Winter Endurance Races
Participants are required to have winter backcountry experience equivalent to, at a minimum, finishing a winter event of over 25 miles and/or over 24 hours' duration in the last two years. The following races (among others) can be used to meet this registration requirement.
Iditarod Trail Invitational (ITI) - 350/1000 Miles
Location: Knik, Alaska
Description: Participants choose to race by foot, bike, or ski on the historic Iditarod Trail. Conditions are extreme and require high-level endurance and backcountry skills.
Location: Big Lake, Alaska
Description: A self-supported 100-mile race over a mixture of frozen lakes, rivers, and wilderness trails. It’s known for its cold, often windy conditions and is open to runners, skiers, and bikers.
Location: Homer, Alaska
Description: A 50k/100k endurance race held across rolling terrain and snow trails. Racers can choose between foot, ski, or fat-bike travel.
Chena River to Ridge (use new link)
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Description: A hilly winter ultra course close to home in Fairbanks, offering 26 and 55-mile distances.
Tanana River Challenge (use new link)
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Description: A relatively flat and fast event friendly to bikers, skiers, runners, and skijor teams. Racers can choose between 25 and 45-mile events.
Location: Fairbanks, Alaska
Description: An Iditarod-qualifying dog mushing race that welcomes human-powered racers. Human-powered events include 50 and 100-mile distances.
Lover 48 Races:
Location: International Falls, Minnesota
Description: This 135-mile race through extreme cold and snowy conditions is a major test of endurance and self-sufficiency, covering forest trails and frozen terrain. Participants can travel by foot, bike, or ski.
Tuscobia Winter Ultra (80 and 160 Miles)
Location: Park Falls, Wisconsin
Description: This self-supported winter ultra spans rail trails, forests, and frozen lakes. Participants may bike, ski, or run, with long sections between aid stops and consistently frigid temperatures.
Location: Island Park, Idaho
Description: Founded by endurance cyclist Jay Petervary, this event offers challenging winter trails through the snowy terrain near Yellowstone. The long-distance version (200K) is particularly brutal.
Location: St. Croix State Park, Hinckley, MN
Description: The St. Croix 40 Winter Ultra is a winter survivalist race in the same spirit as the Arrowhead 135 and Tuscobia 160. Participants travel roughly 40 miles through St. Croix State Park on foot, ski, or fat bike, carrying all essential survival gear through a cold Minnesota night.
