Alaska Salmon Runs
About this race
Our running event courses traverse the world-famous Copper River delta, a land of mountains, glaciers, and blue water rivers and lakes. For each distance event (except the One Mile), runners meet at race HQ and are driven on shuttle buses to the start line for their race. The race courses are mostly flat (we're at sea level), and follow the old Copper River and Northwestern Railroad route which led to the Kennicott copper mines.
We also offer a post-run Salmon BBQ lunch, get your tickets here! Lunch includes salmon, side dishes, dessert and door prizes. We'll announce race winners and distribute medals for the top three women and men finishers for each event here (at the Pioneer Igloo on First Street). This lunch is open to everyone, bring a dish to share (for 6 - 8 people) and get in free!
The Alaska Salmon Runs are part of our Salmon Jam weekend festival, full of music, Small Fry arts and education activities for kids and families, running and salmon. Visit this web site for more details on the AK Salmon Runs, including FAQs, and weekend events.
Pick your distance
Running
King Salmon Marathon
Marathoners will be driven on a bus out to the race start (it's a point to point course), shuttle departs the hospital parking lot at 6:15 a.m. The marathon starts at the 27-mile bridge on the Copper River Highway, one of the many bridges that span the Copper River. The first half of the course is gravel road with little to no traffic, the second half is paved. June temperatures range from low 50s - 75F. Water stations are located along the course every 4 - 5 miles, starting with mile 5 of the marathon. A porta-potty is located at mile 16 on the marathon course, and USFS outhouse bathrooms are also located at mile 5 and mile 20 on the course.
Sockeye Half Marathon
Half-marathoners will be driven on a shuttle bus to the race start (this is a point-to-point course), bus departs the hospital parking lot at 9:00 a.m. The course is mostly flat, traversing the Copper River delta and its many wetlands and streams. Water stations are located along the course every 4 miles. A porta-potty is located at Mile 4 on the course (USFS kiosk), and a USFS outhouse bathroom is located at Mile 8 on the course (Eyak River boat launch).
Coho 10K
Shuttle van will take runners to the race start, vans depart from the hospital parking lot at 10:00 a.m.
Humpy 5K
Shuttle van will take runners to the race start, vans depart from the hospital parking lot at 10:30 a.m.
Smolt 1 Mile Fun Run/Walk
Race start is at 11:15 a.m. in front of the Cordova Community Medical Center on Chase Ave.
Typical race-day weather
Based on 1 year of Open-Meteo archive data for this event's race dates in Cordova, plus the 3 days either side.
The sun rises at 4:46 AM and sets at 10:52 PM local time (AKDT) in Cordova on July 17, 2027 — 18h 05m of daylight.
Course
No course map published yet.
The organizer hasn't released a route for this event, and we don't publish guesses. If you're the organizer, send us a GPX file and we'll draw the profile.
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Results — Alaska Salmon Runs
Where this page comes from. Race details were last updated on . We re-check listings regularly and again in the week before race day.
- Entries, prices, waves and inclusions — the event's official registration page
- Temperature and humidity — Copernicus ERA5 reanalysis via Open-Meteo (CC BY 4.0)
- Elevation and terrain relief — Copernicus DEM GLO-90, ESA (CC BY 4.0)
- Comparisons and counts — Race Discovery calendar, 1 Cordova event
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