Iditarod, Iron Dog present opportunities for exploration

MAT-SU — Come for the races, stay for the experience.

That’s a great way to sum up the end of February and the beginning of March, as two of the premier winter events — Iron Dog and Iditarod — start in the Valley. And while watching the racers leave the starting line is exciting, so is getting out and making the event a true adventure.

The Iron Dog starts on Feb. 20 on Big Lake, and you can turn the start into an entire weekend’s worth of fun. The Big Lake area offers countless miles of groomed snowmachine trails, great cross-country skiing trails and, of course, ice fishing. You’ll need an entire weekend to explore all of the trails that seemingly shoot in every direction.

“Events help attract visitors to our area, but there are a lot of things to see and do in conjunction with the event itself,” said Mat-Su CVB Executive Director Bonnie Quill.

There are several bed and breakfast operators in the Big Lake area, and you can find out more information at alaskavisit.com about contact information.

The Iditarod begins on March 6 in Willow on Willow Lake, and again, it’s a great opportunity to not only see the world-famous race, but also to explore the backcountry in the Willow area.

Just south of Willow is the Nancy Lake State Recreation Area, filled with lakes in every direction. Alaska State Parks operates several public use cabins in the area, many of which are easily accessible via skiing or snowmachining (but check current conditions — motorized access may be limited because of trail and snow conditions). Make an Iditarod weekend out of staying in the public-use cabins, then riding the backcountry trails to the starting line on Willow Lake.

In addition to snowmachine trails, the Willow area is also a great place for winter mountain biking. The Willow Community Center is good starting point, and “fat tire” bikers can ride across the lake for a prime Iditarod viewing area away from the hustle and bustle of the starting line.

Mark your calendar to see these two classic Alaska winter spectacles. Just don’t forget the many other things to see and do before and after the racers leave the starting line.

Casey Ressler (casey@alaskavisit.com) is the marketing and communications manager at the Mat-Su CVB.