Alaska Dog Mushing
On the Toklat River, traveling through the Alaska Range.Toklat River Loop – 7 Days
The Toklat River Loop has been one of the most popular trips in our guiding history. After an orientation day at the lodge, we travel west along the Stampede Trail and the park north boundary staying the first night in a backcountry cabin and the second in a heated tent camp near the Toklat River. The middle of the trip route is up the Toklat River, into the Denali Wilderness, to the park interior. The return follows the Park Road Corridor east to Denali National Park headquarters, where the trip ends. This adventure gives an excellent mix of open tundra, river bars, mountains, and passes. It also poses some exciting sledding challenges. The Toklat Loop is for people in good to excellent condition, as it has some moderately difficult sledding situations, and elevation gains that require physical activity. It also offers an extra day for a day trip off the main route. The usual day excursions are to the summit of Stony Hill, for an exceptional view of Denali, or a trip up a glacier valley to one of the smaller glaciers descending from the Alaska Range. The flexibility allows us to go where the sledding is best. (This trip offered February – April 1). Due to the uncertain nature of the Toklat Narrows, there are some occasions where we are unable to complete the loop, and must return the same route out the North Boundary of the park. This is a rare but possible outcome, so participants need to be aware of this when booking.
7 day trip $6625 per person
Break time on the tundra with the dogs.
Denali Wilderness Expedition – 10 Days
This 10 day trip is the longest we usually offer, and will take you on a grand tour through Denali National Park. The specific route varies from year to year, depending upon the snow and trail conditions. Some areas we often visit are the Clearwater Fork that takes you the back way to Wonder Lake, Wonder Lake itself, McGonnagal Pass and the Muldrow Glacier, the Kantishna Mining District, and sometimes the South Side of the Alaska Range. We feel this trip, no matter the itinerary, is the finest dog sledding expedition adventure offered anywhere. Usually only one 10-day trip is offered each season. The trip may also include flying one way to or from the Kantishna Airstrip or Wonder Lake, which includes a scenic flight over the park. Specific trip itinerary will go where the mushing is the best.
$9525 Per Person
Wonder Lake Fly-out Expedition – 7 Days
One of our more popular trips, this is a one-way seven day trip through the park to Wonder Lake with a flight out by bush plane from the Kantishna Airstrip or Wonder Lake to Healy. Some trips go the opposite direction, flying in and mushing out. This trip allows for guests to get farther into the heart of the park, and spend more time at Wonder Lake near Denali. The price of the trip varies, and the basic rate plus airfare applies if another trip can be set up going the opposite direction. This trip option is popular with returning guests who are looking to see more of Denali National park. (Trip offered March to early April 1). Due to dependence upon aircraft transportation, there always is the possibility of delays due to weather. Guests should plan for this, with extra days both before and after the planned trip. This is not for guests on a very tight travel schedule with no ability to delay a day.
$6850 plus airfare per person
Custom Trips
The trips listed above are our most popular trips over the years, but we are able to customize trips for your expedition. We can easily add a day or two for guests wishing to spend more time around a cabin for exploring and photography, and adding a day can slow the trip down for people who don’t want to go straight from cabin to cabin. We can also mix mushing with a day or so of skiing or snowshoeing. For returning guests, some trips can go into wilderness outside the park (Yanert River Valley) or on the South Side of Denali National Park.
With the advent of climate change in the north country, the mushing season in and around Denali National Park and Preserve has been more erratic lately. We have compensated for this by including trip options that aren’t totally dependent upon the trail conditions our from our lodge. Trips like the Sushana River 3 and 4 day trips may be modified to start and end at the Park Entrance area, utilizing the hut system we have there. We feel the experience you can get with a trip there is equal to what we offer out the North Boundary, so these alternates still meet our high standards.
Check out our Facebook page for photos and videos from our recent Sled Dog Tours!
Rates listed are for the 2019-2020 season and are subject to change without notice.
