Alaska Dog Mushing School

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Winter Tours: Mushing School

Learn to drive your own sled dog team! A feature tour of Paws – one of our favorites and where we started in 1998 – teaching our guests the fine art of dog driving…

Mushing School

This is approximately a 3-hour tour where adventurous guests will learn to drive their own 3-5 dog team in a safe and controlled manner. After initial instruction and practice with musher aboard, you will take a 6-8 mile Fun Run on groomed trails in the open fields and connecting trails in the spruce forest. The trail difficulty varies with some straight, wide and flat, some narrow with big turns and ‘whoop-di-dos’ where things are more technical and challenging. We think the sled dogs enjoy this part the best! Hands down, one of the best experiences you’ll ever try. Watch out, it’s addicting…

Educational and Informative

You will receive one-on-one instruction from our professional guides and learn how to dog mush in our controlled setting that is safe for you and our dogs. Each of our guides is a professional musher who has dedicated many of their years to this sport. Each friendly face offers a wealth of knowledge and personal experience.

Group size

Minimum 2 people, Maximum 4 people. We can sometimes take larger groups with modifications to the structure of the event. Please call us to discuss a Custom Mushing School tour.

Hands On

In this tour you are an active participant and will learn to harness the sled dogs and drive your own team! This adventure is supported by excellent instruction and practice!

How physical is this activity?

Our Alaskan huskies are some of the most friendly and hard-working sled dogs you will find. But, they’re not going to stop if you fall off the sled and ask you if you are ok…they are in excellent shape and born and bred to do what they do. They pull hard and sometimes very fast. You will learn how to control your team and give commands, as well as how to ride the runners in a safe manner. It is your job to know your physical skills and limits and follow precautions offered by our mushers. If you are a regular outdoor adventurer, skier/ snowboarder, walker/runner/ hiker and do regular exercise, you’ll be good-to-go with this adventure. If you are more of an armchair adventurer, you may be happiest with one of our dogsled ride adventures. If you have persons in your group that prefer NOT to drive their own sled, but want to have a more in-depth experience, we can sometimes offer to let them ride in the basket of the guide’s sled for trail activities. Children 12 and under will need to ride with a guide aboard.

SAFETY is a priority

For your own safety and the safety of the sled dogs, you should be in reasonably good health with good physical stamina and upper body strength, and possess no physical issues that limit movement or tolerance to cold weather. You should be height/weight proportionate and agile. Safety is a priority. If trail conditions are less than adequate, the guide reserves the right to cancel the tour and you will be refunded. If there are questions regarding skill levels needed or trail conditions, please contact our staff.

What do I need to bring?

You will be outside in cold temperatures (often 0 to -25F). See our Packing List for Day Tours this activity.

Cancellation Policy

A 50% deposit is due to book. A full refund will be issued on cancellations made more than two weeks prior to tour. No refunds will be issued on cancellations made within 2 weeks of an originally scheduled tour. Tour date/time may be changed at any time free of charge provided space is available. A full refund will be given for any weather conditions that prevent us from providing the tour.

Itinerary

1. Welcome in our Yurt

Get checked in for your tour in our warm, wood heated yurt. Our kennel is located “off the grid,” with no electricity or plumbing, but we keep the yurt warm and toasty for before and after your tour. Get dressed up in your winter clothing, and we can outfit you as well, if needed.

2. Meet our Dogs

Meet the friendliest dogs in Alaska! Hold an Alaskan Husky pup and meet and greet all the other canine athletes in the kennel. Wear clothes you don’t mind getting ‘doggy’ if you plan to interact with the sled dogs.

3. Mushing School

Get one-on-one instruction with our professional guides to learn how to harness the dogs and drive your team.

4. Sled dog run

Head out on a 8-10 mile run with your team…Hands down, one of the best experiences you’ll ever try

5. Finish with a Photo Op and Hot Chocolate!

Please print and fill out the below forms for your upcoming overnight trip. Either return them via email prior to your tour or bring them with you.

About Tolovana

Tolovana Roadhouse is situated 32 miles from Manley Hot Springs, AK and 50 miles from Nenana, AK on the Tanana River near the Minto Flats State Game Refuge. It is accessible via the Serum Run trail which runs on an overland trail alongside the river, or bush plane (or riverboat in the summertime). Though it is called a ‘roadhouse’, there are no roads leading to this location. This tour will begin in Manley Hot Springs with stays in Manley, Tolovana and /or along the trail at Paws Camp. We also offer a chartered fly-out option directly to Tolovana Roadhouse via bush plane on skis. Ski plane options will depend on availability of our pilot, where the Paws Crew is positioned during the overnight season, and when you book. First to book has the most options as we fill our multi-day tour season which runs from the beginning of February to the end of March.

Alaska Dog Mushing School

$375