Eagle Cap Extreme Sled Dog Race

The Eagle Cap Extreme runs through the rugged Wallowa Mountains in Northeastern Oregon. It has been described as challenging, fun and drop-dead beautiful by participants and fans alike. This all-volunteer race receives high marks for professionalism and for being very well run.

We focus on making the dogs and mushers’ experience as safe, comfortable, and fun as possible. The mushers and their dogs really love their fans, especially all the school kids who make a special field trip to see the event.

The event starts with morning Vet Checks in Enterprise followed by afternoon checks on Main Street in Joseph on Wednesday, January 21, 2026. The Vet Checks are a fun way to meet the mushers and interact with the dogs! They are free and open to the public.

The race starts the next day, on Thursday, January 22, 2026, at 12 noon at the Fergi Ski Area, about 9 miles southeast of Joseph. Fans can line up on the side of the starting chute to root for their favorite team!  Race Start Parking is provided nearby, with a shuttle starting at 10:45, or prepare for a 5 to 10-minute walk on a plowed road to get to the Fergi Ski Area. The race start is also free and open to the public.

Another great vantage point is the Salt Creek Summit Sno-Park. The racers start coming through this first checkpoint about an hour after they start. Note: This area requires a sno-park permit.

There’s a lot going on in addition to the Vet Checks and Race Start: visit the schedule here.

Come early and witness how excited the dogs get when they do what they love: RACE!

The Eagle Cap Extreme is continuing to grow with 3 races available! Our 200-mile twelve-dog team race is an official qualifier for both the Iditarod and the Yukon Quest races, a 100-mile eight-dog team race, and a 31-mile 2-day mid-distance race.

The ECX team provides a premier sporting event for mushers and their teams through some of the most scenic and rugged country in the US. The race runs through the Hells Canyon National Recreation Area and Wallowa-Whitman National Forest adjacent to the Eagle Cap Wilderness.

All races run concurrently and start at Ferguson Ridge Ski Area, just east of the town of Joseph, Oregon. The 100-mile race runs to the Ollokot Checkpoint before continuing on a scenic loop returning to Ollokot where they have their vet check and mandatory 3-hour layover of their overall 6-hour floating mandatory rest. They then return to Ferguson Ridge Ski Area for the finish. The 200-mile race takes a longer route up to the Ollokot Checkpoint. They then run a loop and return where the teams have their vet check and mandatory 4-hour layover of their overall 8-hour floating mandatory rest. They then run another scenic loop and return to the Ollokot for a final rest before returning to Ferguson Ridge Ski Area for the finish. The two-day 31-mile Adult and Junior races both start and finish at Ferguson Ridge Ski Area after going through the Salt Creek Summit SnoPark, a great alternate location to watch the teams.