When is Race to the Sky 2027?

February 12 to 16, 2027, according to racetothesky.org. That follows the usual pattern of Friday vet checks, a Saturday 2 p.m. start in Lincoln and a Tuesday finish for the 300-mile race.

Does Race to the Sky start in Helena?

No. The race starts and finishes in Lincoln, about 55 miles northwest of Helena in Lewis and Clark County. Early editions started at Camp Rimini west of Helena, and the race still honors that WWII war-dog training camp.

Was Race to the Sky 2026 cancelled?

Yes. Organizers cancelled the 2026 race in January, citing bare ground, rock-hard icy trails, unseasonably warm temperatures, no snow in the forecast and trail damage from a December windstorm. About 23 teams had signed up. Vice chair Pam Beckstrom said safety of the dogs came first.

How long is Race to the Sky?

There are three classes: a 300-mile race that qualifies mushers for the Iditarod, a 100-mile adult race and a 100-mile junior race. The original 1986 race was 500 miles.

Does it cost anything to watch?

No. The vet checks, start, checkpoints, finish and awards ceremonies are all open to the public at no charge.

Annual · Second weekend of February, Friday vet checks through a Tuesday finish

Montana Race to the Sky 2027

Name: Montana Race to the Sky 2027
Start: 2027-02-12
End: 2027-02-16
Location: Lincoln, Montana (start and finish at Hi-Country Snack Foods); 100-mile finish at Seeley Lake

Montana's Iditarod-qualifier sled dog race starts in Lincoln each February, an hour from Helena, and honors the WWII war-dog camp at Rimini.

When

Friday, February 12, 2027 – Tuesday, February 16, 2027

Second weekend of February, Friday vet checks through a Tuesday finish

Where

Lincoln, Montana (start and finish at Hi-Country Snack Foods); 100-mile finish at Seeley Lake

Hi-Country Snack Foods, 1 N. Lincoln Gulch Rd., Lincoln, MT 59639

Cost

Free for spectators

By Montana Sled Dog, Inc. (MSDI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit

About Montana Race to the Sky

Race to the Sky is Montana's long-distance sled dog race and one of the few Iditarod qualifiers in the Lower 48. It began in 1986 as the Montana Governor's Cup Sled Dog Race and took its current name in 1990. Montana Sled Dog, Inc., a 501(c)(3), runs it. The race honors Camp Rimini, the World War II war dog training center about 15 miles west of Helena where roughly 850 sled dogs trained for a planned Norway campaign. Early races were 500 miles and started at Camp Rimini; the course was cut to 350 miles in 1997, and today the race is based in Lincoln, about 55 miles northwest of Helena on Highway 200, with 300-mile, 100-mile and junior 100-mile classes.

Race weekend is the second weekend of February. Vet checks are Friday and Saturday morning at Hi-Country Snack Foods, 1 N. Lincoln Gulch Road in Lincoln, with a pre-race dinner Friday night and all classes starting at 2 p.m. Saturday. The 100-mile races finish at the Morrell Creek trailhead near Seeley Lake; the 300-mile teams turn at Owl Creek and return to Lincoln, finishing by Tuesday, with awards at the Hi-Country Trading Post. Watching is free at the vet check, start, checkpoints and finish. Snow has been the problem lately: the 2024 and 2026 races were cancelled for bare, icy trails, and 2025 was cut short. The 2027 race is set for February 12 to 16.

What happens

Saturday 2 p.m. start in Lincoln for the 300-mile, 100-mile and junior 100-mile classes
Friday vet check at Hi-Country Snack Foods, open to the public, with school groups welcome
Pre-race musher dinner Friday evening in Lincoln
100-mile finish at Morrell Creek trailhead near Seeley Lake; 300-mile finish back in Lincoln
Awards ceremonies at the Seeley Lake Community Center (100-mile) and Hi-Country Trading Post (300-mile), per the 2025 schedule

Tips

Spectators gather around 11 a.m. Saturday for the 2 p.m. start; Lincoln is about an hour from Helena on Highway 200 and the road can be icy.
Dress for several hours outdoors in February.
Leave pets at home and stay well back from the start chute; the teams are working dogs.
Check racetothesky.org in January before driving up. Three of the last four races were affected by snow conditions, and 2024 and 2026 were cancelled outright.

Official site & tickets →

Montana Race to the Sky FAQ

When is Race to the Sky 2027?: February 12 to 16, 2027, according to racetothesky.org. That follows the usual pattern of Friday vet checks, a Saturday 2 p.m. start in Lincoln and a Tuesday finish for the 300-mile race.
Does Race to the Sky start in Helena?: No. The race starts and finishes in Lincoln, about 55 miles northwest of Helena in Lewis and Clark County. Early editions started at Camp Rimini west of Helena, and the race still honors that WWII war-dog training camp.
Was Race to the Sky 2026 cancelled?: Yes. Organizers cancelled the 2026 race in January, citing bare ground, rock-hard icy trails, unseasonably warm temperatures, no snow in the forecast and trail damage from a December windstorm. About 23 teams had signed up. Vice chair Pam Beckstrom said safety of the dogs came first.
How long is Race to the Sky?: There are three classes: a 300-mile race that qualifies mushers for the Iditarod, a 100-mile adult race and a 100-mile junior race. The original 1986 race was 500 miles.
Does it cost anything to watch?: No. The vet checks, start, checkpoints, finish and awards ceremonies are all open to the public at no charge.

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