Mount Marathon Race

The 98th running of the Mount Marathon Race on July 4, 2026, is not just a sporting event. It is the oldest mountain race in North America, a piece of living Alaskan folklore, and the most watched Fourth of July tradition in the state. The race begins at the corner of 4th Avenue and Adams Street in downtown Seward, at the base of the mountain that rises almost directly from the harbor. Runners charge 3,022 feet to the Race Point boulder and descend at a speed that looks, from the street below, more like controlled falling than running. Up to 30,000 spectators pack Seward for race day, and the town earns every one of them.

The Race Itself

The junior race, open to runners ages 9 through 17, starts at 9:00 a.m. and sends competitors to the halfway point on the mountain and back. The women’s and men’s races follow, with both categories covering the full mountain in a 3.1-mile loop that averages a 34-degree slope and hits 60 degrees at its steepest. The women’s course record was set by Allie McLaughlin in 2022 at 47 minutes and 9 seconds. Entry into the race itself is by lottery, and spots sell out months in advance. In a new addition for 2026, the “Race from the Base” gives 7- and 8-year-old runners their own opportunity to compete after the minimum age for the junior race was raised to 9 in 2024. If you want to race but didn’t get a lottery spot, a bib auction takes place on July 3rd at the Seward High School gymnasium, where spots have sold for anywhere from $1,000 to $4,000 each.

Where to Watch and What to Expect

You do not need a race bib to have one of the great Fourth of July experiences in Alaska. The best spectator positions are along 4th Avenue near the start and finish line, and on the lower slopes of the mountain itself where you can watch the field separate on the ascent. Arriving by 8:00 a.m. secures a solid viewing spot and gives you time to explore the Seward Boat Harbor, grab coffee, and feel the pre-race energy build in town. Seward’s waterfront sits on Resurrection Bay, flanked by glacier-carved peaks on three sides, and even standing in the crowd you are surrounded by scenery that most races can only approximate. After the race, the Seward Fourth of July Festival continues through the evening with vendors, live music, and fireworks over the water.

Dining in Seward

Ray’s Waterfront on the Boat Harbor has been a Seward institution for decades, serving fresh halibut, king crab, and locally caught salmon with direct views over Resurrection Bay. It is the obvious choice for a post-race dinner if you can secure a table, which means calling ahead well before July 4th. The Cookery on 4th Avenue is a more recent addition with a refined approach to Alaskan seafood in a room that fills quickly on race day weekend. For a casual pre-race breakfast, Zudy’s Cafe near the Small Boat Harbor opens early and feeds hungry crowds with consistent, no-fuss cooking.

Where to Stay

Seward fills completely for race week, and accommodations within town book out months in advance. Properties along Resurrection Bay, whether in town or in the surrounding area, connect the race experience to the water that defines this part of Alaska. Book your accommodations near Seward on Lake.com as early as possible, and consider pairing race weekend with a glacier cruise or kayak trip into Kenai Fjords National Park.