Photo Credit: Alpine Air Alaska Dogsledding
You're speeding through Alaskan forest, sitting on a sled that's being pulled by some of Alaska's most powerful creatures. This is dog sledding—and it's not only an Alaskan tradition, but also a state obsession, one that's celebrated every March with the running of the 1,150-mile Iditarod Sled Dog Race from Anchorage to Nome. Taking a dogsledding excursion is a chance to see what the fuss is all about. You'll meet Iditarod racers and their dogs and hear what it's like to run this brutal race. And often, you'll experience the thrill of dogsledding first-hand.
This is an outing you can do from Anchorage, Denali, Fairbanks, Girdwood, and Juneau. Options vary, but usually include touring the kennels of these champion dogs, seeing how they're trained, and cuddling their puppies. Many Iditarod racers and champions have tours, so you'll hear a first-person account of what it's like to travel through some of Alaska's harshest terrain. Most of these tours are great for kids, but they're geared for all ages.
Three Different Kinds of Tours
- Party on wheels (summer). You'll visit a kennel and be surrounded by the cacophony of dogs, meet team members and cuddle some of the puppies. You typically get to ride on one of the wheeled carts (on the ground, not snow) that the dogs use for training
- Flying to, and riding on the snow (summer). You'll combine about 20 minutes of dog sledding on a glacier with either a fixed-wing plane or helicopter flightseeing trip. These trips are pricier: $250 and up.
- Dog Mushing (winter). These trips are typically November - March, depending on snow conditions. You'll be given the option to ride in the sled or take your turn behind the sled and mush through the winter wonderland.
Price Range
$70+ summer kennel tours, $140+ winter dog mushing, $499+ summer glacier dog sledding
Where to Go
Here are the most common spots and a popular tours:
Show Map
Dog Sledding Tours
Jump to:
Anchorage (Tours depart from nearby Girdwood and Willow)
Juneau
Gates of the Arctic National Park
Big Lake
Seward
Fairbanks
Denali National Park
Skagway
Anchorage (Tours depart from nearby Girdwood and Willow)View All
Tours depart from nearby Girdwood (45 min drive) or Willow (1.5 hr drive). Several companies provide a shuttle from Anchorage.
1
Alaskan Husky Adventures
1 MapWebsite
Season: Year Round$69+1-3.5 hrs
Summer or winter, visit afamily-run champion kennel, meet friendly dogs and an experienced musher for aride along private trails with views of Denali. Opt to ride in the sled or mush your own. Or, for atruly authentic adventure, go on atraining run for the Iditarod! Large groups and special events welcome when organized in advance.
2
Salmon Berry Tours Dog Sledding
2 MapWebsite
Season: November - March$329+8 - 9 hrs
Everybody loves sled dogs, and Salmon Berry Tours offers you the chance to get behind the sled year-round. In summer and winter, you’ll head to the kennel of Iditarod Champion Dallas Seavey, where you’ll see agear demonstration, meet the dogs, and ride on the sled behind them. They also have amulti-day adventure for Iditarod enthusiasts.
3
Happy Trails Kennel Dog Sled Tours
3 MapWebsite
Season: Year Round$55 Summer | $179+ Winter
Get an insider’s look at the iconic Alaskan sport of dog mushing when you visit Happy Trails Kennel in Big Lake, operated by four-time Iditarod champion (and member of the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame) Martin Buser. You can visit year-round; come in winter and you can experience the thrill of dog mushing yourself on adog sledride!
4
Glacier Dog Sledding with Alaska Helicopter Tours
4 MapWebsite
$599+1.5 - 2.25 hrs
Stunning scenery, athrilling ride and happy puppies: this tour out of the Anchorage area offers an unbeatable combination of classic Alaska experiences that will delight families or — really, anybody. Taking atotal of about 90minutes, and running from mid-May to early September, this tour includes aFlightseeing round trip, asmall friendly group environment, and plenty of one-on-one time with the dogs and their mushers.
5
Susitna Dog Sled Adventures
5 MapWebsite
Season: Year Round$60+1-2 hrs
Find out what this iconic Alaskan sport is all about when you meet the dogs and learn about racing them with Susitna Dog Sled Adventures out of Talkeetna. Come in winter and you can also hop on asled to really feel what dog mushing islike!
6
Alpine Air Alaska - Girdwood Glacier Dogsledding
6 MapWebsite
Season: May 15 - Aug 31$5792 hrs
Ratchet up the adventure factor and try your hand at dogsledding. Alpine Air Alaska flies to adog camp run by the oldest established dog-sled tour business in Alaska. With ashuttle option available from Anchorage, you’ll travel by helicopter from Girdwood’s green forests up over asmall saddle to land on aglacier and be introduced to the dog team. “Drive” the dogs yourself, or sit in the sled and enjoy hanging glaciers that surroundyou....more
7
Alaska Mushing School
7 MapWebsite
Season: Winter$169+1 - 8 hours
Experience the excitement of racing champion sled dogs at the Alaska Mushing School, just 75minutes from Anchorage. Get aprofessional’s insight into the mushing lifestyle as you ride behind ateam of energetic sled dogs on trails connected to the famous Iditarod route. Bundle up and ride in comfort, or brave the cold and drive the team yourself!
8
Snowhook Adventure Guides of Alaska: Dog Sled Tours
8 MapWebsite
Season: Year RoundSummer: $75+ | Winter: $150+2+ hrs
Winter or summer, experience the thrill of running Iditarod sled dogs and even have achance to drive! Meet the sled dogs and hear first-hand just what it’s like to run the Iditarod.
9
Girdwood Summer Sled Dog Adventure
9 Map
Visit and snuggle real Iditarod sled dogs with their musher on this unique summertime tour. After touring their kennel, you’ll harness up and explore trails along Girdwood’s mountains which offer spectacular views while your guide offers fascinating gold mining history in thearea.
[{"slug":"willow","title":"Willow"},{"slug":"anchorage","title":"Anchorage"},{"slug":"big-lake","title":"Big Lake"},{"slug":"talkeetna","title":"Talkeetna"},{"slug":"girdwood","title":"Girdwood"}]
JuneauView All
Take a glacier dog sled across a glacier
10
NorthStar Helicopters Glacier Dog Sled Adventure
10 MapWebsite
Season: May 06 to Aug 31 Call for rates
Get great views with some hands-on fun — combine ascenic flightseeing helicopter tour with the exhilaration of dog mushing on aglacier with ateam of Alaskan Sleddogs!
11
TEMSCO Mendenhall Dog Sledding
11 MapWebsite
Season: May - September$659+1.5 hrs
Hop on aTEMSCO helicopter for an Alaskan adventure combining aviation, sled dogs and massive glaciers. Get an amazing view of the gorgeous landscape surrounding Juneau, and then ride along as an energetic team of huskies tours you around the ancient, snow-packed Mendenhall glacier.
12
12 MapWebsite
Season: May - September$359+2-3 hrs
Atour aboard aTEMSCO helicopter offers beautiful views of Alaska’s Capital City, and up-close exploration of Mendenhall, one of the state’s most accessible glaciers. Look out on alpine lakes, moraines, and crevasses before you land and check out the Juneau Icefield for yourself.
[{"slug":"willow","title":"Willow"},{"slug":"anchorage","title":"Anchorage"},{"slug":"big-lake","title":"Big Lake"},{"slug":"talkeetna","title":"Talkeetna"},{"slug":"girdwood","title":"Girdwood"},{"slug":"juneau","title":"Juneau"}]
Gates of the Arctic National ParkView All
13
Iniakuk Lake Wilderness Lodge Aurora and Dogsled Expeditions
13 MapWebsite
Season: February 20 - April 10$9,895+ per person, all-inclusive3-5 nights
This family-owned, fly-in luxury wilderness lodge is 200miles north of Fairbanks and 60miles above the Arctic Circle. Stays are all-inclusive and exclusive — they only accept one group at atime. Go dogsledding, snowshoeing, or scan the skies for the northern lights. The lodge’s huge picture windows make it easy to keep alookout for the aurora from awarm, comfortable interior.
[{"slug":"willow","title":"Willow"},{"slug":"anchorage","title":"Anchorage"},{"slug":"big-lake","title":"Big Lake"},{"slug":"talkeetna","title":"Talkeetna"},{"slug":"girdwood","title":"Girdwood"},{"slug":"juneau","title":"Juneau"},{"slug":"arctic-far-north","title":"Far North\/Arctic"}]
Big LakeView All
Located just an hour and half north of Anchorage
14
Alaska Mushing School
14 MapWebsite
Season: Winter$169+1 - 8 hours
Experience the excitement of racing champion sled dogs at the Alaska Mushing School, just 75minutes from Anchorage. Get aprofessional’s insight into the mushing lifestyle as you ride behind ateam of energetic sled dogs on trails connected to the famous Iditarod route. Bundle up and ride in comfort, or brave the cold and drive the team yourself!
15
Happy Trails Kennel Dog Sled Tours
15 MapWebsite
Season: Year Round$55 Summer | $179+ Winter
Get an insider’s look at the iconic Alaskan sport of dog mushing when you visit Happy Trails Kennel in Big Lake, operated by four-time Iditarod champion (and member of the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame) Martin Buser. You can visit year-round; come in winter and you can experience the thrill of dog mushing yourself on adog sledride!
[{"slug":"willow","title":"Willow"},{"slug":"anchorage","title":"Anchorage"},{"slug":"big-lake","title":"Big Lake"},{"slug":"talkeetna","title":"Talkeetna"},{"slug":"girdwood","title":"Girdwood"},{"slug":"juneau","title":"Juneau"},{"slug":"arctic-far-north","title":"Far North\/Arctic"}]
SewardView All
Meet with sled dogs in their kennel and take a wheeled cart ride through forested Resurrection River Valley or take a fly-in glacier tour
16
Seavey's IdidaRide Sled Dog Tours
16 MapWebsite
Season: Mid-May to Mid-September$99+1.5 to 6 hrs
Visit Iditarod champion Mitch Seavey’s homestead, home to three generations of Iditarod mushers. Experience an exciting two-mile dog sled ride, tour the racing kennel, meet the dogs, cuddle adorable husky puppies, and listen to stories from the Iditarod trail. Then climb aboard acustom-designed sled; an Iditarod race finisher drives you through rainforest to ariver-cut canyon surrounded by mountains.
[{"slug":"willow","title":"Willow"},{"slug":"anchorage","title":"Anchorage"},{"slug":"big-lake","title":"Big Lake"},{"slug":"talkeetna","title":"Talkeetna"},{"slug":"girdwood","title":"Girdwood"},{"slug":"juneau","title":"Juneau"},{"slug":"arctic-far-north","title":"Far North\/Arctic"},{"slug":"seward","title":"Seward Audio Guide"}]
FairbanksView All
Year-round tours in Fairbanks and near the North Pole; in winter take an exclusive aurora dog sledding trip
17
Arctic Dog Adventure Co.
17 MapWebsite
Season: Year RoundSummer 2 hrs | Winter 2-7 days
Visit the world’s oldest Siberian Husky kennel any time of the year with tour options ranging from acouple of hours in the summer to multi-day winter adventures exploring Fairbanks.
18
Rod’s Alaskan Guide Service Dog Sledding
18 MapWebsite
Season: November–March (depending on snow conditions)$89+ per person1/2 - 4 hrs
Glide over the snow on asled that’s being pulled by ateam of dogs — many of whom have run the Iditarod, Yukon Quest, or other races. Go with Rod’s Alaskan Guide Service and experience the thrill of dog sledding with dogs that love to run and passionate mushers who will offer adeeper understanding of this unique sport.
19
Iniakuk Lake Wilderness Lodge Aurora and Dogsled Expeditions
19 MapWebsite
Season: February 20 - April 10$9,895+ per person, all-inclusive3-5 nights
This family-owned, fly-in luxury wilderness lodge is 200miles north of Fairbanks and 60miles above the Arctic Circle. Stays are all-inclusive and exclusive — they only accept one group at atime. Go dogsledding, snowshoeing, or scan the skies for the northern lights. The lodge’s huge picture windows make it easy to keep alookout for the aurora from awarm, comfortable interior.
20
Black Spruce Dog Sledding
20 MapWebsite
Season: Year Round$145+ Dogsled Tours1-3 hrs
Plenty of people come to Fairbanks to look at the sky — for northern lights, or to bask in the midnight sun. But this dog-mushing experience outside of Fairbanks is proof that there’s plenty more of Fairbanks to be seen at eye — or even paw — level. May through October, take aa trail ride with 16 dogs hitched up to an ATV. November through April, take amushing tour through thesnow!
21
Paws for Adventure
21 MapWebsite
Season: Winter & Fall$90+ per person30+ min - Multi-Day
Take part in the thrill of winter and fall dog sledding out of Fairbanks. You’ll experience the sport with one of Alaska’s longest-running dog tour companies. Go for aride, attend mushing school, or go on amulti-day adventure to the historic Tolovana Roadhouse.
[{"slug":"willow","title":"Willow"},{"slug":"anchorage","title":"Anchorage"},{"slug":"big-lake","title":"Big Lake"},{"slug":"talkeetna","title":"Talkeetna"},{"slug":"girdwood","title":"Girdwood"},{"slug":"juneau","title":"Juneau"},{"slug":"arctic-far-north","title":"Far North\/Arctic"},{"slug":"seward","title":"Seward Audio Guide"},{"slug":"fairbanks","title":"Fairbanks"}]
Denali National Park
Tours just 30-minutes south of Denali National Park
22
Squid Acres Kennel Dog Sledding Tours
22 MapWebsite
Season: Year Round$125+ per person2-4 hrs
Experience the thrill of the iconic Alaskan sport of dogsledding from veterans of the Iditarod and Yukon Quest races! Operating in summer and winter from Cantwell, about a30-minute drive south of Denali National Park, the private tours will be just you and your group, led by expert guides. Winter tours can involve learning to drive your own dog team or riding out to see the northern lights. In summer, the excited dogs pull aside-by-side on...more
[{"slug":"willow","title":"Willow"},{"slug":"anchorage","title":"Anchorage"},{"slug":"big-lake","title":"Big Lake"},{"slug":"talkeetna","title":"Talkeetna"},{"slug":"girdwood","title":"Girdwood"},{"slug":"juneau","title":"Juneau"},{"slug":"arctic-far-north","title":"Far North\/Arctic"},{"slug":"seward","title":"Seward Audio Guide"},{"slug":"fairbanks","title":"Fairbanks"},{"slug":"denali-national-park","title":"Denali National Park & Preserve"}]
SkagwayView All
Glacier dog sledding in summer
23
TEMSCO Skagway Dog Sledding and Glacier Flightseeing by Helicopter
23 MapWebsite
Season: May - September$629+2 hrs
Dog sledding on aglacier is the ultimate blend of Alaskan adventure, as you also get there by helicopter! Board aTEMSCO flight that whisks you thousands of feet above sea level to the Denver glacier and adog mushing camp hidden away on asnow field, where Alaskan sled dogs will greet you energetically, ready to take you on the ride of yourlife.
[{"slug":"willow","title":"Willow"},{"slug":"anchorage","title":"Anchorage"},{"slug":"big-lake","title":"Big Lake"},{"slug":"talkeetna","title":"Talkeetna"},{"slug":"girdwood","title":"Girdwood"},{"slug":"juneau","title":"Juneau"},{"slug":"arctic-far-north","title":"Far North\/Arctic"},{"slug":"seward","title":"Seward Audio Guide"},{"slug":"fairbanks","title":"Fairbanks"},{"slug":"denali-national-park","title":"Denali National Park & Preserve"},{"slug":"skagway","title":"Skagway"}]