Our family had the most incredible time at Black Spruce. Jeff and Katie were the most welcoming people and their passion for their dogs and mushing was evident from the moment we arrived. We did the Sled Dog Safari Tour in early June. There are other sled dog experiences you can do in Alaska and we participated in one of those too, but our time at Black Spruce was our most memorable experience in Alaska. We were able to meet all of their dogs and we were very lucky that they had a litter of puppies when we were there which we were able to snuggle. If you are spending any time in Fairbanks, this activity is a must! read more

Black Spruce Dog Sledding - Sledding Near Me - Fairbanks, Alaska

The most fun! Friendly & fun guides, adorable (hardworking) & snuggly pups, beautiful views, and HUGE smiles on the sled. We couldn't have enjoyed it more. Highly recommend!! read more

Black Spruce Dog Sledding - Black Spruce Dog Sledding - Sledding Near Me - Fairbanks, Alaska

HIGHLY RECOMMEND!! Have done other dog experiences but this was by far the best. For me, the highlight of the experience was the hands-on participation--not just socializing with the dogs, but actually helping get the dogs harnessed for the ride, etc. I wasn't sure what to expect from a ride in the spring/summer, but it was amazing. Being pulled by dogs who've actually run the Iditarod--awesome! KattiJo & Jeff are wonderful. Friendly, knowledgeable, and eager to make it an enjoyable experience for all. I'd do this again in a heartbeat. read more

We chose Black Spruce based on the Yelp, Google, and Trip Advisor reviews. It did not disappoint. The scenic day time winter tour was the highlight of my Fairbanks trip! We had an appointment for 2pm-3:30pm. In reality we were a couple minutes late and after photo ops/changing it was closer to 2-4pm. Allow yourself closer to 45-60 minutes driving from Fairbanks in winter when it's slippery and icy roads. As of February 2025 the Google GPS was accurate although I would recommend screenshotting instructions just in case. Going back home I had trouble finding a signal until a little further down. I really appreciate they had extra gear! I didn't find snow pants at Walmart. But they had snow bibs, parkas, snow boots, gloves etc. There was another small group of 4 at our time slot. But each tour is 2 people. One person gets to sit and the other can stand up to "drive" in the back. We started off with a short oral history of Alaskan huskies and dog sledding in Alaska. Then we had 10-15 minutes to play with the dogs. Most of them were very friendly. If you gently call their name they'll come out of their house for pets. Some were a little shy (pandemic pups or naturally reserved). Then we were shown a demonstration on how to stand on the sled and use the drag mat and the brake. Next was a demo on how to harness the dogs. Our tour guide was Jesse! He was awesome. I really enjoyed talking to him. He was very patient answering my questions about his dogs. After we personally harnessed one dog each Jesse took care of the rest and chose the order of the sled hook up. We stopped about 2-3 times for photo ops. During the first stop (about the halfway point) you get the option of switching from the sitting sled to the standing driving sled. Not very strenuous. But lots of fun! Highly recommend the snow pants in winter. I took a two steps off the path and ended up calf deep in snow. The dogs start barking and getting a little impatient when you stop too long. They really are well taken care of and love to run! Jesse unharnessed the dogs at the end of the tour. We were able to go into the cabin to take off gear. There's also merchandise, hot cocoa, and please tip your tour guides. They even include Venmo QR codes which is perfect for our increasingly cashless society. Highly recommend Black Spruce for dog sledding in the Fairbanks area! read more

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Black Spruce Dog Sledding exceeded our high expectations! Our guides Jeff and Jesse were very welcoming and informative. And the sled dogs were so fun to interact with! Even my brother who isn't really a dog person loved meeting the dogs. The scenic day mushing tour was the perfect length! It felt like we had tons of time on the trail and with the dogs without ever being rushed. read more

Black Spruce Dog Sledding - Meet and greet with the canine crew - Sledding Near Me - Fairbanks, Alaska

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What an amazing experience! Our guide was fantastic, and we loved being part of the entire process--from harnessing the dogs to actually driving the sleds. The staff was super friendly and made sure everyone was properly dressed and comfortable in the cold. It was such a fun and memorable adventure. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking to try dog sledding! read more

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I loved the dog sledding with Black Spruce. The dogs are cared for so lovingly and looked healthy and happy. Casey talked with our group about the dogs, why they have their own little kennel and more before our sledding ride. We got to pet the dogs and I tried to put on the harness, but needed some help with that! The sledding itself was exhilarating in the beautiful snow with gorgeous mountains in the background. There are clear instructions on how to dress for the sledding and we followed the guidelines and didn't get cold. Thank you for one of the highlights of our visit to Fairbanks! read more

Black Spruce Dog Sledding - With two of the most energetic, great dogs! - Sledding Near Me - Fairbanks, Alaska

AMAZING! A highlight of the trip even though we also saw great northern lights. I still talk about the dogs! Katie and Jeff were fantastic- truly. I was in touch with Katie ahead of time because I wasn't sure about my reservation needs, and she was so patient, thoughtful, and generous. That's not even the actual experience! Seeing the dogs and going on the sled was absolutely amazing. It's a beautiful location and so cool to see. Katie and Jeff were also really informative. You get a really good amount of time on the sled- two people have a guide (Katie, Jeff, etc.) go with them. You alternate sitting on the front sled, which is a comfy kind of chair and the guide is right behind you. Then there's the sled behind, which is pulled by the front sled and you ride on alone. (My boyfriend with bad knees and bad balance was fine, but do note that you have to go with the terrain.) Consider this a raving review- we've certainly been doing so to each other, family, friends, coworkers, etc. read more

Black Spruce Dog Sledding - Sledding Near Me - Fairbanks, Alaska

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My best friend and I spent a special Christmas together on a dog sled. It was a time we will never forget and so memorable. It was so worth it that we still talk about it. All the staff were so friendly and made us feel so welcome. The care and explanations were so patient. The place was clean and amazing. All the dogs were smart and friendly. This is a company we will definitely be going back to. We had a great time together. Kathy explained everything so kindly. The atmosphere was great. Both the dog sledding and the standing were great. We will be back. read more

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We are local Alaskans and had the BEST dog sledding experience! We brought friends from Nashville and they were amazed! Staff were knowledgeable and top notch with their friendliness, getting to pet and harness our team, getting to ride in the trailing sled and/or the basket was epic! My husband said it was his favorite vacation activity ever. He esp loved Jesse the mushers dog Rockey. She was so loving like all the dogs are! Family friendly. Top Notch read more

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We chose Black Spruce after looking at a few options. The dogs are very friendly and look very well cared for. We pet a lot of them and enjoyed our dog sledding experience. If you did not prepare for the cold they have layers, coats, ski pants, and an overboot for you since you're outside for 1.5 hours. You get a few stops during the sledding process to switch seats from sitting to standing and also enjoy the view. Overall highly recommend the facility. read more

My husband and I took a tour last night while in Fairbanks. I booked the tour several weeks ago online and the communication via email was super clear. There was plenty of information on how to dress, directions and other pertinent facts for your visit. I was so excited for this tour and it did not disappoint! Upon pulling into their driveway, you immediately see all of their dogs who are excited to greet you. Jeff and Katti greeted us immediately at our vehicle and explained the plan for the tour and pointed out the restroom. The tour started with a brief lesson on the history of Iditarod where we learned some facts we never knew. They had all of their Iditarod gear in the tent you can check out. We then had plenty of time to walk around and greet the pups which was so much fun. All of the dogs were friendly and most loved attention, very few preferred to keep to themselves. We were taught how to place the harness on the dogs and get them lined up for the run. We had the opportunity to harness a few dogs ourselves. Because it was summer and there was no snow, the dogs trained with the side by side. We took a few mile path which had beautiful views. We stopped a couple times to give the dogs a break. Overall, this tour was our favorite activity on our trip so far and I HIGHLY recommend visiting! Definitely pack some bug spray as the mosquitos are definitely present, but hey, it's the woods in Alaska! read more

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My daughter had an awesome evening here! Kattie and Jeff were the best and the dogs were so so so awesome! I'm going back here in the winter! read more

Our family of 5 did the hiking with the huskies experience. It was a highlight of our Alaska trip and something we always will remember. We learned so much about their Alaskan huskies and competitive dog sledding. Interacting with the dogs was so fun - especially the puppies! Katie and Jeff were wonderful hosts and guides. I would highly recommend booking an experience with Black Spruce Dog Sledding. It was amazing!! read more

What a blast! Jeff and KattiJo's Sled Dog Safari Tour was the highlight of our Fairbanks honeymoon! We know several companies offer similar activities, but we're so very glad that we chose Black Spruce Dog Sledding. My husband and I both agreed that it was the best activity of our Alaskan adventure! We thoroughly enjoyed every minute with the Deeters and their endearing huskies! The property is gorgeous, the Deeters are friendly and informative, and the dogs are just a delight. We enjoyed seeing the dogs' personalities, getting a chance to interact with them, learning about mushing, and exploring the gorgeous countryside on the UTV/sled ride. The puppies were also a delight! I would absolutely jump at the chance to do this again. It's an unforgettable experience that we highly recommend! read more

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Katti, Jeff, and all of their beautiful pups made this experience one for the record books! I knew a trip to Fairbanks in February would not be complete without a dog sled excursion. I stumbled upon Black Spruce Dog Sledding and decided to book it! I don't know what I was expecting but I definitely was not prepared for the beauty of their property, the kindness and compassion that are Katti and Jeff, nor the absolute incredible pups they have raised. The dogs were all so friendly and anxious for love and affection! Katti and Jeff took their time explaining every detail and asking every question we came up with. It felt so incredibly special and absolutely surreal to be welcomed into their world. If you are headed to Fairbanks, do not hesitate to book this and see for yourself! I guarantee you will walk away in awe. Thank you, Jeff, Katti, and pups! read more

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This was one of the most amazing things I've experienced! Imagine seeing white all around you, like a winter wonderland, and then having all these dogs wanting to be pet by you and guide you through their trail. And all supervised by our excellent guide Luther. We started in a warm tent, where Luther got to know us, told us about himself, his dogs, the owners of the business and the different races there are in Alaska and other parts of the world. After a bit of chatting, and feeling like he was a friend already, we geared up - if you are missing snow pants or gloves... they are ready to lend you some. Time to meet the dogs!! You could hear them barking and howling in excitement. They are SO happy when they know they are about to run out, and to interact with you. I could not stop smiling and thinking I wanted to take them all home with me. Once we met all of them, we were allowed to help with their harnesses, and saw how they all took their positions in front of the sled. We took turns between the two positions. One is sitting down up front where you can just relax and enjoy the ride, and the second is on the back, standing up, like "surfing" the trail. Both equally fun! The dogs know exactly what to do, and followed Luther's voice/ commands perfectly. They even allowed us to stop for pictures with them. After about 45 minutes of sledding, we were back and I got to thank each of the dogs for taking us out for a ride. Luther went to get our tent warm again and chatted with us a little more. Just can't say enough good things about Black Spruce. Customer service and care, the way they treat their dogs like family, and the ride are things I will never forget and hope everyone has a chance to experience at least once! read more

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Educational. Fun. Unique. Don't leave Fairbanks without doing one of their tours. Loved our ride with Jessie. The whole experience was wonderful and I can't wait to bring my girls back to do this. read more

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Amazing, amazing, amazing experience!!! First off, follow the directions that they give you in the email because reception is kind of choppy along the way. Not to worry though, as long as you follow their directions, you will get there! When we drove in we were greeted by one of the doggos! They have dogs that are strolling the grounds and dogs that are separated but near their retrospective houses. The pups are in an enclosed area free roaming. At first I wondered if they felt sad being separated, but I learned that this is to keep themselves safe. They are pack animals and if they were not within their own spaces, they would fight to see who is alpha. In addition, those who are roaming are traded out. This means that they all have time outside to roam. Continuing on, the dogs love to mush! One of the dogs literally jumped while connected every time they got the command to go! I've always wanted to go mushing, but was a bit hesitant due to the dogs being trained and wondering about their welfare. No worries, they love it!!! They are overjoyed. When they see their harnesses come out they start howling, barking, and show so much enthusiasm!!! When they don't get picked they're a little bummed. You really need to see Thai for yourself!!! And to the lovely ladies that educated us, gave us water, and gave lots of positive vibes, thank you!!! You three were amazing!!! I felt so welcomed and like I learned a lot!!! They also have a structure with actual mushing gear!!! read more

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We went today. Just the best experience from start to finish. Clear instructions on dressing. Clear instructions on getting there. They had gear if you came without enough cold weather gear. The guides were great. The dogs - we met 50 - were all enchanting (ok, 3 were shy but they were not at all hostile). You get to just ride and look for part of the mushing trip; you get to stand up and help with the slowing and stopping of the dogs on the trail. Seriously, do this one! It's fantastic. read more

This was an amazing experience and I would highly recommend it to anyone visiting Fairbanks. The guides were all friendly and knowledgeable but the dogs are the real stars of the show. We spent lots of time meeting them all, then helped harness them up to the sled, and then took a beautiful ride through the snowy woods. The guides do a great job making sure people are comfortable and warm (we were with Dylan, who was excellent). The dogs are so enthusiastic and friendly and lovable, this is a must-do if you're in the area. read more

I am so glad that we ended up going to this place. As someone who deeply deeply adores canines and is involved in animal rights I had serious hesitation about supporting any kind of dogsledding. I called around, and after speaking to the owners I had a good enough feeling to give it a try. I figured at the worst, I would at least be able to show dogs that needed it some love. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that these people deeply love their dogs, and that the dogs genuinely love to pull. It reminds me of my dog at home who has a strong prey drive... he genuinely wants to hunt (something I don't encourage hahah) ...the dogs are doing something they genuinely want to do; it is innate for them. It was so much fun to meet the whole team, and go for a lovely fall mush through the woods. Katie and Jeff were very informative, patient, and hospitable. I highly recommend Black Spruce Dog Sledding!! read more

Black Spruce Dog Sledding - Sledding Near Me - Fairbanks, Alaska

Was a little nervous about going to this excursion after getting all their rules and directions. The directions were a little confusing but we figured them out. They were almost too detailed with do's and don'ts mixed in with the driving directions. We have AT&T and had internet service the entire time. Once we got there we really enjoyed the experience. Our guide was Richie and he was very patient and understanding. He did access our clothing and recommended we wear some of their boots and jackets. My hands were really cold the entire time but I should have kept both sets of my gloves on. It was 8 degrees that day. They had a really cute yurt with heat where we filled out some paperwork and put on more layers. Something that surprised me was the only bathroom there was an outhouse. Also there was a sign that pointed to the woods for Men to use the bathroom. I guess that's normal in Alaska ? Richie took us outside and explained to us what was about to happen. What was expected of us. He introduced us to each dog on the team. I was a little worried seeing the dogs chained with tiny wooden dog houses. Richie explained that was normal and they didn't get cold with their "built in" blankets (fur) I could tell he truly loved each one of his dogs. They did look well cared after and really got excited when the sleigh was coming in. I found everything to be top notch there. I enjoyed the ride and learning about dog mushing. It was such a good experience I would come back again. read more

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Long review ahead: Let me start by saying, if you found these guys....... You made the right choice. They are awesome, amazing, interesting, fun, invested, knowledgeable.... Any good thing I can say I would. I was part of a group of three females that went on a tour in January 2021. We showed up to our tour not knowing what to expect. It turned out to be the best choice we made the whole time in Alaska. We started with the directions from downtown Fairbanks. Pro tip: print them out, follow the hand directions along with the GPS. (being from the lower 48, sometimes GPS didn't work fast enough) We showed up early and they let us walk around take all the pictures we wanted before meeting in the nice warm tour tent. We went over some ground rules/ equipment adjustments and waivers. We brought snow googles, but didn't use them. We didn't need them. Then we began, first the tour of the dog houses and ground. Gave us the facts and let us ask all the questions. The dogs are dogs.... So wear stuff you are ok with mud, snow, rips, dirt....poop. Time to load up! We got to harness the dogs and help with all the work. If you get this chance do it!!! We learned about why the order is the way it is and how he picks the teams. He's willing to explain everything if your willing to listen. Once on the road, enjoy!! He will make stops to check on you and to make sure you get that perfect picture of the snow covered hills. But remember the more time you take pictures the less time you get to ride! So get moving and remember you have plenty of time. If you are in a group (like me) and some get to stand and some get to sit, he will stop to allow you to switch.... And do it!!! At the end he was also willing to take every photo we wanted. Standing next to the dogs, sled, sitting in the sled. Everything. Take advantage. They are very helpful and kind and made for great pictures to show on the return. If I am ever back and get to go dog sledding again..... I will be going here. And you should too. Few more tips: - go to the bathroom before you leave- it's a little bit of a drive till the next stop- bring a snack for in the car after if you are an early tour- nothing around- when they offer you the gear(snowboots, gloves, hats) take them. You will regret if you don't. read more

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We had such a wonderful, positive experience at Black Spruce! Owners were gone on the Iditarod, but the fellas that attended to us were friendly and so personable. The grounds were beautiful and well kept. The dogs were love bugs and stole our hearts. Highly recommend!! read more

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We had a great experience with Skylar, Emily, and the Alaskan Huskies. They taught us about the dogs who were very loving and affectionate, they taught us how to harness them and they took us thru some beautiful scenery on the dog sleds. A ton of fun! We had a wonderful experience I highly recommend them especially if you have children. Loved it! read more

Black Spruce Dog Sledding - Sledding Near Me - Fairbanks, Alaska

My husband and I were planning our vacation in Fairbanks and a dog sled kennel was not in our schedule. But while we were touring the Morris Thompson Cultural Center we heard from another visitor that her experience at the Black Spruce Dog Sled Kennels was amazing. She shared that the guides were experienced, knowledgeable trainers who made the tour and sled ride thoroughly enjoyable. We made reservations and attended the tour. Dylan and Kelsey, our guides, were friendly and clearly passionate for the sport of dog sledding and for caring for the dogs. The tour was interesting and gave us an inside look into the sport. The sled ride allowed us to experience the high level of trust between the driver/musher and the sled team. And then to be able to play with the puppies - there are no words! We came away feeling enriched and so happy! Black Spruce was one of the greatest highlights of our vacation! read more

Black Spruce Dog Sledding - Heart melt! - Sledding Near Me - Fairbanks, Alaska

This was an amazing tour during our trip to Fairbanks. The staff were friendly and informative. We loved being able to hangout and pet the dogs, and being able to drive the sled for a little was super cool! It's a beautiful location and I highly recommend this to anyone visiting Fairbanks. read more

This was such a fun and educational experience! Jesse and Kenna were the mushers for our tour, and they are really knowledgeable and patient. The pups are absolutely adorable (of course). I highly recommend booking with them if you have the chance read more

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We got a flat tire on our way out, and there was zero chance of us making it on time. Called Jeff, who said we would have to cut parts, but we could still go out if we were within 45 min of our time. Luckily the group after us showed up, so they called us back and flipped things so we could go the full thing! They were SO helpful and accommodating given the situation!!! When we got there, Lindsey was the BEST guide we could have asked for!!! It was truly the coolest experience - DOGS EVERYWHERE!!!! Lindsey explained things thoroughly, let us be part of things (like hooking up dogs) instead of just showing us, and was just a wonderful person to talk to. Even gave us some lunch recs for after. This is 100% worth your money and time, and I can't recommend Black Spruce enough! read more

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The sweetest couple and the sweetest dogs!!!!!!! You can tell that Jeff and KattiJo have a true passion for what they do! They have a pure love for each and everyone of their dogs and they love them right back! I was amazed (and to be honest, relieved) to see that the dogs genuinely loved to pull and went crazy when they saw the harnesses and gear being set up. Jeff & KattiJo answered the millions of questions we had about their dogs, Alaska, dog sledding and their facility! Our tour was rescheduled a few times due to the weather but KattiJo was very communicative and gave us plenty of time beforehand to accommodate to updated plans. Thank you for the amazing experience and for providing us city-folk extra clothing to make sure we were warm! This experience was definitely the highlight of our trip and I highly recommend to anyone and everyone who is traveling to Fairbanks! read more

Lots of fun and great staff, very knowledgeable and they do love their dogs, those Alaskan Huskies were the stars.

Cute and friendly dogs, knowledgeable and kind staff (Emily of Wildthingz Dog Mushing was our guide). Loved being out with the dogs, for us (party of 2), there are two sleds. One you can sit in, in front of Emily, and one you can stand in. A break is taken at the halfway point (2 miles in) where you can switch for a difference experience. There are ample opportunities to take pictures, I took as many as the cold would let me while I was seated and before & after the ride. read more

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We had a lot of fun on our dog sled ride. Olivia was our guide and she was very nice and informative. We learned about the dogs in general, and the specific ones that were going to take us out. We got dressed up. We used what we had and they supplemented the rest. It worked out perfectly. This place is remote! A good 40 minutes from central fairbanks. Beautiful location! Recommend for sure! read more

This was my favorite experience in Fairbanks!! The company is exceptionally well run by a lovely couple. They race the Iditarod and had so much interesting information to share. Katie answered all of my questions and was so kind on the phone. They have so many dogs to love on and give you plenty of time to get lots of pets in. Actually doing some of the mushing is so much fun!! They also had all the snow gear available to use which was wonderful since we flew in. Can't say enough great things about this place!! read more

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This was an amazing experience. Richie was our guide and he did such a wonderful job. Very attentive and interactive to us (well, more to my boyfriend because I kept wondering away to hug and pet the dogs). I had so much questions to ask and thankfully my boyfriend asked them and explained to me afterwards (because I wondered off to play with the many dogs there). Although we went in late March, the roads were part snow and a lot of ice so make sure you follow their instructions on how to get there. Although Fairbanks offers many Dog Sledding Tours, I have zero regrets selecting this one. We even upgraded our car rental to make sure we could get there. Awesome experience! read more

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As first time visitors to Alaska from California, we knew this was an experience that we wanted to include in our itinerary. There are a lot of options for dog sledding excursions in Fairbanks and I can only speak to this one, but having this tour led by actual Iditarod finishers (people and dogs) was incredible! We were also traveling with a daughter who is deathly afraid of dogs. Katie and Jeff welcomed us as if we were old friends and ensured that our daughter was comfortable the entire time. Hearing about their experience with the Iditarod and raising all of these dogs was mesmerizing. When it was time to meet the dogs and puppies, Katie took our daughter around and introduced her to the chill dogs so she would feel comfortable while on site. I was so pleased with her attention to our daughter and the personal touch to ensure her comfort. When it was time to ride the sled, we got more up close and personal than I even expected and loved every minute of being involved with the process of the ride. It was fascinating! Please make sure to incorporate this into your itinerary - whether you live in Alaska or the Lower 48 or another country! It is well worth it and the views are stunning in the summer! read more

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Black Spruce Dog Sledding is the best experience I had in Fairbanks! The dogs were so friendly. The guide was knowledgeable and introduced all we wanted to know about dog sledding. Gloves and shoe covers were provided to keep us warm. You can choose to either sit or stand on the sled, and the latter gives you the ability to help control the speed which I definitely enjoyed more. The view was great and the snow was shining like diamond on the path. Although it is a little bit far from the city, it is definitely worth the time and effort. It is not a simple sitting-in activity but an unforgettable interaction with dogs and nature. 100% recommend and don't miss this! read more

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Make sure you book early in on your trip. They will postpone your ride and cancel you at the end. We had our appt for a dog sled ride for a Sunday and they postponed it to Monday. Monday morning as we were leaving our place to headed over we got a text canceling our appt all together and since our flight was leaving early Tuesday we almost did not get to experience the dog sledding which was the #1 thing on our list of things to do while in Alaska. Thank goodness we found another company via Yelp that was able to accommodate us. That company was amazing and the trail was absolutely beautiful. Not to mention they will not return your money for 10 days. Beware!! read more

This is my second visit to Black Spruce Dog Sledding, bringing my sons to meet KattiJo and Jeff and the dogs. KattiJo and Jeff share stories and details about mushing, encourage loving on the dogs, let us help harness them for a jaunt through the woods. My adult sons listed this as a top event in our trip in Alaska! read more