Denali Dream Mush

Mix winter camping with luxurious lodge accommodations on this 6 day, all-inclusive, non-technical trip along one of America’s most remote and beautiful thoroughfares—the Denali Highway.

Connecting Denali National Park with the wilderness of the Wrangell St. Elias Mountains, the Denali Highway is closed in winter, snowed in and abandoned to all but the hardiest of winter travelers -- dogs! The route parallels the majestic Alaska Range — home to North America’s largest mountain, Denali, and its formidable sister peaks, Mt. Deborah and Mt. Hayes. In the afternoon, winter alpenglow turns the mountains into pearly pink glowing gems — a sight to remember. Wildlife is abundant on this trip — moose, fox, caribou, and ptarmigan are most often spotted. Wolf packs range freely. Follow their tracks on a trip that takes us across a mountain plateau where caribou dot the landscape and mountains dominate every horizon. This trip includes cold weather gear, transportation, accommodations, meals, and mushing lessons.

6 day Itinerary

 
Siberian Huskies Expedition

Photo by Whitney McLaren

Day 1: Meet & Greet

We will pick you up from your Fairbanks accommodations at 9 a.m. to take you to Arctic Dog Adventure Co., where you will meet your guides and your new teammates, the dogs. We will go over gear, have a brief mushing lesson, and pack our bags and the trucks for departure. Lunch will be provided in between preparations. In the late afternoon, we will load gear and dogs into the truck and drive to our starting point of Cantwell, AK. We will finish off the evening with a relaxing dinner together at Backwoods Lodge.

  • Meals: Lunch and Dinner

  • Accommodations: Shared accommodations

  • Milage: 5 miles.

Dog Sledding Alaska Multi Day

Photo by Rose Hewitt

Day 2: To The mountains

After dropping dogs in the morning, we will drive the short distance to the trailhead. We will unload our sleds, don our parkas, hook up our energetic dogs and be on the trail by noon. Our goal for the day is to mush from Cantwell to a secluded basecamp along the Brushkana River (25 miles). The trail follows the Nenana River, gradually climbing up through the tundra and spruce forest.

The trail is hilly, plunging down into tight creek canyons before climbing back out to sweeping tundra views of the river and the mountains. The Western Alaska Range peeks behind the front range, and the vast Susitna valley unfolds before us as we draw closer to Clearwater Mountain, perched at the top of the river. Moose are often spotted browsing the willows that line the roadbed. We follow big glacially formed eskers before dropping down to camp at the banks of the Brushkana River.

Our basecamp is comfortably equipped with a wood stove, cots, cold weather sleeping bags with outdoor restrooms provided by the campsite.

  • Meals: Breakfast at lodge, Picnic on trail, Dinner at camp

  • Accommodations: Winter ”glamping” at camp. Outhouses available.

  • Mileage: 22 miles

Dog Sledding overnight trip adventure

Photo by Amanda Brooks

Day 3: Clearwater mountains

The Western Alaska Range peeks behind the front range, and the vast Susitna valley unfolds before us as we draw closer to Clearwater Mountain, perched at the top of the river. Today we mush from the Brushkana River to Clearwater Mountain Lodge (25 miles). The road hugs the base of the mountains, climbing through scrub brush, along eskers and through stunted alpine birch toward the lodge. Located smack dab in the middle of the Alaska Range, the restored historic lodge is beautiful and cozy, with stunning views of Clearwater Mountain and delicious home-cooked meals. Clearwater Lodge is a family run full-service lodge with hot showers and comfortable beds. We are always spoiled when we stay here! Often, if the night is clear, northern lights dance above the mountains to the north. Clearwater offers a self serve hot drink station for those up late watching for the lights.

  • Meals: Breakfast at camp, lunch on the trail, dinner at the lodge

  • Accommodations: Shared room at Mountain Lodge (Private Room Upgrade available)

  • Milage: 25 miles.


dog mushing Alaska

Photo by ADAC

Day 4: Rest Day

Today is a day for the dogs and ourselves to rest. If we are lucky, lodge owner Colleen will have fresh baked scones for us. Soak up the views with a hot cup of coffee by the large sitting room windows. Snuggle up by the fire with a book in the lodge’s living room. Don your boots and parka to visit with the sled dogs or stretch your legs with a stroll around the property. Use the lodge’s internet to update friends and family on your journey. The day is yours to enjoy. Meals are taken family style in the dining room.

  • Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner at Lodge

  • Accommodations: Shared Room at Lodge (Private Room Upgrade available)

  • Milage: 0

Denali Highway Winter Dog Sledding

Day 5: Big Views

Enjoy a hearty breakfast and coffee in front of the woodstove before heading outside to hook the dogs up for the return journey to Brushkana River. Soak in your last glimpse of the beautiful upper plateau, but no worries, the return trail is also rich in big mountain views!

The trail sweeps out over the confluence of the Susitna & Nenana Rivers, peering down the Nenana River valley toward Denali National Park. The cut that is the road sneaks along the hillside in the far distance, almost impossible to spot in the midst of the wilderness. We will pass through forest and tundra, our eyes scanning the mountains and surrounding alpine for wildlife. Hold tight to your handlebars — the dogs often surge forward when they catch the scent of ptarmigan, which nestle in abundance along the trail.

We will arrive at camp in the evening, get the woodstove fired up and enjoy one last night out in the Alaskan wilderness.

  • Meals: Breakfast at Lodge. Lunch on the trail. Dinner at camp.

  • Accommodations: Shared accommodations at base camp.

  • Mileage: 25


Denali Highway Alaska dog sledding expedition

Photo by ADAC

Day 6: Sunset on the trail

Early morning breakfast at camp. Watch the sun rise behind the mountains as we hook up the dogs for our final run along the Denali Highway. We will have one last outdoor lunch, reflecting on the past few days with the dogs in this incredible region.

Depending on trail conditions and our pace, the return trail may be framed by mountains lit in neon pink alpenglow, arriving to the trailhead in the glow of a Denali sunset. We will sort gear at the trailhead, swing by the Cantwell Lodge for take out, then drive back to Fairbanks to deliver you to your evening accommodations. If we are lucky, shimmering aurora will wave over the northern horizon on our journey back to Fairbanks.

  • Meals: Breakfast at camp. Lunch on the trail. Dinner at Cantwell Lodge

  • Accommodations: You will need to arrange your own accommodations for this night

  • Mileage: 22

Arctic Accommodations

Your accommodations for the second and last evening of the trip is an Alaskan tent called an Arctic Oven. The Arctic Oven is heated by a small stove, lit with twinkle lights, and has ample room for gear and leg stretching. You can even stand up inside! This is Alaskan "glamping" -- a truly comfortable warm winter camping experience. Cots and insulated sleeping bags are provided.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

IS THIS TRIP RIGHT FOR ME?

No previous mushing experience is required. We will teach you everything you need to know to feel comfortable and equipped for your days on the trail. ​This is a trip well suited for beginners. The trail is gentle and relatively flat, with gradual ascents and descents. That being said, dog mushing is a physical activity...from harnessing dogs to standing on the sled all day, you will need to be reasonably able-bodied in order to fully enjoy this experience. This six day trip goes deep into the heart of a wilderness area. If you are hesitant about your ability to manage a dog team, please contact Lisbet & she will guide you through a series of questions designed to evaluate your abilities. You are probably better suited for this than you think. 

You do not need previous experience with cold weather climates, but you will need to equip yourself with a proper set of winter base layers in order to ensure your comfort and safety. Even though it is spring in Alaska, weather and temperatures can still be harsh and unpredictable. We will provide you with a list of suggested & required gear -- your comfort is our utmost concern!

Photo by ADAC

Is this trip right for me?

Although the northern lights can be viewed in Fairbanks from August through April even at Kp0,* your chance of seeing the lights increases when the skies are clear.  March, followed by April & February, are historically the months with the lowest precipitation in Fairbanks, meaning clear skies and good chances of spotting the aurora. The northern lights are caused by charged particles from the sun (solar wind) hitting the Earth’s magnetosphere. Around the equinoxes (fall and spring), the Earth’s axis is side-on to the sun, which happens to sync with the magnetic field of the solar wind. That means that during the equinoxes in March and September, charged particles are more likely to be accelerated down the field lines of Earth’s magnetosphere, causing the northern lights.** 

​*Kp is used to measure aurora strength. 

**There is no guarantee we will see the northern lights. While regularly observed in Fairbanks, they are still an unpredictable natural phenomenon highly dependent on
weather and cloud cover. We can guarantee: good food, tasty snacks, amazing scenery, comfortable cabin accommodations and lots of time with our amazing huskies!

Photo by ADAC

When is the best time to see the Aurora?

Mushing Siberian Husky Tour

Yes. You will drive and be responsible for your own small team of 4-6 dogs. On our first day on the trail, your professional dog sledding guide will introduce you to your team and give you a short lesson on how to drive the sled. You will learn how to harness a sled dog, and how to slow and stop your team. Your guide drives their own team just ahead of you, keeping an eye on the dogs, the trail, and your progress. You will drive a dog sled all five days.

Photo by ADAC

Will i drive my own dog team?

Wildlife Denali Highway Adventure

THE DENALI HIGHWAY

"The Denali Highway stretches 135 miles from Paxson to Cantwell, connecting the Richardson and Parks highways. Before the Parks Highway was completed in the early 1970s, the Denali Highway was the only road access to Denali National Park...The Denali Highway is certainly one of the most spectacular drives in the world. Much of the route lies above timberline, so the vistas go on forever. The mountains and glaciers of the Alaska Range form a majestic backdrop, with miles of rolling tundra punctuated by shallow lakes in between."

-Alaska.org


The Denali Highway

All-Inclusive

$5999/Person

INCLUDED

Pricing is all-inclusive. This means it includes travel to and from your hotel to Arctic Dog Adventure Co., meals, snacks, sleeping bags, pads, cold weather gear + accommodations. 

✔ Dog mushing lessons

✔ Drive your own dog team

✔ Parka, snow pants, boots, mittens

✔ Cold-weather sleeping bags and pads

✔ Hotel/airport pickup and drop off

✔ Alaskan-inspired meals and snacks

✔ Basic photography instruction

DIETARY REQUIREMENTS

We can cater for some food allergies or vegetarians/vegans if you specify your dietary requirements on your Trip Registration Form.

NOT INCLUDED

  • Flights: You will need to book flights, details will be provided after you register.

  • Pre and Post Trip Hotel in Fairbanks

  • Insurance: You MUST have travel insurance. Instructions will be provided after you register.

  • Alcohol: Alcohol is not included in the price.

HOW TO BOOK

Simply click the SIGN-UP BUTTON in the footer below and register for the tour you will then be prompted to pay your $999 deposit which will guarantee your spot on the trip. 

Your Balance Due must be paid 60 days prior to departure or your deposit will be forfeit. 

Availability

2023 Dates


Terms & Conditions

See full terms and conditions here