Alaskan Husky Dog Sledding at Yellowknife: Learn to Mush

You handle the reins while the huskies pull you across ice and snow

Dog sledding at Yellowknife's Enodah Kennel puts you behind a team of Alaskan huskies on a guided run across frozen lakes and forested trails. You learn to set up the dog team, ride the sled for roughly 30 minutes on the trail, then warm up indoors with the dogs and a hot beverage. Hotel and downtown Airbnb pickups are included. The activity runs about three hours total and depends on weather conditions.

The experience

What sets this apart from watching a demonstration is that you're the one holding the lines. A professional musher walks you through the setup (how to harness each dog, read their energy, and position the sled) before you take the reins for the guided run across the frozen landscape. The trail cuts through untouched lakes and forested portages, and the musher stays with you the whole way, handling the technical parts while you feel the pull of the team and the rhythm of the runners on the ice.

After the ride, you head into the heated Aurora Station to thaw out. This is where the dogs get their moment: you spend time with them, take photos, and they get the attention they've earned. Coffee and tea are waiting, and you can decompress from the adrenaline while the dogs settle down around you. The whole experience (from introduction and safety briefing to the ride to the cooldown) takes about three hours.

Pickup happens between 9 and 10 a.m. from your hotel or downtown Airbnb. The kennel will confirm the exact time in advance. The activity is weather-dependent, so conditions on the day will determine whether the trails are open. A guide speaks English, Chinese, or Cantonese, and the air-conditioned vehicle gets you there and back.

What’s included

• Hotel or downtown Airbnb pickup and return in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• introduction and safety briefing with a professional musher.
• harness setup instruction.
• guided sled ride across frozen lakes and forest trails.
• cuddle time with the dog team.
• coffee and/or tea in the heated Aurora Station.
• photos with the dogs.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayLast departure this season: 31 Oct

GroupUp to 14

Live guideEnglish, Cantonese and Chinese

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.You can choose from 10 pickup points.

Cancellation and refundsNo refund if you cancel.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 6 days ago

Good to know

Low physical effortNot recommended with back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Yellowknife Tours

Is this one for you?The ride itself is moderate (you're steering a sled pulled by huskies across ice and snow, so expect movement and cold exposure), but the musher handles the technical work and stays with you the whole way. Book this if you want to actively participate in mushing rather than watch from a passenger seat.

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Top questions

What languages is the tour guided in?

Live guide in English, Chinese and Cantonese.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. No refund if you cancel.

What exactly do I do on the sled, and how much experience do I need?

You hold the reins and steer while the musher guides you through the setup and the ride. No experience is necessary. The musher teaches you how to harness the dogs and handle the team before you head out on the trail. The guided run lasts about 30 minutes.

Is this activity safe for someone with back or spine concerns?

Dog sledding is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries because of the movement and impact of the sled on the trail. If you have concerns about your back or spine, check with the kennel before booking.

What's included in the three hours, and what happens if the weather is bad?

The three hours covers the introduction and safety briefing (15 minutes), the guided trail ride (30 minutes), and cuddle time with the dogs plus hot beverages indoors (15 minutes), plus travel time. The activity depends on weather conditions. If conditions aren't safe, the kennel will work with you to reschedule.

Do I need to bring anything, or is there a dress code for the cold?

Dress warmly in layers for the Yellowknife cold. The kennel will advise on specifics when they confirm your pickup time. The air-conditioned vehicle is heated, and the Aurora Station is also heated, so you'll have warm spaces before and after the trail.