

There is no single simple walking itinerary for the whole Iditarod Trail. Historically, the trail formed a network of winter routes linking villages, mining settlements and roadhouses, and modern travellers often follow slightly different alignments depending on snow, ice and local conditions. The sections below describe the main historic corridor from Seward to Nome.

Seward to Knik

 145 mi

The trail begins in Seward and heads north through Bear Creek, Bear Lake and Moose Pass, before reaching Portage and Girdwood. It then continues through Eagle River, Chugiak and Knik.

This southern section includes some of the most accessible parts of the route. Segments near Seward, Moose Pass, Portage and Girdwood can be used by summer hikers, although they do not form a continuous marked trail. Mountain weather, river crossings and avalanche terrain can pose serious hazards.

Knik to McGrath

 350 mi

Beyond Knik, the trail enters increasingly remote country. Historic stopping places include Susitna, Old Skwentna, Rohn River Roadhouse, Farewell Lake and Big River Roadhouse. The first major settlement reached is McGrath.

Travel through this region depends heavily on season and conditions. In winter, frozen rivers and established trails may provide comparatively easy travel, while summer conditions can involve extensive bogs, brush and difficult river crossings.

McGrath to Kaltag

 255 mi

West of McGrath, the trail passes Takotna, Flat and the historic settlement of Iditarod before continuing through Dikeman and Dishkakat to Kaltag.

This section traverses remote Interior Alaska and follows corridors established during the gold rush era. Many historic settlements have disappeared, and travellers should not expect services or shelter outside villages.

Kaltag to Unalakleet

 90 mi

The Kaltag Portage links Kaltag and Unalakleet, providing a connection between the Yukon basin and the Bering Sea coast. This ancient route predates the gold rush and has long served as an important overland connection between the Interior and western Alaska.

Unalakleet to Nome

 305 mi

From Unalakleet, the trail follows the coast of Norton Sound through Shaktoolik. At 65.2-159.221 Ungalik, a side trail leads to Koyuk. The route then passes 64.75-161.542 Bald Head and 64.7-162.033 Moses Point, which has a private airfield and a trail leading to Koyuk.

Continuing west, the trail reaches Elim, Walla Walla, Golovin and Solomon before ending at Nome.

The coastal section is particularly exposed. Strong winds, storms, sea ice, overflow and ground blizzards can make travel hazardous, and conditions may change rapidly.

At the western end of the trail, Nome offers museums, gold-rush history and access to the Seward Peninsula. Most travellers continue by air to Anchorage.

At the southern end, Seward provides access to Kenai Fjords National Park, Resurrection Bay and other destinations on the Kenai Peninsula. More accessible long-distance hikes in Alaska include the Chilkoot Trail, the Resurrection Pass Trail and the Crow Pass Trail.