The King Salmon Marathon course is mostly flat and follows the old Copper River railroad route which led to the Kennicott Copper mines.
The marathon starts at 27 mile bridge - one of the many bridges that span the Copper River. The first half of the course is gravel road - with little to no traffic. Because the area is still wild, moose and bear are occasionally encountered.
Runners pass the "Mudhole Smith" airport at mile 13. Paved road then spans the Copper River delta.
The last 10km, are run along the blue waters of Eyak Lake.
The King Salmon Marathon was the 583rd largest marathon in the U.S. last year and was the 558th largest in 2023.
Last year no finishers qualified for the Boston Marathon and 7.1% of runners qualified for Boston in 2023.
This gives the King Salmon Marathon the 435th highest percentage of Boston Marathon qualifiers in the U.S. last year and the 267th highest percentage in 2023.
Its Course Score of 99.36 ranks it as the 129th fastest marathon course in the U.S. and the 1st fastest course in Alaska.
The typical race time temperature and humidity levels are slightly above the ideal range for optimal marathon performance. This, coupled with the Course Score, gives the King Salmon Marathon a PR Score of 99.04. This PR Score ranks it as the 146th fastest marathon in the U.S. and the 1st fastest in Alaska.
Learn more about PR Scores and Course Scores on the FAQ page.
King Salmon Marathon Elevation Chart
Max Elevation: 81 feet (24m) Min Elevation: 18 feet (5m)
