The easiest first: the trail for the junior class remains unchanged in 2026. The juniors will drive to checkpoint Suossjavri via checkpoint Jotka both ways. The total distance is 200 km.
FL – 600
This year’s changes for FL-600 will come at the start of the race. The first stage will go via Jotka, continue past Ragèsjavri, and end at checkpoint Masi. For participants who, with dread, remember the last hill down to checkpoint Masi as steep and challenging, do not worry, you will NOT drive down that hill. Instead, the trail will go up this hill from the checkpoint.
Checkpoint Masi will be a stop without handlers. It will be possible to send one depot bag of up to 20 kg, which can be received at checkpoint Masi. Everything the participant will need up to checkpoint Jergul, beyond that one depot bag, must be carried in the sled from the start.
From Masi, the next stage goes in the direction of Mieron and then continues towards Jergul. From checkpoint Jergul to the finish line, the trail will be the same as in 2025.
The mandatory stops will be the same as in 2025, with a minimum of six hours of mandatory rest plus time-alligment at checkpoint Jergul and a minimum of six hours at checkpoint Karasjok. The deadlines for leaving checkpoint Jergul and Karasjok, as well as the final deadline to reach the finish line, will also be the same as in 2025 (see rules).
Stage lengths FL – 600
(Note! Changes to the stage lengths may occur)
- Start – Masi 114km
- Masi – Jergul 138km
- Jergul – Levajok 129km
- Levajok – Karasjok 83km
- Karasjok – Jotka 82km
- Jotka – Mål 49km
Total distance 595km
Map FL – 600
FL – 1200
The first and second stages for FL-1200 will be the same as in 2025, with Jergul as the first checkpoint and then Levajok. From Levajok, the third stage will go roughly as in previous years over the mountain towards Tana, but new for this year is that this stage will continue further north through the Masjok area to checkpoint Bonakas, which is located at Tana videregående skole. This means that the third stage will be 20-30 km longer than before.
From Bonakas, the trail will follow the river south again towards Tana Bru. From there, the trail continues as before to checkpoint Neiden 1 and then further to checkpoint Kirkenes. From checkpoint Kirkenes, the trail will make a loop in Pasvik before continuing to Neiden 2.The loop in Pasvik will be shortened somewhat compared to the one in 2025.The exact distance has not been determined.
From Neiden 2, the race continues as before towards checkpoint Varangerbotn. From there, the next stage will proceed roughly as before on the river ice to Båteng. The biggest change this year for the FL-1200 starts here. Instead of continuing all the way to Levajok 2, the trail from Båteng will follow the terrain to checkpoint Sirbma, which will be at the community center.
From Sirbma, Plan A is to place the trail on the river all the way to Karasjok. This assumes good ice conditions on the river. As a backup solution in case of uncertain ice, the trail must go from Sirbma over the mountain to Levajok. However, there will still be no checkpoint at Levajok 2. From Karasjok to the finish, the trail will be the same as in 2025, passing Jergul and Mollisjok before continuing toward checkpoint Jotka and the finish line.
The mandatory stops will be the same as in 2025. One 20 hours, plus time-alligment, rest after Jergul and before Varangerbotn, and one 5 hour rest at Karasjok. The deadline for leaving checkpoint Karasjok as well as the final deadline to reach the finish line, will also be the same as in 2025 (see rules).
Stage lengths FL – 1200
(Note! Changes to the stage lengths may occur)
- Start – Jergul 125km
- Jergul – Levajok 122km
- Levajok – Bonakas 120km
- Bonakas – Neiden 1 120km
- Neiden 1 – Kirkenes 72km
- Kirkenes – Neiden 2 100km
- Neiden 2 – Varangerbotn 82km
- Varangerbotn – Sirbma 77km
- Sirbma – Karasjok 138km
- Karasjok – Jotka 115km
- Jotka – Mål 49km
Total distance approx. 1120km
Map for FL – 1200 is coming.