The trail leaves First Chance Creek a few miles before the river and runs south for 18 miles on the east side of the Iditarod River valley. It crosses several large creeks, swamps, and lakes, and runs up and down small hills. The old town of Iditarod is on a cut-off slough to the east of the Iditarod River. The checkpoint is across the slough from the few remaining buildings. The weather can be a major factor on this leg, especially on the Beaver Flats, which are completely exposed.
Whiteouts can happen quickly and winds can be severe.
The trail is generally well marked, with tripods augmenting the trail stakes across the uplands. You'll leave the Ophir checkpoint on a continuation of the same road you followed coming in. A mile past the runway you'll cross the Innoko River, which you'll parallel for another four miles and then cross again, back to the south side. This is where the northern and southern routes divide. The trail will probably not be the world's best as you head south through the spindly black spruce.