Yukon Quest was thrilling and exhilarating. We loved seeing the teams depart and waited further along the route to give encouragement to the dogs and their handlers. We gained respect for the Quest participants after we tried dog sledding ourselves. A world class event in breathtaking surroundings.
Anne Marshall, Keene, Ontario, Canada
Yukon Quest Sanctioned Qualifying Races
Yukon Quest mushers must have a demonstrated ability to complete a long-distance sled-dog race. Qualifying races must be completed within 42 months of the start of the Yukon Quest Race entered.
Rookie drivers must be able to provide verification of their completion of one 300 mile Yukon Quest International (YQI) sanctioned race and one other YQI sanctioned race of at least 200 miles (500 miles minimum).
- Completing at least 300 miles of the Yukon Quest or the Iditarod will fulfill the 300 mile requirement.
- Yukon Quest entrants who reach Dawson City will be considered to have fulfilled both qualifiers.
- Iditarod Finishers are qualified to enter the Yukon Quest.
Yukon Quest Official Qualifying Races
| Races qualifying as 200 miles | Miles | Location |
| AMUNDSEN RACE | 250M | Sweden/Norway |
| CAN-AM CROWN INT'L SLED DOG RACE | 260M | Maine |
| CALEDONIA CLASSIC | 200M | British Columbia |
| CANTWELL CLASSIC | 200M | Alaska |
| CASCADE QUEST | 225M | Washington |
| CHATANIKA CHALLENGE | 200M | Alaska |
| DON BOWERS MEMORIAL | 200M | Alaska |
| EAGLE CAP 200 | 200M | Oregon |
| GIN GIN 200 | 200M | Alaska |
| GREAT SLAVE 200 | 200M | Northwest Territories |
| HUDSON BAY QUEST | 250M | Manitoba/Nunavut |
| KNIK 200 | 200M | Alaska |
| NUSHAGAK CLASSIC | 250M | Alaska |
| PERCY De WOLFE MEMORIAL MAIL RACE | 210M | Yukon/Alaska |
| RED RIVER DOG DERBY | 200M | North Dakota |
| SEELEY LAKE 200 | 200M | Montana |
| TUSTUMENA 200 | 200M | Alaska |
| UP 200 | 200M | Michigan |
| Races qualifying as 300 miles | Miles | Location |
| YUKON QUEST | 300M of | Alaska / Yukon |
| YUKON QUEST 300 | 300M | Alaska / Yukon |
| IDITAROD TRAIL SLED DOG RACE | 300M of | Alaska |
| JOHN BEARGREASE SLED DOG MARATHON | 400M | Minnesota |
| CANADIAN CHALLENGE | 300M | Saskatchewan |
| COPPER BASIN 300 | 300M | Alaska |
| DON BOWERS MEMORIAL RACE | 300M | Alaska |
| KOBUK 440 | 440M | Alaska |
| FEMUND 500 | 310M | Norway |
| FINNMARKSLOPET (Europe) | 600M | Norway |
| KLONDIKE 300 | 300M | Alaska |
| KUSKOKWIM 300 | 300M | Alaska |
| SEELEY LAKE | 300M | Montana |
| SENEY 300 | 300M | Michigan |
| RACE TO THE SKY | 350M | Montana |
| TAIGA 300 | 300M | Alaska |
SLED DOG RACE ORGANIZERS
If you are the organizer of a sled dog race that is interested in applying to become an Official Qualifier of the Yukon Quest, please see the Application Process.
