The John Beargrease Race and Minnesota’s biggest dog sled Marathon is coming up quickly! If you’ve ever dreamed of making it to Alaska for the Iditarod but haven’t- either because winter in Alaska intimidates you (Go- 4 Reasons it’s amazing) or because it’s cost prohibitive- then head up to northern Minnesota for the John Beargrease Dog Sled Marathon instead! You will not be disappointed.

Not to mention that this marathon is a qualifier for the Iditarod, so there are some incredibly skilled mushers on the trails.

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John Beargrease Race Dog Sled Marathon

The origins of the John Beargrease Dog Sled Marathon are almost worthy of a “Paul Bunyan” tall tale title, except for they’re true! The son of an Anishinabe Chief he was brought up traditionally- on fishing, hunting and trapping, which ultimately is how he ended up having a dog sled marathon named after him.

Before towns and roads were settled along Lake Superior and where Highway 61 now sits there was vast wilderness with little access to the outside world for those who had settled there. The only way to travel between Duluth to Thunder Bay, Ontario was a footpath. John Beargrease and his brothers had an extensive trap line along the entire route.

From 1879 and 1899 John Beargrease and his brothers made a weekly “commute” on their dog sleds from Duluth to Thunder Bay, Ontario to deliver mail to those along the path.

Fun side story: The house where I stay when I go to Grand Marais has a odd mowed strip across it and all the neighboring properties that runs parallel with Hwy 61. When I inquired as to its origin I was told that it was kept up as a memorial to John Beargrease and his path. Not sure that he traveled exactly along that mowed line, but it’s amazing that the locals still pay tribute to him in this way!

What else to do during the John Beargrease marathon? Chase these frozen waterfalls!

The John Beargrease Race marathon pays tribute to the work done by Beargrease not only by naming the marathon after him, but also by requiring all the participants to carry a “mail bag” with them to be delivered upon arrival. You haven’t arrived until the mail bag has been delivered (above photo).

Note: this is my favorite part of the race to observe- the handing over of the “mail bag!”

Don’t try to experience it all in one day! There are so many fun activities going on the week leading up to the actual John Beargrease Race (and the week following as the marathon continues) that you’ll want to make sure to give yourself a few extra days to enjoy it all!

The Details:

When:

January 26, 2020 at 11:00

The dog sled mushers will travel from Duluth through the Sawtooth mountains of the North Shore and up almost to the Canadian border.

It gets really busy at the beginning so my recommendation would be to head north and watch from the midway point. It’s fun  to watch the John Beargrease Race mushers come in there- or anywhere along the trail.

If you’re watching someone specific- each musher has GPS on them so you can track them via the website Here.

Where to Stay:

Grand Marais is my favorite Lake Superior town so I will always recommend that first, but really anywhere along Lake Surperior or the Beargrease Race Trail is great.

Top Recommendations:

Grand Marais list of hotels:
I love AirBnB/VRBO options and East Bay Suites is an equally amazing option. Book Here

Two Harbors list of hotels:
I love AirBnB options but Northern Rail Traincar Inn is seriously my favorite place to stay just outside of Two Harbors. Book Here

Duluth list of hotels:
Duluth has so many great options, from kid friendly to B and Bs, from staying on Lake Superior or in Canal Park to amazing views of the city. Choose your hotel here.