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Settlements on the Iditarod Trail
Rainy Pass

Susitna-Rainy Pass Trail From the townsite of Susitna on the Susitna River, this 128-mile-long route heads northwest, following the west side of the Yentna River on the north side of Beluga Mountain, then crossing the Skwentna River to follow its northern side. At the mouth of Happy River, the route turns north, following the river¹s eastern limit to Rainy Pass. The route is shown on USGS Tyonek C-2, C-3, D-3, D-4, D-5, D-6 and D-7, and on Talkeetna A-5 and A-6 maps. The DOT Trails Inventory locates it on map 70 (Tyonek quadrangle) as trail 1, and on map 81 (Talkeetna quadrangle) as trail 20. In ARC documents, it is referenced as route 20B.


A portion of the Iditarod Trail, the Susitna-Rainy Pass stretch was a winter trail suitable for dog teams. After it was abandoned as a mail trail, the ARC continued to maintain it because it provided access to potential mines. Historical documentation includes ARC annual reports, a Territorial Road Commission report, USGS bulletins, postal service correspondence, newspaper accounts, and miscellaneous maps.

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