Scenic winter wilderness travel accentuated by a relaxing stint at remote backcountry hot springs.
Picture this: you, sitting in a steaming hot tub, deep in the wilderness, in the dark, a billion stars glittering overhead, obscured only by bright streaks of aurora. A sled dog howls in the near distance. When you climb out of the tub, you are impervious to the cold and trek back to the glowing cabin refreshed and relaxed.
There is hardly anything more heavenly than viewing the northern stars and shimmering aurora from a steaming hot tub, deep in the remote Alaskan wilderness! Arctic Dog Adventure Co.'s "Tolovana Hot Springs Tour" is a 6 day, 5 night dog sled trip that shows off the expansive beauty and hidden treasures of Interior Alaska. This is hands down one of our favorite trips.
We travel along ridge lines and over local high points marked by windblown tundra and sastrugi. We pass through a few miles of exposed alpine terrain before dropping down through old wildfire burn and into the old boreal forest that hugs the banks of the Chatanika River. We cross the river and enter the scenic and wild-life rich Minto Flats. Our first camp will be in a sheltered slough among the creeks and lakes of the Flats. The day day we will follow the historical Livengood-Dunbar trail into the Tolovana River Valley. We wind through technical river portages and across windblown bogs before gently ascending the creek valley on the south side of Tolovana Dome that houses the natural hot springs and three beautiful cabins.
Tolovana is an absolute oasis amidst the vast, harsh landscapes of Interior Alaska. Explore each of the three hot tubs that are spread along the hot springs ravine. In between soaks we will eat well, cuddle the sled dogs, and rejuvenate before our trek back to town.
Accommodations: Downtown Fairbanks hotel first night. Two nights of wilderness camping in a heated tent, as well as two nights in a warm private cabin, fully immersed in the rustic luxury that is Tolovana Hot Springs.
Duration: 6 days, 5 nights. This trip is approximately 130 miles roundtrip and includes one full day of orientation and mushing lessons before departure.
Difficulty: Hard.
Price: $3019 per person; 4 person minimum.
Availability: Check the trip page for current availability and email us for a detailed itinerary.
Trip Page: Tolovana Hotsprings Tour