Iditarod NHT, Mile 0

The feel

The trail starts at Seward's Iditarod Monument, where a paved bike path runs north along Resurrection Bay. This coastal route was used heavily from 1909 to the mid-1920s, when mail and supplies for the Turnagain Arm mining communities arrived by steamship at Seward's ice-free harbor.

Just north of town, Nash Road at mile 2.1 of the Seward Highway gives access to a mostly flat section that runs 4 miles to Bear Lake, where the trail ends.

What to expect

Route and terrain

About 6 miles, easy, along the coast and into forest. The path north from the monument is paved; the Nash Road section to Bear Lake is mostly flat.

Kids

Easy.

Season and access

May-Oct. In winter not all parts of the trail are groomed, and Bear Lake is groomed for classic skiing, skate skiing and snowmachining.

Mingo says

Ride it between May-Oct, then swap to skis once snow flies. The trail may suit classic skiing better.

Before you go

• Start at the Iditarod Monument in Seward and head north on the paved bike path along Resurrection Bay.
• Use Nash Road at mile 2.1 of the Seward Highway for the flat section to Bear Lake, 4 miles away.
• Expect a paved bike path first, then coastal gravel and forest paths.

Written October 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page.