The race commonly runs from Settler's Bay for 69 miles (111 km) along the Iditarod Trail to the Yetna Station Roadhouse.
At the half way point mushers must care for their sled dogs and camp overnight for either 8 or 12 hours, before returning the following day.
The winner of the junior event takes the honorary first position out of the chute during the ceremonial start of the longer race in Anchorage on the first Saturday in March, and leads the pack to the first checkpoint, normally 20 miles (32 km) away in Eagle River.
Jr. Iditarod mushers are mostly from Alaska, though the U.S. states of Minnesota and Montana Montana, Massachusetts, Ohio, Georgia, Washington, Pennsylvania, Yukon Territory, Canada, have been represented, and Thomas Krejci of Czechoslovakia became the first international competitor in 1992, also winning the Humanitarian Award that year.
Of primary concern to Jr. Iditarod are animal care, sportsmanship and furthering education, as well as promotion of our sport.
Other awards are the Blue Harness, given to the best lead dog; the Rookie of the Year, given to the top musher among those competing for the first time; and the Red Lantern, given to the last to finish.
2021 will see the race be modified resulting from COVID-19 pandemic; strict measures such as competitors wearing masks and social distancing will take effect.