Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race will begin and end at Deshka Landing this year

The Iditarod Trail Committee has announced that the restart and finish line of this year’s race will be at Deshka Landing.

The announcement was made Tuesday afternoon.  Deshka Landing is a little more than seven miles from Willow Lake, the normal restart point for the Iditarod.  This year, the Willow Community Center, which serves as a hub of activity for the restart, is under construction.

Race officials believe Deshka Landing will allow the race start and finish to operate smoothly and safely.

Unlike most years, where hundreds pack into either side of the starting chute in Willow or line Front Street in Nome, Iditarod officials say only essential personnel and race participants will be allowed near the start and finish lines.

Fifty-five teams are registered to take place in this year’s shorter Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race.  The 860-mile course will set off from Willow, follow the traditional southern race route through Iditarod, then turn around in the former mining town of Flat before returning back to Willow.

The official restart of the 2021 Iditarod will be Sunday, March 7^th.