Every March, Alaska turns its attention to the trail as mushers, and their dog teams set off on one of the toughest endurance races in the world. The
Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race stretches roughly 1,000 miles across Alaska, beginning with festivities in Anchorage before teams head north to Willow for the official restart and then race west to the finish line in Nome.
With the 2026 race about to begin, here are some key things fans should know before the first team hits the trail.
1. The Race Begins in Anchorage
The event kicks off with a ceremonial start in downtown Anchorage, where teams run a short 11-mile route through the city. This part is more about celebration than competition, letting fans see the teams up close before the real race begins.
Did you know that the Fur Rondy championships, held just the weekend before the Iditarod is run on much of the same trail as the ceremonial start?
2. The Official Race Starts in Willow
The competition truly begins the next day with the restart in Willow, north of Anchorage. From there, mushers begin the long journey across Alaska toward Nome.
3. The Northern Route Is Back
In 2026, the race will use the northern route again, which is the trail usually followed in even-numbered years. For the first few hundred miles, all teams follow the same path before the trail splits near Ophir and then comes back together before reaching the coast.
More on that below…
4. The Race Distance Is Around 1,000 Miles
The exact distance changes a bit each year, but the Iditarod usually covers about 1,000 miles through mountains, river valleys, and along the windy Bering Sea coast.
We like to say that the race is divided up into thirds. The first third is the trail over the Alaska Range. The second third is the Yukon River, and the last third is the coast. There are strategies for each section of the race.
5. Defending Champion Jessie Holmes Returns
Many fans will be watching Jessie Holmes, the 2025 winner, as he returns to try for another victory. He’s known for his steady performance, with several top-ten finishes in past Iditarods.
Did you know that there are three former champions competing this year: Ryan Redington, Jessie Holmes and Pete Kaiser? Two other former champs are a part of the expedition class teams with Jeff King and Thomas Waerner.
The 54th running of the Last Great Race on Earth® includes 29 Americans (19 Alaskans, 3 mushers from Michigan, 1 from Alabama, Idaho, Michigan, Montana, New Hampshire and Wisconsin), 6 international mushers (4 Canadians, 1 Dane and 1 Norwegian). The field of 37 mushers is made up of 12 women and 25 men; 14 of which are rookies, 23 are veterans and 3 are past champions. Three of these 37 mushers are part of the Iditarod’s Inaugural Expedition Class.
6. Mushers Leave the Start Line One at a Time
Instead of starting all at once, teams leave at set intervals. Each musher heads out on their own, which quickly spreads everyone out along the trail.
Mushers will leave the starting chute at the Willow re-start where the clock offically starts ticking and the time differential will be calculated when they take their 24-hour rest. This means that the last musher that goes out will stay a little over an hour longer than the first one to leave the chute.
Did you know: The IditaRider program is a fundraiser allowing fans to bid on riding in a musher’s sled for the first 11 miles of the
Iditarod Ceremonial Start in Anchorage. Auctions run from December to mid-January, with highest bidders securing a spot to wave to fans, toss dog booties, and experience the race firsthand.
Key Details of the IditaRider Program
- Auction Process: Fans bid on specific mushers through the official Iditarod website to secure a spot in the sled.
- The Experience: Riders accompany a musher for roughly 11 miles, starting in downtown Anchorage and ending at the Campbell Airstrip.
- Role of the Rider: Riders are often tasked with tossing dog booties to fans and taking photos or videos of the experience.
- Purpose: The program raises funds to support the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race and helps cover costs for mushers.
- Requirements: Winning bidders typically meet their musher a few days before the race for autographs and introductions.
7. Mushers Must Carry Mandatory Gear
Teams have to bring important survival gear on their sleds. Things like a sleeping bag, an ax, dog booties, and vet records are checked along the way to make sure every musher is ready for the conditions.
Did you know that mushers also carry ‘promotional items’ like postmarked letters (in Anchorage and Nome), special items, and many times the ashes of dogs that have passed away and even people’s ashes-many times spreading these ashes along the trail.
8. Drop Bags Are Part of the Strategy
Since the race is so long, mushers send ‘drop bags’ to checkpoints before the race starts. These bags hold dog food, extra gear, and other supplies they’ll need later on the trail.
Each musher is alloted a certain number of pounds of gear to be shipped out in their dropbags along the way and many of them hold ‘guess the weight’ contests for their fans.
Did you know that some mushers send out special treats. It is not ucommon for them to send out a half-dozen McDonalds cheeseburgers to a remote chedckpoint to be enjoyed along the trail.
Many mushers take great care in not only sending out the best food and snacks for their dogs but for themselves as well and include well thought out meals of their favorites. Some send out pizza, Mac-n-cheese, soups, special desserts like cheesecake, gummy bears, 5-hour energy drinks, hard candy, and Capri-Suns which can be caried under their parka’s in their arm-pit area (yep!) so that the drinks will thaw.
9. The Trail Passes Through Remote Villages
The race passes through small Alaska communities that still depend on winter travel by snowmachine, plane, or dog team. For many villages, the Iditarod is a big event each year.
This year the teams will follow the Northern Route and it switches every year. Some noteable checkpoints are McGrath, Takotna (famous for its pies), Cripple, Ruby, Kaltag, Unalakleet (famous for its pizza), and of course Nome.
There are awards given to individual mushers at certain checkpoint like: The first to the Yukon, the first to the Coast and the Halway Award which includes a really fancy dinner prepared right onsite. Often the meal is shared by the musher with a person in the checkpoint. Did you know that they also get the same meal (for two) at a later date?
One year there was a musher, known as the Mushin’ Mortician (Scott Janssen) that gave out one of these prizes in cash, all in one-dollar bills in a small wooden coffin, how neat is that?
10. Fans Celebrate Along the Trail
In Anchorage, crowds line the streets for the ceremonial start, and many people gather along the route cheering for mushers as they go by.
Did you know that along the trail route in Anchorage you can often see mushers grabbing hot dogs, beers and other snacks along the way?
Also, the Iditarod re-start in Willow, Alaska is known as the worlds longest tailgate party with fans lining up along the trail which crosses over several lakes duing the first dozen miles. Fans set up grills, bonfires right on the lake (yes, on the lake!) and you can an up-close view of the teams as they run by and on their way to Nome.
11. The Finish Line Is the Burled Arch in Nome
After more than a week on the trail, the race ends in Nome when the winning team passes under the famous Burled Arch on Front Street. For mushers, it’s the finish of one of the toughest endurance races out there.
Did you know that there have been three burled arches? The last one was finished in 2025 by Iditraod veteran and log-home builder Ramey Smyth. We covered in depth in
Mushing Magazine and on our
podcast.
Also the arch doesn’t always stay on Front Street in Nome. When the race is over they pick it up and move it a few blocks away near a local church.
12. Mushers Must Take Mandatory Rest Stops
Even though the Iditarod is a race, teams can’t just run straight to Nome. The rules say mushers must take three required rest stops: a 24-hour break at any checkpoint they choose, an 8-hour rest at a Yukon River checkpoint, and another 8-hour stop at White Mountain, about 77 miles from the finish. These breaks help keep the dogs healthy and play a big part in each team’s strategy.
13. Mushers Can Carry Up to 16 Dogs, But Must Finish With at Least Five
Teams can begin the race with up to 16 dogs, but during the thousand-mile journey, that number often goes down as dogs are rested or sent home at checkpoints. Mushers must finish in Nome with at least five dogs in harness, so every choice about pacing and rest matters for making it to the end.
If a team is down to five dogs, all of them must be on the gangline. A dog riding in the dog sled doesn’t count.
Did you know, many mushers will stop just outside of Nome to take a moment with their dogs and give them a good pet and high-paw! For many this is a very emotional moment. This is also where they will put on their race-bib that has been tucked away, safely in the sled bag for the last 1000 miles.
Also (usually) two lead dogs of the winning team will be awarded the Golden Harness Award and will get a lei of roses at the finish.
14. Dogs Often Run More Than 100 Miles Between Long Stops
Even though teams rest often, top mushers sometimes run 100 to 120 miles in one stretch before taking a long break. These big pushes usually happen overnight when it’s colder and the trail is quicker.
Did you know that most Iditarod teams run with two lead dogs? While one dog lead is not uncommon, as they say, two dogs are ‘better’ than one.
Most dogs run in pairs and do you know the team positions?
From front to back:
- Lead Dogs: These are like the quaterbacks of the team. They are ‘running the plays’ from the coach (the musher).
- Swing/Point Dog: Right behind the leaders these dogs can ‘swing the team around to follow the leaders.’ These dogs are like the playmakers in football (ie. wide receievers, running backs, etc.) Sometimes one of these dogs will be the ‘back-up’ quarterback and move up into lead!
- Team Dogs: This is the majoirty of the the dogs in the team–usually up to 10 dogs or five pairs.
- Wheel Dogs: These are the dogs right in front of the sled. We like to call these the offensive linemen of the team and on our teams, they are typically the biggest and strongest dogs in the team.
- The Musher: This is the ‘coach’ of the team and the one that is not only taking care of the team but also giving ‘plays’ to the dogs, usually the leaders with commands like Gee and Haw for left and right.
15. Booties Are One of the Most Important Pieces of Gear
Every sled dog wears protective booties to keep their paws safe from snow and ice. During the race, a team might use more than a thousand booties, so mushers have to carry lots of extras in their sleds.
Did you know that booties cost about a dollar ($1) a piece? They also make great souvenirs and many mushers or their Idita-rider, pass them out along the trail during the cermemonial start in Anchorage, sometimes with candy inside. If you are really lucky you will get a used (washed of course) with a dog pawprint worn into it.
16. The Race Is As Much About Strategy As Speed
Winning the race isn’t just about having the fastest dogs. It’s mostly about smart planning. Mushers are always figuring out when to run, when to rest, and how long to stay at checkpoints. Good timing with rest stops can mean the difference between winning and finishing hours later.
17. Weather Can Completely Change the Race
Storms, wind, and deep snow often change the race. A strong headwind on the Bering Sea coast or heavy snow in the Alaska Range can really slow teams down. Some years, the weather gets so bad that mushers have to stop and camp on the trail until things get better.
Race dierctor, Mark Nordman states there has been a lot of snow this year but the trail looks really good and for the first time in years the trail known as ‘The Burn’ has snow too.
18. What Will Mushing Magazine’s Coverage Look Like?