Skagway & Yukon: Sled Dog Cart Ride, Puppy Play & Summit Views

Summary

Husky puppy playtime, Klondike highway stops, real musher stories and wild Yukon air

You’ll start in Skagway and ride up through White Pass into Yukon country—stopping for waterfalls and old gold rush sites before meeting real mushers at Tutshi Sled Dog Camp. You’ll get to ride a summer sled dog cart across open tundra, play with husky puppies (they really do nibble), and hear stories from locals who live this life every day.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect to feel so small standing at the White Pass summit. One moment you’re in Skagway’s busy port, and then suddenly it’s just you, some mist curling over the rocks, and our guide cracking a joke about gold rushers with more hope than sense. The van windows fogged up as we climbed—someone pointed out Pitchfork Falls through the glass. It was loud even from a distance, all that water crashing under an old railway bridge. There’s something about seeing history like that, not behind glass but right there in the cold air.

Crossing into British Columbia felt almost sneaky—no big signs or fanfare, just a subtle shift in the trees and a little more quiet. Our driver (I think her name was Jen? She had this dry wit) kept pulling over for photo stops along the Klondike Highway. She told us stories about stampeders getting stuck in these valleys. I tried to imagine hauling a year’s worth of supplies up here. Can’t say I’d have made it far.

The real reason I booked this summer sled dog tour was for the dogs—no shame there. At Tutshi Sled Dog Camp you can hear them before you see them: barking, yipping, tails thumping against fence posts. The musher introduced us to his team (“athletes,” he called them) and let us help harness up for the cart ride. The wheels rattled over gravel while the huskies pulled us through scrubby Yukon tundra—wind in my face, that earthy smell after last night’s rain clinging to everything. It’s not like winter mushing but honestly? Still kind of thrilling.

Afterward we got time with the puppies—tiny paws, sharp little teeth gnawing my shoelace (I just let it happen). Nobody rushed us or counted minutes. There was coffee if you wanted it and a tiny shop selling T-shirts and snacks; I bought jerky I still haven’t finished. On the way back Jen pointed out old miner cabins half-swallowed by moss. Funny how quickly wildness takes things back here.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Skagway tour and sled dog camp visit

• Tour downtown Skagway
• Stop at Pitchfork Falls viewpoint
• View Klondike Gold Rush buildings
• Visit Tutshi Sled Dog camp
• Meet mushers and huskies
• Play with sled dog puppies
• Ride summer sled dog cart
• Stop at White Pass summit photostop

Top questions

Is pickup included from Skagway cruise docks?

Yes, pickup and drop-off at Skagway cruise ship docks are included.

Do I get to ride on an actual sled dog cart?

Yes, this tour includes a summer sled dog cart ride pulled by huskies at Tutshi Sled Dog Camp.

Can children or infants join this tour?

Yes, infants can sit on an adult's lap or use a pram/stroller; it's suitable for all fitness levels.

Will we see wildlife on this day trip?

You may see Alaskan wildlife along the Klondike Highway but it's not guaranteed.

Are there restroom facilities at the sled dog camp?

Yes, there are restrooms available at Tutshi Sled Dog Camp.

Is food provided during the tour?

No full meal is included but snacks are available for purchase at the camp.

How long is the drive from Skagway to Tutshi Sled Dog Camp?

The drive along Klondike Highway includes multiple scenic stops; exact timing varies but it's roughly 1–1.5 hours each way with stops.

What’s included

Your day includes pickup and drop-off at Skagway cruise docks, narrated land tour by van or bus with photo stops along White Pass and Klondike Highway, entry to Tagish Lake Kennel for a summer sled dog cart ride with real mushers or trainers, plenty of time playing with husky puppies at camp (nobody rushes you), educational talk and Q&A session at camp plus access to restrooms and snacks before heading back down through those wild valleys again.