Dog Sledding in Alaska: Hands-On Experience with Iditarod Mushers

You steer the sled and give the commands—the dogs do the rest.

This hands-on dog sledding activity in Alaska puts you behind the sled on a wheeled cart with a live guide and expert mushers from a Top 10 Iditarod Kennel. You'll run the dog team through a training course, learn what "Gee" and "Haw" mean, watch an active eagle's nest nearby, and get a presentation on mushing before cuddling husky puppies. Pickup is included; the experience runs about 75 minutes and suits all fitness levels.

Step-by-step itinerary

Dogsledding experience and kennel tour

• Meet the sled dogs with guide
• Go dog sledding on wheeled cart

The Experience

You arrive at the kennel and meet the sled dogs first—the part most visitors don't expect. Your guide takes you straight into the working area where you'll see the team up close and learn what drives them to run. Then you're on the wheeled cart, holding the lines while the dogs respond to your voice. The commands are simple but the dogs know them cold: "Gee" turns right, "Haw" turns left, and when you call "Hike," they accelerate. You're steering, not just riding along.

Between runs, your guide walks you through how mushing actually works—the training, the conditioning, the bond between musher and team. You'll spot an active eagle's nest from the kennel grounds. The puppies come out after, and you get time to handle them, which is the part families talk about for weeks. All taxes and fees are built into the price.

The whole thing takes about 75 minutes from start to finish. Pickup is arranged, so you don't need to find the kennel yourself. Infants can ride in a stroller or on an adult's lap; children under 12 ride at child pricing and must stay with an adult. Souvenir photos are available if you want them.

What’s included

• Live guide in English.
• pickup to the kennel.
• interactive training run on a wheeled cart with the dog team.
• presentation on dog mushing.
• time to cuddle husky puppies.
• all taxes, fees and handling charges.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPublic transport nearbyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Seward Helicopter Tours

Is this one for you?You're doing the driving yourself on the wheeled cart, not watching a demonstration—the dogs respond to your commands and you steer the run. This suits anyone with a free afternoon who wants to handle the team rather than just observe, and it works for families because children ride along and get hands-on time with the puppies afterward.

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Top questions

Can I actually drive the dog sled myself, or do I just ride along?

You drive it yourself on the wheeled cart. You hold the lines and give the commands—"Gee," "Haw," "Hike"—and the dogs respond to your voice. The guide is there coaching you through the run, but you're steering the team.

What does a Top 10 Iditarod Kennel mean?

The kennel is ranked in the top ten finishers of the Iditarod, Alaska's famous 1,000-mile sled dog race. The mushers who run your experience are the same people who compete at that level, so you're learning from handlers with real racing credentials.

Is this suitable for young children or people who aren't very fit?

Yes. The experience is suitable for all physical fitness levels. Infants can ride in a stroller or sit on an adult's lap. Children under 12 ride at child pricing and must be accompanied by an adult. Nobody needs to be athletic to participate.

How long does the whole thing take?

The experience runs about 75 minutes from arrival to finish, including the training run on the wheeled cart, the presentation on mushing, and time with the puppies.

What's included in the price?

All taxes, fees and handling charges are included. Pickup to the kennel is arranged. Souvenir photos are available to purchase separately if you want them.