drive your own dog team
2 hour tour
Photo credit: WM Photography
This trip 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 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, how to slow and stop your team before taking off on a scenic trip that will take you four 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 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. If you can comfortably hike 1-2 miles in hilly terrain, you are fit enough to drive a dog sled.
the basics
Price: $299 per person.
10% Discount for Military, Alaskan Residents. Military/AK: please send email with proof of residency for discount code to lisbet@arcticdogco.com
Time: 10 A.M.; 2 P.M. daily.
Duration: 2-3 hours from arrival to departure. We do not offer shuttle service.
Season: Nov-March. Dependent on snow cover.
Group size: One person minimum, six person maximum.
Booking: Online booking available Fall 2021. Sign up for our mailing list to be notified when dates go live.
WHAT'S INCLUDED:
✔ Drive your own dog team of 4-6 Siberian Huskies
✔ Professional and experienced guides
✔ Dog mushing lessons
✔ 1+ hour of dog sledding
✔ 4+ miles of trail
✔ Scenic mountain vistas
✔ Warm clothing (parkas, boots, mittens)
WHAT'S Not INCLUDED:
✔ Baselayers, warm hats
✔ 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.
299 US dollars
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 super 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. If you do not wish to drive your own team, please contact us directly to discuss ride options.
