Alaska: Nome

Tour Itinerary

DAY 1: There is one flight a day from Anchorage to Nome so we will meet in Nome when this flight arrives. Incorporated in 1901, Nome was once the most populated city in Alaska. Today it has fewer than 4000 inhabitants and no road or railroad connects it to another city. There are few places in the USA as remote and as beautiful to cycle as Nome. Upon our arrival, we’ll have a bike fitting and take a warm-up ride around this rustic and historic frontier town. 5 miles.

DAY 2: We set out in the morning on our bicycles heading east following the Nome River. We’ll cross the tundra with views of the snow-capped Kigluaik Mountains in the distance. With any luck, we’ll catch a glimpse of the herd of muskox that sometimes roam this area. Our destination is Salmon Lake, the spawning grounds for the northernmost run of sockeye salmon in the country. 30 miles.

DAY 3: After a hearty breakfast, we’ll continue along the clear rushing river until we reach Pilgrim Hot Springs. It was a recreation site for gold miners in the early 1900s, but when the saloon and roadhouse burned down, it became a mission and orphanage until the 1940s. Today the National Historic Site has ruins of the mission school and church.

Referred to as the “Shangri-La of the North,” the hot springs and the surrounding poplar, cottonwood and pine trees are a striking oasis in the tundra. You can soak in the 178-degree mineral water in the beautiful valley before settling down in your cabin for the night. 35 miles.

DAY 4: In the morning, we’ll shuttle back to Nome. After lunch, we’ll get back on our bikes to head south along the coast of the Bering Sea to the village of Solomon. Be sure to stop along the way for a drink at the Safety Road House, the last checkpoint on the Iditarod. We’ll overnight in a former school turned B&B by the community’s tribal council. 33 miles.

DAY 5: We continue to the end of the road today, cycling past serene beaches until we reach the abandoned town of Council. Built on the banks of the Niukluk Creek during the gold rush of the late 1800s, it may have once housed 15,000 people. We’ll see eerie remnants of that past life along our route. Look for the hand dug ditches on the sides of hills, as well as bits of railroad tracks and bridges. After a picnic lunch, we’ll shuttle back to our inn for the evening. 40 miles.

DAY 6: You have a choice today of enjoying a bike ride back to Nome or taking our shuttle instead. Back in town, you can take the time to learn more about the local history and culture by visiting the town museum. The small gallery is full of fascinating relics and artifacts and you’ll get personalized attention while you’re there.

You can also stop at the Bering Land Bridge Visitor Center and learn more about the theory that Asia and North America were connected 1.8 million years ago at the end of the last ice age. Then stop at the local knitting store to pick up a set of reindeer antler buttons before our dinner together. 33 miles.

DAY 7: We take our final road out of town today as we head north on Nome-Teller Rd. Its expansive views are captivating. Be sure to watch for reindeer who are frequently seen in this area. They were introduced in Alaska from Siberia during the 1890s. We’ll get halfway to the end of the road before stopping for a picnic lunch and returning to town. 40 miles.

DAY 8: We’ll finish our ride at Teller. The town sits at the end of the road on a sand spit at the mouth of a large lagoon. We should see salmon drying on wooden racks in this traditional Kawerak Eskimo village. After exploring, we’ll return to Nome and celebrate our adventure at our final dinner together. 30 miles.

DAY 9: Our last day in Nome is free to spend on your own. Try your hand at panning for gold or fishing before catching the afternoon flight back to Anchorage. We’re sure you’ll never forget that there’s no place like Nome! 0 miles.