Mush On! March is Iditarod season in Alaska
Few topics generate more excitement in Alaska than the annual Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, a 1,000-mile test of team mettle and might between Anchorage and Nome. Created as an official event in 1973 to preserve both mushing and the Alaskan husky breed, the Iditarod fast became a weeks-long celebration that attracts spectators and teams from all over the world.
The Iditarod’s allure is partly due to the emotional tug of heartstrings generated years before the race was ever conceptualized. What school kid hasn’t heard about the diphtheria epidemic in Nome during the winter of 1925, and the brave sled dog teams that mushed the lifesaving serum between the communities of Nenana and Nome? The lore and stories are almost as long as the race itself, and in 2025, enthusiasm among diehard mushing fans remains strong.
Beginning the first Saturday of March, teams and spectators gather along Anchorage’s 4th Avenue for the Ceremonial Start for a festive jaunt from downtown and along local trails before ending at the Campbell Airstrip 11 miles to the southeast. It’s a day to celebrate the race, dogs, mushers, and the spirit of Alaskans, and it’s common to see “trailgate” parties lining the race route, with many people stretching out hands for a high five from passing mushers.
Here at the Copper Whale Inn, excitement is equally formidable. Our location is just blocks away from the Ceremonial Start staging area and the starting line means guests never have to tussle with unfamiliar parking areas, or walk long distances in heavy winter gear to see the teams line up for day one. It’s common to hear the yowls and howls of excited dogs as teams are hooked up to sleds in anticipation of their turn to go. If the weather is particularly chilly (as it often can be), Copper Whale guests can easily return for a hot chocolate or coffee warm-up before returning to the festivities, which also coincide with the final weekend of Anchorage’s annual and long-running Fur Rendezvous festival, also downtown.
The day after Anchorage’s Ceremonial Start, Iditarod teams truck north to Willow Lake, approximately 90 miles north, for the Official Start (or Re-Start, as locals call it). This is when teams have their game faces on, as the remote, rugged Alaska wilderness awaits and mushers and dogs must work together to make those miles to Nome come together without incident.
The route of the Iditarod varies each year to maximize visitation to the tiny villages dotting the map between Willow and Nome. A northern route is run on even years, and a southern route on odd years. Both have their quirks and positive attributes, and it’s always exciting to see which team will prevail.
Our sister company Salmon Berry Tours offers an Official Start day trip package that includes transportation, a hot lunch and snacks, and ample opportunity to get up close to departing teams as they run the chute across Willow Lake. It’s a worthwhile experience, especially given that traffic along the two-lane Parks Highway is jammed with eager race watchers, and parking is at a premium. Leave the driving to the Salmon Berry team and spend your day enjoying the sights and sounds of the Last Great Race.
Another exciting opportunity comes in the form of Salmon Berry Tours’ multi-day adventures that dive a bit deeper into the world of sled dogs, mushing, and the Iditarod. Paired with a stay at the Copper Whale Inn, guests on these tour packages can view both the Ceremonial and Official start of the race. They are also treated to a visit to six-time Iditarod champion Dallas Seavey’s kennel and have the chance to ride behind a sled dog team on the very trails used to train the dogs. The trip also includes a ride aboard the iconic Alaska Railroad to Fairbanks, nights chasing the aurora borealis, or northern lights, and visiting the World Ice Art Championships. There’s even a package that includes a fly-out to the Rainy Pass checkpoint along the Iditarod trail, where mushers are required to stop and prove their team’s fitness for continuing to Nome. 2026 packages are on sale now, and always sell out, so don’t delay. Note: The inn’s rooms are dedicated to guests on Salmon Berry Tours packages over Iditarod start weekend, but we’d be glad to host you prior to, or after the first weekend in March!
Can’t make it to the trail in person? The Iditarod has created a wonderful tool through which race fans can observe trail conditions, gather insight from mushing experts, and cheer on their favorite dogs (and humans) as they make their way to Nome. Called the Iditarod Insider, it’s a pay-for-service but is worth every penny! Find it here. The main Iditarod website is also full of interesting information, race history, and musher profiles.