2024 Homer Epic route

The route is shown below in the Google Maps window. It’s subject to change based on weather and grooming conditions. Pan, zoom and click for more info. Our current plan is for 50 km racers to complete the yellow route once in a counter-clockwise direction. 100 km racers will start the yellow route (also in a counter-clockwise direction) and follow the red route out-and-back before finishing on the purple and yellow routes. If weather and grooming conditions don’t allow for the out-and-back on the 100 km route, those racers will instead complete two laps of the yellow 50 km route.

Please respect that the route crosses some private property and know that travel is generally only possible on this route during winter. If you’re checking out the course before the race or training, please remember that Kachemak Nordic Ski Club trails near the start/finish of the Homer Epic are always closed to bike and foot use. Until race day, please access from either the Alaska DOT gravel pile immediately east of McNeil Canyon Elementary School or the Caribou Lake (aka “Blue Shed” ) trailhead accessed by following East End Road, then Basargin and then Willard Road.

Download GPS tracks, routes and maps for GPS units or smartphones.

Download printable map.

Map Legend:

• #1 Start and finish

• #2 Road access point (Caribou Lake trailhead - aka “Blue Shed”)

• #3 Checkpoint for both the 50 km & 100 km routes (distance is 26 km)

• #4 Checkpoint for both the 50 km & 100 km routes (distance is 40 km and again at 88 km)

• #5 Private cabin and landmark

• #6 Checkpont and turnaround for the 100 km route (distance is 62 km into the race)

• #7 Road access point. Trail continues between the 100 km checkpoint and here. (North Fork Hills trailhead)

• #8 Snowmachine Club cabin (aka “Snomad’s Palace”)

You can also click on features in the map for more details.

Route statistics:

50 km route:

Actual distance = 50.5 km

Elevation climbed = 2,420 ft

100 km route:

Actual distance = 98.2 km

Elevation climbed = 6,194 ft

Checkpoint cut-off times

50 km route:

• 0 km Start: 9 AM Saturday

• 26 km Checkpoint: 5 PM Saturday (8 hrs after start) - Circle #3 on map above

• 40 km Checkpoint: 6 AM Sunday (20 hrs after start, Daylight Saving Time “DST” begins at 2 AM) - Circle #4 on map above

• 50 km Finish: 10 AM Sunday (24 hrs after start, DST begins 2 AM)

100 km route:

• 0 km Start: 8 AM Saturday

• 26 km Checkpoint: 3 PM Saturday (7 hours after start) - Circle #3 on map above

• 40 km Checkpoint: 6 PM Saturday (10 hrs after start) - Circle #4 on map above

• 62 km Checkpoint: 11 PM Saturday (15 hrs after start) - Circle #6 on map above

• 88 km Checkpoint: 6 AM Sunday (21 hrs after start, DST begins 2 AM) - Circle #4 on map above

• 100 km Finish: 9 AM Sunday (24 hrs after start, DST begins 2 AM)

Elevation profiles

50 km route:

Note: the colors don’t match with the interactive map above and the scales on these 2 profiles are not the same!

100 km route:

Note: the colors don’t match with the interactive map above and the scales on these 4 profiles are not the same!

Weather conditions

The race starts at 1,300 feet above sea level (that’s higher than Turnagain Pass!) Check weather conditions for the last seven days at the McNeil Canyon SNOTEL located next to the start/finish here.