History

Today's Iron Dog course distance ranges more than 2,318 miles, starting in Big Lake, Pro Class racers travel over the Alaska Range to the Yukon River, then cut overland toward the Bering Sea coast. Once on the coast they travel to Koyuk then to Kotzebue via the “Red Dog Loop”. From Kotzebue racers head south reaching the halfway point in Nome. After leaving Nome, Pro Class Racers will head on to Fairbanks, Alaska for the finish.

Participants cover some of Alaska's most remote and rugged terrain, passing through 27+ communities, while confronting some of the harshest winter conditions. Survival skills are essential, all Pro Class teams comprise two racers on two snowmobiles for safety.

The Iron Dog offers a non-competitive Expedition class giving adventure seekers an opportunity to travel over 1,049 miles on the Northern Route of Historic Iditarod Trail to Nome or Kotzebue. These teams of two or more travel on a portion of the same trail as the Pro Class Teams.

Race participation typically averages (30) thirty Pro Class teams with around (30) thirty or more Expedition Class riders for a total number of from 90-100 participants on the trail each year.

Iron Dog is a proud leader in the snowmobile community, promoting snowmobile safety and outdoor education through trade shows, seminars, and community events.