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Marathon Details - Prince of Wales Island International Marathon

North America Marathons > USA > AK > Craig > Prince of Wales Island International Marathon

Prince of Wales Island International Marathon

Prince of Wales Island International Marathon & Half Marathon, 4- & 8-Person Relays

Craig, AK USA

May 24, 2025

http://www.powmarathon.org

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Race Details

Out-and-back course that runs along coastline and then traverses hills and stunning valleys. One of Alaska's most beautiful courses.

Contact Information

Name:	Ann James
Address:	POW Island Marathon Box 5 Klawock, AK 99925
Phone Number:	907-254-1884
Email:	Email the organizers

Runner Reviews (9)

Course 4.7

Organization 4.7

Spectators 4.4

Write a review

Number of comments: 9

S. C. from Portland Oregon (5/29/2023) "This is real Alaska." (about: 2023) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Prince of Wales Island International Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Prince Of Wales Island totally gets behind this weekend. I've run 226 marathons and these folks may have the strongest support I've seen for an event. It's a little hilly, so get over it. It could sprinkle on you, get over it. But the bling is great, the aide stations are each unique and fun-themed, everyone is supporting you. Start on the high school, so you get to stay warm till gun time. It's a little trickier getting here than most marathons: Fly into Ketchikan. 3 hour ferry ride to Hollis on POW. It sails ONCE a day. So plan your flights accordingly. Pretty speedy to take your car on the ferry, so we did walk-on. Then called ahead and the Tribal Bus-took us the 31 miles to Craig Alaska. Great driver who gave us a good tour and history. We had 15 Bald Eagles flying around our deck on Sunday after a charter boat dumped its fish carcasses. WOW!!! You will really feel like you experienced Alaska after this run. BTW, the airport is on an island off Ketchikan, so it's a ferry ride to get "to the mainland". That was pretty cool. And DO NOT miss the awards ceremony.
T. B. from IN (1/2/2018) "WOW!!! What a great way to finish state number 50!" (about: 2017) 50+ previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was our 50th state to finish up our quest to run a marathon in all fifty states. Wow!! What a great experience. This was my 65th marathon and I have never seen an area get behind a race like this. The day before the run at packet pick up there were snacks, nice t shirt and super friendly people. The town of Craig is a very scenic fishing village. Bald eagles every where! The course is an out an back and is very hilly. If you are a 50 stater you have run tougher courses than this. The medals are nice and the grilled salmon sandwiches for post race were outstanding.The awards banquet in the evening is a 'do not miss event'. It seems most of the town folk show up for this, great door prizes!! I know most 50 stater's do other Alaska marathons but they're missing a real gem in this one. Sure, getting to Craig is a bit of a challenge but you won't be disappointed.
Team Disability-first leg from Klawock, Alaska (7/12/2009) "Well run marathon." (about: 2009) First Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I've been running since I was 17 but I've never run a marathon before, so I have nothing to compare it to. I had a great time. Everyone was helpful and friendly. I ran the first leg. The hills were harder than I expected. The volunteers were supportive and outstanding. They were stationed about every 2 miles. I will definitely run the course again.
G. K. from Ketchikan Alaska (5/26/2009) "It was fabulous! Thank you so much." (about: 2009) 4-5 previous marathons \| 2 Prince of Wales Island International Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 It took a village to put it all on. Thank you so much - from start to finish. What a warm and friendly island POW is to all of the participants.
Rob Klein from Aurora, Colorado (5/25/2008) "80 Degrees for a Spring Marathon in AK!" (about: 2008) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Prince of Wales Island International Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This race exceeded many expectations. An aid station volunteer reported that the mercury hit 80 degrees Saturday - and I was feeling it with a long-sleeve shirt on. Temperatures had been in the 50's the 2 previous days. Getting there was an adventure. An Alaska Airlines jet get you to Ketchikan, and then it is a Pacific Airways Beaver floatplant to Craig or a Inner-Island Ferry ride to Hollis, and then you rent a car to drive 26 miles to Craig. I chose the float-plane route. Craig is perhaps the largest town of maybe a dozen isolated communities on the island. The marathon is run from Hollis to Craig, with a 400-foot mountain pass in between. Four hundred feet is not that much elevation gain, but the roller coaster-type hills leading to it make it feel higher. The bus picked us up at our hotel and drove us to Hollis - the starting point. There was nothing between Hollis and Klawock (Klawock is 7 miles before Craig) except two campgrounds, with lots of trees and wildlife. Deer were spotted by runners, and a bear came out by the road too (he was brave, because it is still bear-hunting season). The last mile or so were gravel road (or the accompanying gravel/dirt path). The course was staffed with aid stations about every two miles, with one just before the pass, and one right after the pass - a good choice. The volunteers were friendly and supportive. We got lemon drops, cookies, watermelon, gummy bears, oranges and bananas - and of course water and Gatorade. These volunteers were a class act. At the finish line, there were home-made cookies of at least a half-dozen varieties, and more fluids. There were only two port-a-potties at the start line, and none enroute. The race director mentioned that they were the only two on the island that were available - the other three being at construction sites, and not available. Good thing I didn't need one. This race had a pasta feed the night before in the community center, and a post-race event, that evening, in the same community center. This is the first marathon I have attended where you had to go to the post-race meeting to get your medal - after the meal and door prizes - which was fine with me since I was not leaving until Sunday afternoon, and the rest of the town was closed up anyway. A host of community volunteers came together to make this event happen. But it was a very memorable marathon event, and you won't likely come to this marathon event and go away not having made at least one new friend - either another runner or a town-person, or both. The folks are friendly and outgoing. If you need Alaska for the 50-States Club, or if you want a low-key Alaska marathon experience, this is worth the effort required to get to Prince of Wales Island and the time and money it will take you to make it happen.
G. B. from Ketchikan, Alaska (4/1/2008) "Great racing and community experience." (about: 2007) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Prince of Wales Island International Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I really enjoyed the run, the people, the course, all of it. Sure it was my first marathon ever, but I am planning on doing it again next year with a friend. The people who put it on did a great job and I appreciate all the hard work they put into it so we runners could play.
Priscilla Welch from United States (5/31/2006) "Friendly, happy marathon, thanks to Doug Rhodes." (about: 2006) 50+ previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 A low-key; very scenic; well organized; unique, and special, point-to-point marathon over an undulating, certified course, ending on a bike path and over a causeway under a banner into a spacious park. There are 15 well-schooled competitive water stops along the course, and mile markers at every mile. Local police patrol the entire course throughout race. This marathon attracts both national and European marathoners. Several marathoners have qualified and have run the Boston Marathon. This race also attracts relay racers of all age groups. The organizers provide a pre-race meal, speaker, Alaskan native dancing exhibition; transportation to the start area; post awards and raffles, plus a post-race social in the community center. Weather on the day is usually sunny and rain-free. There are ferries and float planes to the island, and plenty of bed and breakfasts, plus, hotel accommodations available. Kayaks are available to rent with or without guides, and there are many places to hike and relax. Fishing and logging are the main industries here, and bald eagles, ravens and crows fly everywhere, with spring showing its colors and new growth lushly. It takes a long time to reach this island, but once there you will treasure the memory for always, and possibly qualify for Boston yourself.



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S. C. from Portland Oregon (5/29/2023) "This is real Alaska." (about: 2023) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Prince of Wales Island International Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 Prince Of Wales Island totally gets behind this weekend. I've run 226 marathons and these folks may have the strongest support I've seen for an event. It's a little hilly, so get over it. It could sprinkle on you, get over it. But the bling is great, the aide stations are each unique and fun-themed, everyone is supporting you. Start on the high school, so you get to stay warm till gun time. It's a little trickier getting here than most marathons: Fly into Ketchikan. 3 hour ferry ride to Hollis on POW. It sails ONCE a day. So plan your flights accordingly. Pretty speedy to take your car on the ferry, so we did walk-on. Then called ahead and the Tribal Bus-took us the 31 miles to Craig Alaska. Great driver who gave us a good tour and history. We had 15 Bald Eagles flying around our deck on Sunday after a charter boat dumped its fish carcasses. WOW!!! You will really feel like you experienced Alaska after this run. BTW, the airport is on an island off Ketchikan, so it's a ferry ride to get "to the mainland". That was pretty cool. And DO NOT miss the awards ceremony.
T. B. from IN (1/2/2018) "WOW!!! What a great way to finish state number 50!" (about: 2017) 50+ previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 This was our 50th state to finish up our quest to run a marathon in all fifty states. Wow!! What a great experience. This was my 65th marathon and I have never seen an area get behind a race like this. The day before the run at packet pick up there were snacks, nice t shirt and super friendly people. The town of Craig is a very scenic fishing village. Bald eagles every where! The course is an out an back and is very hilly. If you are a 50 stater you have run tougher courses than this. The medals are nice and the grilled salmon sandwiches for post race were outstanding.The awards banquet in the evening is a 'do not miss event'. It seems most of the town folk show up for this, great door prizes!! I know most 50 stater's do other Alaska marathons but they're missing a real gem in this one. Sure, getting to Craig is a bit of a challenge but you won't be disappointed.
Team Disability-first leg from Klawock, Alaska (7/12/2009) "Well run marathon." (about: 2009) First Marathon COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 5 I've been running since I was 17 but I've never run a marathon before, so I have nothing to compare it to. I had a great time. Everyone was helpful and friendly. I ran the first leg. The hills were harder than I expected. The volunteers were supportive and outstanding. They were stationed about every 2 miles. I will definitely run the course again.
G. K. from Ketchikan Alaska (5/26/2009) "It was fabulous! Thank you so much." (about: 2009) 4-5 previous marathons \| 2 Prince of Wales Island International Marathons COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 4 FANS: 4 It took a village to put it all on. Thank you so much - from start to finish. What a warm and friendly island POW is to all of the participants.
Rob Klein from Aurora, Colorado (5/25/2008) "80 Degrees for a Spring Marathon in AK!" (about: 2008) 50+ previous marathons \| 1 Prince of Wales Island International Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 This race exceeded many expectations. An aid station volunteer reported that the mercury hit 80 degrees Saturday - and I was feeling it with a long-sleeve shirt on. Temperatures had been in the 50's the 2 previous days. Getting there was an adventure. An Alaska Airlines jet get you to Ketchikan, and then it is a Pacific Airways Beaver floatplant to Craig or a Inner-Island Ferry ride to Hollis, and then you rent a car to drive 26 miles to Craig. I chose the float-plane route. Craig is perhaps the largest town of maybe a dozen isolated communities on the island. The marathon is run from Hollis to Craig, with a 400-foot mountain pass in between. Four hundred feet is not that much elevation gain, but the roller coaster-type hills leading to it make it feel higher. The bus picked us up at our hotel and drove us to Hollis - the starting point. There was nothing between Hollis and Klawock (Klawock is 7 miles before Craig) except two campgrounds, with lots of trees and wildlife. Deer were spotted by runners, and a bear came out by the road too (he was brave, because it is still bear-hunting season). The last mile or so were gravel road (or the accompanying gravel/dirt path). The course was staffed with aid stations about every two miles, with one just before the pass, and one right after the pass - a good choice. The volunteers were friendly and supportive. We got lemon drops, cookies, watermelon, gummy bears, oranges and bananas - and of course water and Gatorade. These volunteers were a class act. At the finish line, there were home-made cookies of at least a half-dozen varieties, and more fluids. There were only two port-a-potties at the start line, and none enroute. The race director mentioned that they were the only two on the island that were available - the other three being at construction sites, and not available. Good thing I didn't need one. This race had a pasta feed the night before in the community center, and a post-race event, that evening, in the same community center. This is the first marathon I have attended where you had to go to the post-race meeting to get your medal - after the meal and door prizes - which was fine with me since I was not leaving until Sunday afternoon, and the rest of the town was closed up anyway. A host of community volunteers came together to make this event happen. But it was a very memorable marathon event, and you won't likely come to this marathon event and go away not having made at least one new friend - either another runner or a town-person, or both. The folks are friendly and outgoing. If you need Alaska for the 50-States Club, or if you want a low-key Alaska marathon experience, this is worth the effort required to get to Prince of Wales Island and the time and money it will take you to make it happen.
G. B. from Ketchikan, Alaska (4/1/2008) "Great racing and community experience." (about: 2007) 1 previous marathon \| 1 Prince of Wales Island International Marathon COURSE: 4 ORGANIZATION: 3 FANS: 3 I really enjoyed the run, the people, the course, all of it. Sure it was my first marathon ever, but I am planning on doing it again next year with a friend. The people who put it on did a great job and I appreciate all the hard work they put into it so we runners could play.
Priscilla Welch from United States (5/31/2006) "Friendly, happy marathon, thanks to Doug Rhodes." (about: 2006) 50+ previous marathons COURSE: 5 ORGANIZATION: 5 FANS: 4 A low-key; very scenic; well organized; unique, and special, point-to-point marathon over an undulating, certified course, ending on a bike path and over a causeway under a banner into a spacious park. There are 15 well-schooled competitive water stops along the course, and mile markers at every mile. Local police patrol the entire course throughout race. This marathon attracts both national and European marathoners. Several marathoners have qualified and have run the Boston Marathon. This race also attracts relay racers of all age groups. The organizers provide a pre-race meal, speaker, Alaskan native dancing exhibition; transportation to the start area; post awards and raffles, plus a post-race social in the community center. Weather on the day is usually sunny and rain-free. There are ferries and float planes to the island, and plenty of bed and breakfasts, plus, hotel accommodations available. Kayaks are available to rent with or without guides, and there are many places to hike and relax. Fishing and logging are the main industries here, and bald eagles, ravens and crows fly everywhere, with spring showing its colors and new growth lushly. It takes a long time to reach this island, but once there you will treasure the memory for always, and possibly qualify for Boston yourself.

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Marathon Details - Prince of Wales Island International Marathon