Montana Race to the Sky

[2] The 500 mile format was the longest United States sled dog race outside of Alaska.

[5] The race commemorates the World War II sled dog training camp that operated about 15 miles west of Helena, Montana, the Camp Rimini War Dog Reception and Training Center.

Instead, the sled dogs were assigned to search and rescue missions in Greenland, Canada and Alaska.

[6][7] The following day, the mushers and dogs are transported to Lincoln, Montana and the race restarts at that location.

[8] There are a number of checkpoints along the way where the dog teams stop for examination and spectators can view the progress of the race.