For many years I dreamed about what it would be like to experience Alaska dog sledding at some point in my life. Maybe it was too many Jack London books and film adaptations when I was young or maybe it’s something we all secretly long to do, at least once.
When we were putting together a plan for visiting Fairbanks, Alaska in the winter, in order to see the Northern Lights, I knew that dog sledding in Alaska was an experience that I couldn’t miss out on.
So I reached out to the team at Sirius Sled Dogs on the outskirts of Fairbanks to make my Alaska dog sledding dreams come true. They were more than happy to oblige.
Sirius Sled Dogs
Their property is located about 25 miles outside of Fairbanks near the Murphy Dome, along a beautiful scenic drive. Our rental car managed the snowy roads like a champ and we arrived with no problems.
Sirius Sled Dogs is owned and operated by Josh and Nita on an amazing property (also with great views for the Aurora) about 40 minutes outside of Fairbanks.
We were instantly taken in with their warmth and hospitality, and enamored with the dogs that were all over the place.
For Josh and Nita, dog mushing is a way of life, and they have created a really special place where they share their passion, as well as their dogs’ passion for mushing.
Nita introduced us to Claudia, an Aussie, who was volunteering abroad with Sirius Sled Dogs and helping out in order to learn to mush her own team, and she took us under her wing and showed us around the property.
There were half a dozen dogs in the house, lounging around, and another dozen or two out in the dog kennels behind the property.
First Time Dog Sledding
Soon we were handed some impermeable overalls and suited up so we could take our first spin around the property. In the meantime, Claudia gathered up the dogs for the team and got them connected to the sled.
You might initially think that the dogs are doing some grueling work that they don’t really want to do — I sort of had that impression when we watched the dog sled races a few days prior) — but as soon as you see the team being put together on the line, and you can see and feel the excitement of the dogs as they are absolutely aching to run!
Claudia gave us a few tips, Andrea jumped in the basket up front and I hopped on the rails behind Claudia.
Then…
We were off!
The dogs lunged down the hill leading out of the property and laid into a turn to the right…
And I flew right off the back off the rails and into the snow.
Haha, whoops.
She brought the sled to a halt and I ran to catch up with them. That first turn was a doozy.
We took off on more level terrain and got the hang of the balance on the back and the whole experience was quite peaceful and surreal. Riding on the rails of the dog sled as we flew through the snow was incredible.
We looped through the property and made it back to the house where we unhooked the team and headed back inside to warm up.
Alaska Dog Sledding at Night
A little later on we got to take another ride during the dark of night, which was a whole new experience as the aurora borealis began to appear overhead.
It was quite a bit colder this time, but we managed just fine with the warm down jackets, hats, and gloves we brought, along with the gear that Nita loaned us.
We headed back into the warmth of the house and hung out waiting for the Northern Lights to really put on a show. Nita surprised everyone by serving up some cake — it was the birthday of one of the other guests.
Unfortunately, the Northern Lights didn’t put on a great show that night, but it is an ideal spot to see them from, fairly well removed from the lights of the city, and with a great vantage point.
All-in-all, this Alaska dog sledding experience exceeded my expectations, mostly thanks to the generous hospitality and friendly atmosphere at Sirius Sled Dogs.
If you plan to visit Fairbanks Alaska in the winter, then you absolutely should add Alaska dog sledding to your list of things to do and then pay a visit to Nita and the team at Sirius Sled Dogs. You won’t regret it.
Don’t miss out on my other article about more things to do in Fairbanks Alaska this winter.
Traveling to Fairbanks soon? Book your lodging on Booking.com now to save, or if you plan to stay longer, I highly recommend looking for a place on Airbnb. And don’t forget to purchase travel insurance that will help protect you against illness, injury, and theft. I use and recommend World Nomads for its combination of coverage and affordability.
Wish you could travel more? Click here to grab my free resources for affordable, long-term travel.
Read Next: Best Time to See the Northern Lights
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Ryan
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Comments 2
Trying to plan a trip to Fairbanks around the 27th of December. My life long dream is to see the Northern Lights and my husband, myself and my daughter and son-in-law are trying to get this trip together. They are teachers, and have the week after Christmas off, so this is why this time is so important. I would love any input you might have. We will stay in Fairbanks, I think, then would love to go dog sledding, at some point in time. Please send your info and input, as it would be much appreciated!! Any suggestions where we might find a good place to stay, with six in our party? Not sure how many nights yet, probably four or five.
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It’s a good time of the month with the New Moon occurring on Dec 25th, meaning you should have the darkest skies. In December you will have higher probabilities of cloud cover which would obstruct the lights… Check out the monthly averages here. But if you have the better part of a week, you’ve got pretty good odds of seeing the show. With that many people in the group, I’d be looking toward Airbnb as an option. Not knowing your budget, but you might also check out the Wedgewood which offers one and two-bedroom apartments for a very reasonable price. We stayed there and loved the location — you can walk right over to Creamer’s Field.