03/12/2026
The groomers have been working hard and the trail is setting up nicely! The short course will be 26.8 miles and the long course will be 32.7 miles +/- 0.1 miles. Below are the course descriptions. Course tracks will be sent out in the pre-race email on Thursday evening or Friday morning.
We are close to capacity. If you're not planning to race, please email [email protected] so we can open up more slots. Thank you!
We're delaying the start times in hopes of warmer temps. The long event will begin at 9 am, skijors at 9:15 am, and short event at 10 am.
Longer Course:
Total distance 32.7 miles (15 miles on the river, 17.7 miles on land).
Follow the river trail for 7.5 miles from the boat launch to Check Point 1 at Rosie Creek. Follow the trail for 0.5 miles after it jumps off the river and crosses back and forth paralleling the road towards the Quist Farm. Look for a marked and groomed trail on your left. For 3.5 miles, this trail winds through the spruce forests and open swamps skirting the banks of the Tanana River before turning inland and joining the Overland trail. At the junction with the Overland trail turn right and head "up" the trail for approximately 1 mile where you will make a left hand turn onto the Trail that Goes Behind the Ponds. This trail winds through spruce and birch forest for 2 miles before re-joining the Overland trail. Continue up the Overland trail and bear left at the Y junction to head towards the forest loop which you will travel in a clockwise direction. Take a LEFT at the next trail intersection onto Alden Pines trail and continue on this trail (up the steep hill) and on until you arrive at Checkpoint 2 (approx race mile 17) where you will make a LEFT hand turn onto Harrington's Longshot Trail. Follow Longshot until you reach the marked intersection and turn RIGHT onto Lookout Trail. Follow Lookout until you reach the intersection with Alden Pines and make a SHARP RIGHT hand turn to head down the hill. At the bottom of the hill look for Moose Wallow Trail on your left. You will follow Moose Wallow (mostly, but not all, down hill) for 1.6 miles where you will make a VERY SHARP RIGHT turn to join the Winter Trail and head behind the Quist Farm and go down a short steep hill. There is a straight, narrow section of trail - be ready to make a LEFT turn at the next trail intersection and then follow the marked trail to take you back to the Overland trail. Turn LEFT onto the Overland trail. Follow the Overland back to the road and then turn RIGHT onto the road to head to the river. At the end of the field look for the marked trail on the LEFT side of the road. Please stay on the marked trail for the next mile as it crosses back and forth over the road three times before bringing you back to the river. Follow the marked trail for 7.5 miles back to the boat launch.
Shorter Course:
Total Distance 26.8 mile (15 miles river, 11.8 miles on land)
Follow the river trail for 7.5 miles from the boat launch to Check Point 1 at Rosie Creek. Follow the marked trail for 1 mile after it jumps off the river and crosses back and forth over the road three times. Then follow the road for approx. 0.5 miles before turning left (shortly after the field gate) onto the start of the Overland trail. Follow the Overland trail (you will pass a groomed trail on your right - do not take this trail) to the Y intersection where you will make a sharp RIGHT hand turn and head onto the forest loop which you will travel in a clockwise direction. Take a LEFT at the next trail intersection onto Alden Pines trail and continue on this trail (up the steep hill) and on until you arrive at Checkpoint 2 (approx race mile 12) where you will make a LEFT hand turn onto Harrington's Longshot Trail. Follow Longshot until you reach the marked intersection and turn RIGHT onto Lookout Trail. Follow Lookout until you reach the intersection with Alden Pines and make a SHARP RIGHT hand turn to head down the hill. At the bottom of the hill look for Moose Wallow Trail on your left. You will follow Moose Wallow (mostly, but not all, down hill) for 1.6 miles where you will make a VERY SHARP RIGHT turn to join the Winter Trail and head behind the Quist Farm and go down a short steep hill. There is a straight, narrow section of trail - be ready to make a LEFT turn at the next trail intersection and then follow the marked trail to take you back to the Overland trail. Turn LEFT onto the Overland trail. Follow the Overland back to the road and then turn RIGHT onto the road to head to the river. At the end of the field look for the marked trail on the LEFT side of the road. Please stay on the marked trail for the next mile as it crosses back and forth over the road three times before bringing you back to the river. Follow the marked trail for 7.5 miles back to the boat launch.
