HALF DAY DRIVE YOUR OWN DOG TEAM
DOG SLEDDING TOUR
Fairbanks, Alaska
This dog sled adventure is designed for those eager to experience an authentic Alaskan mushing experience -- driving your own dog team!
This is the real deal, which means you are not just along for a ride -- you are an active participant in this adventure. You will drive your own small dog team of 4-6 dogs. The guide drives their own team just ahead of you, keeping an eye on the dogs, the trail, and your progress.
Before departure, your guide will introduce you to your team and give you a lesson on how to drive the sled.
You will learn how to harness a sled dog, and how to slow and stop your team before taking off on a scenic trip that will take you four to six miles roundtrip through beautiful old-growth boreal forest to the top of a ridge, where vast panoramic views of the White Mountains and the Chatanika River Valley await. Midway through your tour, we will pull over for photos.
This is a 2-3 tour hour from arrival to departure, with a minimum of 1 hour on the dog sled. Sometimes we spend extra time teaching, talking, petting dogs and/or taking pictures on the trail.
No previous mushing experience is required. We will teach you everything you need to know to feel comfortable and well-equipped for your time on the trail. 99% of our clients have never stepped foot on a dog sled before! You are accompanied at all times by a professional dog sledding guide who oversees the whole experience, allowing you to relax and enjoy the thrill of driving your own dog team. The tour is about 50% uphill, meaning it will be necessary to help your dogs uphill, which requires some balance and cardio output.
Not sure what to wear? No worries! We provide all cold weather gear. Check out our Packing List for our overnight and multi day trips for tips on what to wear to be warm and cozy visiting Fairbanks in winter.
Not everyone in your party interested in driving their own dog team? Unfortunately, we do not have a waiting room. Leave your less adventurous friends at your accommodations, or drop them off at one of Fairbanks' great museums.
THE BASICS
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Price: $399 per person.
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Time: 10 A.M.; 2 P.M. daily.
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Duration: 2-3 hours from arrival to departure.
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Season: November - April.
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Group size: One person minimum, four person maximum. *Larger groups please contact us directly*
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Transportation: We do not offer a shuttle service. We recommend having a rental car. Click here for map and directions.
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Booking: Online or by phone. Scroll down for calendar. For same day bookings, call/text (907) 841-4694.
What's included:
✔ Drive your own dog team of 4-6 Siberian Huskies
✔ Warm outer clothing (parkas, snow pants, boots, mittens)
✔ Professional certified wilderness guides
✔ Dog mushing lessons
✔ 1+ hour of dog sledding
✔ 4-6 miles of trail
✔ Scenic mountain vistas
✔ Photo Ops
✔ Hands-on time with the huskies.
What's not included:
✔ Baselayers, hat, socks.
✔ Transportation to/from the kennel
Why this tour is unique:
✔ You drive your own dog sled the entire tour, from start to finish.
✔ You do not share the dog sled with a guide or another person.
✔ You do not have a guide attached to you by a "tag sled."
✔ Our dogs are Siberian Huskies, one of the original Arctic sled dog breeds.
✔ This is NOT a sled ride.
Physical Fitness Requirements
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In good health, with no current injuries.
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Not pregnant past Second Trimester.
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Decent physical stamina & cardiovascular fitness.
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Decent upper body strength.
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Good balance.
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If you can comfortably hike 2-3 miles in hilly terrain, you are fit enough to drive your own dog sled on this tour.
Are you ready to go dog sledding in Fairbanks?
AVAILABLE DATES
2-Hour Dog Sled Schedule
Dec 11 - Dec 17
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WILL I DRIVE MY OWN DOG TEAM?
Yes. You will drive your own small team of 4-6 dogs. One person per sled. You are accompanied at all times by a professional dog sledding guide who oversees the experience, allowing you to relax and enjoy the thrill & pleasure of driving your own dog team.
Before departure, your guide will introduce you to your team and give you a lesson on how to drive the sled. You will learn how to harness a sled dog, and how to slow and stop your team. Your guide drives their own team just ahead of you, keeping an eye on the dogs, the trail, and your progress. This is not a tag sled tour. While tag sledding is a fun way to enjoy dog sledding, it is different from driving your own team (the guide is in control the entire time). Driving your own dog team is more work, more responsibility, and also more rewarding.
Children 12 and up can usually drive their own small teams, pending guide approval. One person per sled, no passengers in the basket. This is for safety reasons. If you do not wish to drive your own team, please contact us directly to discuss ride options.
GALLERY
DAY TOUR BOOKING & CANCELLATION POLICY
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Payment is due in full at the time of booking.
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A full refund will be issued for cancellations received more than 30 days from the trip date. No refund for cancellations received less than 30 days prior to the trip date, but payment will be considered credit.
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Credit is good for one calendar year from the time of booking. Credit can be transferred. If you do not make your tour on time, we will not refund payment, but we will reschedule your tour at no extra cost.
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No reimbursement is provided for trips shortened due to inclement weather.
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Arctic Dog Adventure Co. reserves the right to cancel a tour for any reason. If Arctic Dog Adventure Co. cancels a day tour, we will refund you in full or reschedule for no extra charge.
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Please see Booking Terms & Conditions for more details.
1) Head North from Fairbanks on the Elliott/Steese Highway (AK-2/AK-6). Ten miles outside of town, you will reach Fox, the junction of the Steese and the Elliot highways (AK-6 & AK-2). Go straight through Fox on the Elliott Highway (AK-2) (turning right will take you up the Steese Highway (AK-6), turning left will take you to the Goldstream Valley).
2) 3.5 miles past Fox, at the top of a steep and windy hill, take a LEFT onto OLD MURPHY DOME ROAD. If you pass Hilltop Gas Station, you have missed the turn.
3) Drive 6 miles down Old Murphy Dome Road and take a LEFT at the first street sign you see: HATTIE CREEK ROAD.
4) SLOW DOWN. Kids and dog teams use this road. We are located at 2270 HATTIE CREEK ROAD. We are the FOURTH driveway on the RIGHT near the bottom of the hill. Again, SLOW DOWN. The hill is steep and you cannot stop quickly. We have a sign reading "2270" and Arctic Dog Adventure Co." at the bottom of the driveway. Do not follow the "Husky Lifestyle" signs -- those belong to a neighbor. We have parking at the bottom of the drive. Grab what you need from your car and walk up to the Check-in sign at the top of the drive. If you miss the driveway, do NOT make a left hand turn into the drive -- this is a good way to get stuck. Go back up to the top of the hill to turn around in order to make the right hand turn into the drive.
Feel free to call Lisbet with any questions or concerns: (907) 841-4694
This is a semi rural area. Sometimes it takes a long time for road crews to come through and clear the roads after it snows. We strongly recommend using a vehicle with 4 wheel drive.
No transportation? Taxis come out to the kennel regularly but note it will be ~$200 roundtrip, not including tip. We do not recommend Uber or Lyft. You may be able to get an Uber out to the kennel, but you will likely not get one to come back out to pick you up unless you specifically arrange that with the driver.