A reliable dog team and well-crafted sled were vital for Alaska’s indigenous people and gold-seeking sourdoughs. Once a necessity for travel, dog sledding has evolved into Alaska’s premier winter sport and summer adventure.
Owning dogs and sleds is no longer a prerequisite as many kennel owners offer rides, tours, demonstrations and a chance to snuggle with the cute little sled dog puppies. Others create custom overnight and multi-day tours that allow visitors to become the driver.
The opportunities to experience the thrill of mushing are endless and not limited to season. In summer, dogsled along well-traveled trails on wheels or helicopter to a glacier where you can mush your own sled.
Run with the Big Dogs
The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race® is 1,049 miles of pure adrenaline. This annual clash of the canines pits mushers and dog teams against the roughest, most beautiful terrain Mother Nature has to offer. The ceremonial start takes place in downtown Anchorage on the first Saturday in March, when more than 60 mushers and their dog teams rush down Fourth Avenue. The scene is electric, as more than a thousand dogs leap and bark in anticipation.
