The Iditarod National Historic Trail, a symbol of frontier travel, turns 100 in 2013. While the Iditarod Trail is best known for the sled dog race that runs along this rugged trail each year in March, the 1,000-mile trail from Seward to Nome is so much more than that. It can be hiked, biked or seen from the air on a spectacular flightseeing trip.

The trail was made famous when a diphtheria epidemic struck Nome in 1925. The city’s port was iced in and inaccessible, so the only way to get life-saving serum to residents was a brave dog-mushing relay over hundreds of unforgiving miles. It was one of the last great moments for dog mushing in Alaska, as airplanes and snowmobiles soon replaced dog teams as the primary way to travel through rural Alaska. The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race commemorates this serum run and keeps the tradition of dog mushing alive.

Come dog mushing in Alaska any time of year

Find out more about the Iditarod.