Gunflint Mail Run organizers excited for return of annual sled dog race

With much of the Arrowhead Region blanketed in snow by mid-December, many dog mushers and dog race organizers are eager for the upcoming 2025 race season.

During the previous race season, many sled dog races along the North Shore, including the Gunflint Mail Run and the John Beargrease Sled Dog Race, were canceled due to the lack of snow.

This year, however, Gunflint Mail Run Organizer Cathy Quinn said, “We’re on track for a good-looking race course.”

The annual Gunflint Mail Run sled dog race is scheduled for Jan. 11, 2025. The race will start at 8 a.m. at Trail Center Lodge up the Gunflint Trail.

Quinn said with less than a month to go until the race, snow conditions are setting up fairly well as of mid-December. While more snow is needed to establish a solid base for the race course and more ice is needed on the lakes, the outlook for conditions come Jan. 11 looks promising.

“I think we’ll be just fine,” Quinn said.

This year, the Gunflint Mail Run organizers capped the participants to 15 teams due to a minimal parking space surrounding Trail Center. “We have a smaller field than in years past,” Quinn said.

WTIP’s Mark Abrahamson spoke with Gunflint Mail Run Organizer Cathy Quinn about the upcoming race, the need for volunteers, what spectators should expect on race day, and more. The audio from the interview is below.

Kalli Hawkins December 16, 2024