Description
Join real Alaskan husky sled teams for a ride on the Juneau Sled Dog Discovery. This tour actually puts you in the seat of a custom, wheeled dog cart being pulled by a team of 14-16 Alaskan Huskies. Professional mushers, who race with these same teams in the winter, provide a glimpse into Alaska's state sport with you on board! Join them and their teams for a 1-mile ride through Tongass National Rainforest on beautiful Douglas Island. After the ride, you'll be treated to an informative presentation with a knowledgeable dog handler and a retired sled dog. Together they showcase what it takes to run the arduous winter races such as the Iditarod, by exploring the equipment, nutrition, and care required for a husky team. And after the presentation, you'll have time to spend and interact with the adorable husky puppies!
With a pick-up right from the cruise docks, the tour begins with a short drive out to Douglas Island, where these teams call home for the summer months. You'll meet the mushers and excited dog teams who are ready and willing to take you for a ride! You can literally feel the excitement as they begin lunging forward and the cart begins rocking before the musher releases the brakes...and you're off!
Mushers begin issuing commands and instantly you're being pulled by a team of 14 huskies. As you're seated between the musher and his team, you can feel the bond and the relationship they share, which is cemented as the musher may recount stories of their training or racing efforts. It quickly sets in that this just isn't a staged tour, but a way of life for these mushers. The 'kennel talk' after the ride answers any lingering questions before you have time to visit with the husky puppies. You can hold them if you're feeling up for it! You'll undoubtedly leave this tour with some amazing pictures to share from your musher camp experience in Juneau!
Want more budget-friendly shore excursions in the Inside Passage? Take a look at the Scenic River Float in Skagway and the Wildlife Sanctuary & Eagle Center in Ketchikan!
What's Included
Frequently Asked Questions
What if our cruise ship's schedule is canceled or delayed?
Do I get to drive the sled?
How long is the sled ride? Is it bumpy?
Is the sled ride on snow?
How many people will fit on the sled?
Know Before You Book
Quick Facts
Itinerary • 2h 20min • 5 activities
Guides will meet you at the main cruise ship dock in downtown Juneau for transfer to the sled dog camp.
Make your way to the trailhead to meet the team of dogs and mushers that will take you out on your trail ride.
Learn more about the history of the sport and what it takes to properly care for and race a team of dogs.
Get your cameras ready! You'll have a chance to snuggle with some adorable husky puppies and since you can't take them home, a picture will have to do.
Once you are done, your driver will return you to the cruise ship dock.