Mushing is Alaska’s official state sport. It’s also a working tradition. Before airplanes and snowmachines, dog teams carried mail and freight across the territory, and the National Park Service still patrols Denali’s wilderness by dog team in winter. You can experience mushing almost any time of year.
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Winter mushing tours
From about December to March (snow permitting), kennels around Fairbanks, North Pole, Two Rivers, Willow, Talkeetna, and Girdwood offer rides and drive-your-own-team experiences. They range from a short ride in the sled basket to multi-day expeditions with overnights in remote cabins. Some combine a run with evening aurora viewing. Questions worth asking:
- Do you ride, or do you drive (stand on the runners)?
- How long are you actually on the trail, versus visiting the kennel?
- Is cold-weather gear included?
- What are the minimum age and weight limits?
Compare Alaska dog sledding tours.
Summer: glacier dog sledding
In summer, mushers and their teams set up camps on glaciers high above Juneau, Skagway, Seward, and Girdwood. You fly in by helicopter, ride on snow in July, and fly back. These tours are popular with cruise passengers, cost several hundred dollars or more, and are especially weather-dependent. Pick an early-trip date so you have a backup.
Kennel visits and cart rides
Several kennels run summer tours with wheeled-cart rides, puppy time, and talks from long-distance mushers. They’re a good fit for families and cost less than a glacier trip.
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Denali’s park sled dogs (free)
Denali is the only US national park that breeds and works sled dogs. From mid-May to mid-September, rangers give free sled dog demonstrations at the park kennels, and you don’t need a reservation. Ride the free shuttle from the Denali Visitor Center, since there’s no parking at the kennels. Check times on the NPS demonstration page.
Watch a race
- Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race: the 2027 ceremonial start is scheduled for Saturday, March 6, 2027 in downtown Anchorage, with the official restart in Willow on March 7 (Iditarod calendar). Mushers finish in Nome roughly 8–15 days later.
- Fur Rendezvous in Anchorage (scheduled February 25 to March 7, 2027) includes the Open World Championship sprint races (Visit Anchorage).
- Fairbanks has a long sprint-mushing tradition, and the Alaska Dog Mushers Association hosts the Open North American Championship in March.
Plan a winter trip around these events with our Alaska winter guide.