Communities and Checkpoints of Iron Dog 2020
A crowd of youngsters in McGrath gather to cheer on the racers. Iron Dog 2020 passes through 28 communities, including a new loop near Kotzebue, and inspires future racers from across the state.
Fairbanks to Nenana...........................57
Nenana to Manley..............................99
Manley to Tanana...............................65
Tanana to Ruby.................................118
Ruby to Galena ..................................52
Galena to Kaltag .................................98
Kaltag to Unalakleet ...........................95
Unalakleet to Shaktoolik.....................41
Shaktoolik to Koyuk............................62
Koyuk to Buckland..............................73
Buckland to Kotzebue.........................95
Kotzebue to Noorvik...........................65
Noorvik to Kiana.................................21
Kiana to Selawik..................................38
Selawik to Buckland............................68
Buckland to Koyuk..............................87
Koyuk to White Mountain..................94
White Mountain to Nome..................75
Northbound Mileage ....................1,303
Nome to White Mountain .................75
White Mtn to Koyuk...........................94
Koyuk to Shaktoolik............................62
Shaktoolik to Unalakleet....................41
Unalakleet to Kaltag...........................95
Kaltag to Galena.................................98
Galena to Ruby ..................................52
Ruby to Poorman ...............................57
Poorman to Ophir...............................99
Ophir to McGrath...............................63
McGrath to Nikolai .............................54
Nikolai to Rohn...................................74
Rohn to Puntilla..................................75
Puntilla to Shell Lake..........................55
Shell Lake to Skwentna......................17
Skwentna to finish.............................81
Northbound Mileage ....................1,092
TOTAL MILEAGE …………….2,395
Communities and Checkpoints
FAIRBANKS
Since 1998, Fairbanks has been the official finish of the race, and this year, it becomes the official start! Fairbanks serves as the launching point for Recreational and Pro Class racers, as they head west and north, toward Nome. The racers start at Pike’s Waterfront Lodge, and head toward Nome, first adding on the new Kotzebue Loop before reaching the halfway ceremonies and some time in the garage. Fairbanks is Alaska’s second largest city and home to more than 50,000.
KOTZEBUE
Kotzebue has a population 3,266, is the seat of the Northwest Arctic Borough and an important transportation hub. 2020 marks the first year that the Iron Dog will pass through this snowmachine-loving community. This year’s course will encompass the 375-mile Archie Ferguson/Willie Goodwin Memorial snowmachine race course, a long-established trail well known among racers in rural Alaska.
NOME
Until 1994, Nome was officially the race finish, tying Iron Dog to the Gold Rush history of Alaska, hence the earlier race name, Gold Rush Classic. In 1998 the race finish was moved to Fairbanks, and this year the finish will be in Willow. Nome remains heavily involved in the race as a halfway point, perhaps more involved now than before. Instead of hosting the ending of the long journey, Nome now facilitates the Recreational Riders finish, numerous support efforts and crews, lodging and banquets for Recreational Riders and Pro Racers, and a race restart. Nome is on the coast of the Bering Sea, some of the most challenging racing on the course, due to ice shelves and open-water conditions.
WILLOW
The 2020 Iron Dog race finishes this year in Willow, at the Willow Community Center. Come watch as the Pro racers make their way back to Southcentral Alaska. Willow is in the Mat-Su Borough and has a population of about 2,100. There is ample parking at the community center and plenty of space to cheer the Pro racers in at the end of their race.
Smaller communities and checkpoints
NENANA, population 365 (as of 2017), located on Mile 305 of the George Parks Highway, is 57 miles from the start.
MANLEY HOT SPRINGS, population 89 (as of 2010), is 156 miles from the start.
TANANA, population 255 (as of 2017), located on the Yukon River, is 221 miles from the start.
RUBY, population 170 (as of 2013), is located along the Yukon River. Pro racers pass through Ruby twice – first 339 miles from the start on the way to Nome and again 1,820 miles into the race.
GALENA, population 479 (as of 2013), is an Athabascan village in the Interior, 391 miles from the start on the way to Nome and 1,768 miles from the start on the return route to Willow.
KALTAG, population 194 (as of 2013), located near the windy coast of Norton Sound, is 489 miles from the start on the way to Nome and 1,670 miles from the start on the return route to Willow.
UNALAKLEET, population 712 (as of 2013), on the coast of Norton Sound north of the Unalakleet River, is 584 miles from the start on the way to Nome and is 1,575 miles from the start on the return route to Willow.
SHAKTOOLIK, population 260 (as of 2013), is on a point jutting into Norton Sound, 625 miles from the start and 1,534 miles from the start on the return route to Willow.
KOYUK, population 472 (as of 2017), located on the coast, is 687 miles from the start on the way to Nome and racers pass through again 1,134 miles in. It is 1,472 miles from the start on the return route to Willow.
BUCKLAND, population 426 (as of 2018) is in the Northwest Arctic Borough along the Buckland River. it is 760 miles away from the start. Racers pass through Buckland again 1,047 miles into the race.
NOORVIK has a population of about 683 residents. It is located on the right bank of the Nazuruk Channel of the Kobuk River and a short stop before Selawik. It is 920 miles into the race.
KIANA is a village of located “where three rivers meet”: the Squirrel River, Kobuk River, and big/small channel rivers. Kiana has an estimated population of 339 and is 941 miles into the race.
SELAWIK, the “place of sheefish,” has a population of about 850 (as of 2017). It is 979 miles from the start of the race.
WHITE MOUNTAIN, population 197 (as of 2013), located in the mountains on the Fish River, is 1,228 miles from the start on the way to Nome and is 1,378 miles from the start on the return route to Willow.
POORMAN, population zero (as of 2013), located in a flatland region after Ruby, is 518 miles from the finish.
OPHIR, population zero (as of 2013), is 419 miles from the finish. It is located on the Innoko River.
McGRATH, population 354 (as of 2013), is also located on the Innoko River, and is 356 miles away from the finish.
NIKOLAI, population 96 (as of 2013), is 302 miles out from the finish on the south fork of the Kuskokwim River.
ROHN, population zero (as of 2012), is located at a small roadhouse where two rivers join, and is 228 miles away from the finish.
PUNTILLA, population two (as of 2013), is located on Puntilla Lake near a breathtaking mountain pass. Puntilla is 153 miles away from the finish.
SKWENTNA, population 38 (as of July 2015), is located on mostly flat land in Southcentral Alaska on the Skwentna River. It is just 81 miles from the finish.
Source: Population and location descriptions based on U.S. Census Bureau estimates and the Iditarod Trail Committee.
—Melissa DeVaughn