Dog Sledding and Mushing Experience
A short ride and time with the dogs. The cheapest way in. The same ride has over 1,600 reviews on Viator.
- 30 min
- 4.9★ (126 reviews)
Sit in a sled behind a team of huskies for 20 minutes to an hour, or take a lesson and drive the team yourself.
Key takeaways
- At Chena Hot Springs a 20-minute ride costs $75 and is open to ages 2 and up, so it suits young children.
- Kennel rides listed on GetYourGuide run from about $105 for 30 minutes to about $320 for a 6-hour moonlight trip with dinner.
- An hour is the sweet spot, because shorter rides can be over before you've warmed up to it.
- Chena Hot Springs is 60 miles out, about 1.5 to 2 hours by road, or $90 each way on the resort's shuttle.
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A ride behind a husky team
Before a run, the dogs are loud and eager, barking and pulling to go. Once the team is hooked up and the brake comes off, the noise drops away and you're gliding along a snowy trail behind them.
A ride
Most rides
- You sit in the sled, wrapped up
- A musher stands on the runners behind you
A mushing lesson
- You learn the commands and the brake
- Then you stand on the runners yourself
Dress for it
Either way you're outside and moving in the cold for the whole ride. The average February low at Fairbanks airport is −11°F (−24°C).
Kinds of ride, compared
In short Rides range from a 20-minute ride at Chena Hot Springs for $75 to a 6-hour moonlight trip with dinner and northern lights from about $320.
| Ride | Length | From | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short ride at Chena Hot Springs | 20 min | $75 | Chena Hot Springs |
| Dog Sledding and Mushing Experience | 30 min | ~$105 | North Pole |
| 1-Hour Alaskan Winter Dog Sledding Adventure | 1 h | ~$175 | Fairbanks area |
| Private Mush on the Historic Yukon Quest Trail | 1 h 30 min | ~$195 | Fairbanks area |
| 2-Hour Basic Dog Mushing School | 2 h | ~$250 | Fairbanks area |
| Moonlight Dog Sled, Dinner & Northern Lights | 6 h | ~$320 | Fairbanks area |
Rides worth booking
Four picks for different trips: a quick taste, a proper hour, a private run, and an evening that ends with the aurora.
1-Hour Alaskan Winter Dog Sledding Adventure
Long enough to settle into the rhythm of the trail. The best all-rounder.
- 1 h
- 4.9★ (192 reviews)
Private Mush on the Historic Yukon Quest Trail
A private run on a trail used by the Yukon Quest sled dog race. For couples or small groups who don't want to share.
- 1 h 30 min
- 5.0★ (34 reviews)
Moonlight Dog Sled, Dinner & Northern Lights
A sled ride after dark, dinner, then aurora watching. Two things on one night if your trip is short.
- 6 h
- 4.5★ (140 reviews)
Prices are GetYourGuide's 'from' prices for 15–20 Feb 2027, shown in INR and converted at 95.54 INR per US dollar, rounded to the nearest $5.
Which one to choose
In short Choose the 20-minute Chena ride for young children, an hour to feel it properly, a mushing school to drive, or a sled-and-aurora night on short trips.
- Short on time or with young children? The 20-minute ride at Chena Hot Springs is open to ages 2 and up, and fits into a day at the springs. The resort also runs a 40-minute kennel tour ($25 adults, $15 children).
- Want to feel it properly? An hour is the sweet spot. Shorter rides can be over before you've warmed up to it.
- Want to drive? Book a mushing school, where you learn the basics and then take the runners.
- Short trip? Combine the sled with the aurora on one night, and keep your other nights free for chasing clear skies.
Getting there
In short North Pole is a small town near Fairbanks, while Chena Hot Springs is 60 miles out, about 1.5 to 2 hours by road or $90 each way by shuttle.
Check each listing for the meeting point and whether hotel pick-up is included.
- North Pole is a small town near Fairbanks.
- Chena Hot Springs is 60 miles out: about 1.5 to 2 hours by road, or $90 each way on the resort's shuttle. See Chena Hot Springs.
Dog sledding in Fairbanks: FAQs
How much does dog sledding cost in Fairbanks?
From $75 for a 20-minute ride at Chena Hot Springs. Through Fairbanks kennels on GetYourGuide, from about $105 for 30 minutes to about $250 for a 2-hour mushing school.
Can I drive the dog sled myself?
Yes, on a mushing school or lesson. On standard rides you sit in the sled and a musher drives.
Can children go dog sledding?
At Chena Hot Springs the ride is open to ages 2 and up. Other kennels set their own limits; check each listing.
Can I go dog sledding and see the northern lights on the same night?
Yes. Evening tours such as Moonlight Dog Sled, Dinner & Northern Lights combine the two.
More to do around Fairbanks
Sources (5)
- Chena Hot Springs Resort: activities and prices (checked 2026-09-23)
- Chena Hot Springs Resort: shuttle (checked 2026-09-23)
- NOAA/ACIS 1991–2020 normals, Fairbanks International Airport
- GetYourGuide Fairbanks listings, prices and ratings for 15–20 Feb 2027 (checked 2026-09-23)
- Viator Fairbanks listings, review counts (checked 2026-09-23)