The North Pole Triathlon is an Olympic distance race held in and around Chena Lakes Recreation Area in North Pole, Alaska.  Racers swim 1500 meters in the best open water area in the region and bike offroad 20K (13 miles) on beautiful wooded, flat, smooth park trails.  The 10K (6.2 mile) run is on a combination of paved and gravel trails within the Chena Lakes Recreation Area.  You couldn’t ask for better conditions:  smooth water, a scenic bike course with no traffic and a run with lots of shade add up to an event people return to year after year. 

Swim course

Water temperatures at Chena Lakes are on the cool side (55 to 65 degrees) so it is advised to bring a wetsuit.  Per USAT, these are allowed for all participants if the water temperature is 78 degrees F or lower.   The swim begins with a mass start (typically less than 50 people) along the shore.  The course will be marked with large orange floats at each corner.  The race will begin on the eastern shore at the first parking area on Lake Front Drive and proceeds counterclockwise in a large triangle around the lake where you will exit to transition to the bike.

Bike Course

The 2025 course is under development.  Due to the past three years of area construction, we are unclear what areas will be accessible.  We do know that the course will be about 20K and will be on trails in the park.  It will most likely include some variation of the routes we’ve done over the past three years.  We’ll update ASAP those who are registered via email and also will post on Facebook and our website.

We recommend a gravel bike, cyclocross, or mountain bike for a nontechnical ride.  Road bikes are strongly discouraged.  The trails are wide, 98% on level ground, with grass or dirt surfaces.  No advanced offroad biking skills required.

The entire course will be open for public use during our race.  Please use caution and remain alert for pedestrians, loose dogs, toddlers, etc.

We’ll host an easy/slow course preview bike ride on Saturday, June 21 starting at the East Lake Park parking area (our transition area).  Be ready to start at 11 am sharp.

Run Course

The run course will involve leaving the transition area and running the bike trail toward the dike road.  At the bridge, turn right to cross the road and get on the bike trail that parallels the dike road.  You will run the entire length of the bike trail to the park entrance.  Run around the concrete jersey barrier at the end and come back the exact same route. 

Elevation change is at most five feet for the whole thing.  There is minimal shade.  This course is right at 6 miles, a tad shorter than the intended 6.2 miles.

There will be an aid station at that turnaround.  Another will be at the Corps of Engineers and Borough "project offices" side road which you pass twice.

The entire course will be open for public use during our race.  Please use caution and remain alert for pedestrians, loose dogs, toddlers, etc.

All runners, solo or relay, will finish at the same location.

Click Here for Registration: