It’s easy to find dogsledding trips in the greater Anchorage area
Most visitors to the Last Frontier find themselves in Anchorage at some point during their journey, and it’s a good thing, because Alaska’s largest city is known for access to all kinds of outdoor-themed adventures, and that includes the sport of dogsledding.
Dogsledding, or mushing is Alaska’s state sport and is a popular year-round activity among visitors. Experiencing the thrill of riding behind a team of canine athletes means stepping into the world of mushers, be it on a local trail or along the surface of a frozen glacier.
The Seavey family offers several options for dogsledding near Anchorage, with trips that can be completed in a day, making them an ideal choice for those with little time.
Summer Dog Sledding
During the summer months, Ididaride tours begin in early May at the Seavey family homestead in Seward, just 2.5 hours south of Anchorage.. The most popular experience is the Wilderness Dog Sled Tour, a 1.5-hour look into life at a sled dog kennel. The tour includes a tour of the homestead and kennel, 2-mile dogsled ride, and the chance to cuddle puppies. For guests wanting a bit more immersion into sled dogs, Seward history, and the great Alaska wilderness, the Real Alaska Day Tour provides a 6-hour adventure into downtown Seward, a walk near Exit Glacier, lunch at Resurrection Roadhouse, and a tour of the Seavey homestead that includes a dogsled ride and puppy time.
If glacier mushing in the rugged mountains near Anchorage sounds even more appealing, Seavey’s Ididaride has two options for glacier dogsledding. The Girdwood Alaska Glacier Dogsledding Tour whisks lucky guests to an icy glacier via helicopter, where a team of Alaskan huskies awaits. After a short orientation and history of mushing in Alaska, it’s time to ride, pulled by a team of 12 to 16 dogs, their experienced musher at the handlebars.
A Seward Alaska Glacier Dogsledding Tour offers a similar experience, but within the mighty peaks of Seward’s mountain range. At 1.5 hours, both tours are an action-packed opportunity to become acquainted with the dogs made famous by the Iditarod Sled Dog Race and used by Alaska Natives for centuries.
Winter Dog Sledding
During the winter months, dogsledding trips from Anchorage mean options north or south of town. In Seward to the south, winter tours range from a few hours to a few days, and include the chance to drive a dog sled, making guests true Alaska mushers. Look for these tours to begin in mid-December, depending upon snowfall, and last until late April.
A 2.5-hour drive to the north, near the community of Talkeetna, four-time Iditarod Sled Dog Race champion Dallas Seavey offers winter mushing to guests at this entrance to Alaska’s Interior region. Learn the ropes of mushing, sled dog care, and racing techniques during this tour that includes a 45-minute sled dog ride through the forest.
With Anchorage as a base camp, dogsledding tours are but a short drive away, bringing a wealth of adventure for all Alaska visitors.
