Nome Council
Name: Nome Council
Start/Finish: Nome, Alaska to Council, AK, and then back to Nome
Length: 146.8 miles
GPX: File
Description: Leaving Nome, you will spend 45 miles on relatively flat gravel roads. The road in this section is usually in poor shape. After mile 45, you climb Skookum Pass, and then descend the final 20 miles into Council. You turn around and face the same rolling 20-mile climb, the biggest challenge on this route and what sets it completely apart from just going to Council. The descent from the mountain leaves you with the same 45 miles of flat coastal plain, which now seems like a blessing. The absolutely spectacular Skookum pass and descent into Council are the highlights. The challenge of climbing back is what makes this route epic. There are multiple freshwater springs along the road in the last 25 miles into Council; some have garden hoses to make filling easier. The long summer daylight hours in Alaska allow you to leave in daylight and arrive back in Nome in Daylight, even if you take 18 hours to complete the entire trip there and back. Traffic is usually respectful of bicycles as long as there is no oncoming traffic to negotiate. People will stop and ask if you need help - a person on a bike is a rare thing. BRING BEAR SPRAY. The road climbing into Skookum Pass and descending into Council is bear central for the Peninsula. A trail ridge runner disappeared in this area several years ago. Some bike riders play loud music while riding in this area. Camping is allowed on State land, but the climb up the pass from Nome and everything east of Ptarmigan Creek is tribal land, and camping is only allowed with a land use permit, which is not easily obtained. Be respectful of the land and the First Nations that own it. Do not assume that because there is a no trespassing sign, you can camp. Onxmaps is a great way to know land ownership.
Unsupported:
Men: Rollan Trowbridge, 08/15/2026, 15:24:32
Women:
NonBinary:
Para:
Team:
Supported:
Men:
Women:
Team:
Para:
Name: Nome Council
Start/Finish: Nome, Alaska to Council, AK, and then back to Nome
Length: 146.8 miles
GPX: File
Description: Leaving Nome, you will spend 45 miles on relatively flat gravel roads. The road in this section is usually in poor shape. After mile 45, you climb Skookum Pass, and then descend the final 20 miles into Council. You turn around and face the same rolling 20-mile climb, the biggest challenge on this route and what sets it completely apart from just going to Council. The descent from the mountain leaves you with the same 45 miles of flat coastal plain, which now seems like a blessing. The absolutely spectacular Skookum pass and descent into Council are the highlights. The challenge of climbing back is what makes this route epic. There are multiple freshwater springs along the road in the last 25 miles into Council; some have garden hoses to make filling easier. The long summer daylight hours in Alaska allow you to leave in daylight and arrive back in Nome in Daylight, even if you take 18 hours to complete the entire trip there and back. Traffic is usually respectful of bicycles as long as there is no oncoming traffic to negotiate. People will stop and ask if you need help - a person on a bike is a rare thing. BRING BEAR SPRAY. The road climbing into Skookum Pass and descending into Council is bear central for the Peninsula. A trail ridge runner disappeared in this area several years ago. Some bike riders play loud music while riding in this area. Camping is allowed on State land, but the climb up the pass from Nome and everything east of Ptarmigan Creek is tribal land, and camping is only allowed with a land use permit, which is not easily obtained. Be respectful of the land and the First Nations that own it. Do not assume that because there is a no trespassing sign, you can camp. Onxmaps is a great way to know land ownership.
Unsupported:
Men: Rollan Trowbridge, 08/15/2026, 15:24:32
Women:
NonBinary:
Para:
Team:
Supported:
Men:
Women:
Team:
Para:
