Our Unique Tour
November – April*
This tour usually begins in November, once we have approx. 1.5 feet (0.5 meter) of snow on the ground. If there is not enough snow for this tour, we run the Sled Dog Safari Tour instead. Book the available tour for the date of your visit. We will contact you later to change the type of tour if weather conditions allow.
The ONLY Tag-Sledding Tour in Fairbanks!
Tag-sleds are “secondary” dog sleds, pulled behind the main sled with a length of rope. When you drive a tag-sled, you get the thrill of dog mushing, without the responsibility of controlling the dogs.
Step into the boots of a real musher and as you harness a team of huskies, and drive a dog sled across the Alaskan landscape. Our guided tours give you an authentic, hands-on experience that goes beyond the ordinary.
Unlike other tour companies in Fairbanks, Black Spruce Dog Sledding is owned and operated by real long distance racing mushers. Jeff and KattiJo Deeter are veterans of the 1,000 mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race! Our experienced tour guides have lots of stories and insights to share, so come with your questions, and get ready to dive deep into dog mushing!
All of our Scenic Day Mushing Tours include use of a tag-sled. We encourage everyone in your group to try both driving the sled and sitting as a passenger. This tour is only recommended for people in good physical condition, who can sit, stand and walk without assistance.
Tour Description
We begin your tour by making sure you’re dressed appropriately for the weather. Wear the warmest clothing you have (focus on your base layers!), and we’ll provide any outer layers you may be missing. There is no charge for the clothing you borrow from us. Learn more about How to Dress.
Once you’re dressed, we’ll head outside to meet the dogs! Learn what makes Alaskan Huskies unique and how they stay warm outdoors in the winter time. Then walk around to interact with their individual personalities. They are surprisingly sweet and photogenic!
After socializing with the dogs, it’s time to prepare for the sledding portion of the tour! First, we’ll go over how the dog sled works — how to sit safely as a passenger, and how to drive the tag-sled! Then we’ll show you how to harness and hook up the dogs. This portion of the tour experience is voluntary, but we encourage everyone to give it a try. We’re the only tour company in Fairbanks who offers this unique opportunity!
Finally, it’s time to go! Grab your sled and hold on tight! All visitors will get a chance to drive the “tag sled” as well as sit as a passenger in the tour guide’s sled. We’ll stop multiple times on the trail so you can take pictures of the beautiful Alaskan scenery and swap positions between sitting in the guide’s sled and driving the tag sled. When we get back, take some more photos and help us put the dogs back at their houses. It’s an epic day in Fairbanks!
Note: Each dog team accommodates 2 visitors and 1 tour guide. Groups larger than 2 people will go out on the trail with multiple dog teams, sleds and guides.
Price
- $185 per person
- This tour is restricted to ages 12+
There are no discounts for military, first responders or large groups.
Tour Length
The entire tour experience is between 1.5 and 2.5 hours, and includes everything you do while you’re here. This means getting dressed in warm layers, meeting and petting the dogs, Q & A with your musher, learning how to drive a sled, harnessing and hooking up the team, taking photos, enjoying a hot drink and perusing the gift shop – all in addition to your dog sled ride!
Some guests may spend longer than others because they have more questions, take more photos, or want to pet ALL the dogs. That’s great! We try to make our tours as personalized as we can, so you’re welcome to stay until the next tour group shows up!
Our tour trail is approx 5 miles in length, and time on the trail is about 45 minutes. This varies a bit based on trail conditions. For most of the Alaskan winter, 45 minutes is the perfect amount of time to be out in the wind and cold!
The trail is 5 miles in length, but the entire tour experience includes everything from the moment you arrive until the moment you leave. Most people spend between 1.5 and 2.5 hours here, depending on their level of interest and participation. If you are someone who wants to ask lots of questions, pet all the dogs and take lots of pictures, that’s great! You’ll probably be here for two or more hours. If you are uncomfortable in the cold, don’t like dogs, or don’t have a lot of questions, your tour will wrap up sooner.
Restrictions
There is a firm weight limit of 250 pounds per person for this tour. Total combined weight of passengers is not considered. This weight restriction is in place for safety reasons. Guests larger than 250 pounds can create sled steering problems for our tour guides, even if the guest is on the tag sled only.
All participants must be fluent English speakers, for the safety of humans and dogs. Guides must be able to communicate with all visitors in a quick and efficient manner, and all visitors must be able to respond immediately to guide instructions, without the need for an interpreter.
Beginning in November 2025, this tour will be restricted to participants 12 years and older. The focus of this tour is education, and hands-on participation. Historically, our young visitors have felt cold, scared or impatient at times. This is unfortunate for them, and tends to diminish the tour experience for all other visitors. Luckily, most other dog sledding tour companies in Fairbanks do not have this age restriction, as their tours are more of a “ride only” experience, and less “hands-on learning.”
This tour is for people with good mobility and balance only. This tour is not appropriate for people who need assistance on uneven surfaces, getting up from a seated position, or climbing stairs. Individuals restricted by physical impairments including obesity should not participate. Pregnant women should ask their doctors before signing up for this tour.
Finally, this tour is for people who like dogs. If you’re afraid of dogs, please come with an open mind and prepare for dogs to be loose on the property when you arrive, and at various points throughout the tour. Our dogs are all safe and friendly, and will not be restrained by request.
Cancellation Policy
To cancel your tour and receive a full refund, we require you give at least 24 hours advanced notice before the start time/date of your tour. If you do not give at least 24 hours advanced notice of your cancellation you will not receive a refund. No partial refunds are given.
On rare occasion, we must cancel or reschedule tours on account of poor weather or dangerous road conditions. If we need to cancel your tour it is for reasons of safety and comfort for you or our dogs, and we will try our hardest to find a time in which to reschedule you. If we are unable to find an alternate tour time for your group, you will receive a full refund for your tour.
Please be aware that weather conditions can be drastically different between our kennel and the Fairbanks metro and North Pole areas. Don’t assume that tours will be canceled based solely on weather conditions in these other areas. We will always contact you in the event of a cancellation or need to reschedule.
Location & Transportation
Driving Yourself:
Most visitors drive themselves to our location. Our favorite rental car companies are Alaska Auto Rental and Fairbanks 4 x 4. These companies equip all of their vehicles with winter tires, and the ability to “plug in” during cold weather.
We strongly encourage everyone to rent an AWD or 4WD vehicle. Most of the time, a front-wheel drive car can make it to our location just fine. However, on days when we receive a lot of fresh snowfall, we may have to temporarily restrict our tours to only those visitors with an AWD or 4WD vehicle, and/or individuals with winter driving experience.
Getting a Ride:
We do NOT recommend using Uber or Lyft to get here. We are located about 45 minutes from Fairbanks, which means those services may bring you here, but don’t usually want to come pick you up.
For reliable transportation, consider using a shuttle service like Fairbanks Trails and Rivers. You can call or text them at (907) 750-5179.
There are other shuttle companies in Fairbanks as well. Contact the Fairbanks Visitors Center for more ideas.
Please arrange your transportation before booking your tour.
If you hire a taxi or cab, ask them to wait while you take your tour.
Drive Times:
Fairbanks/Airport – 45 minutes
Chena Hot Springs – 2.5 hours
North Pole – 1.5 hours
Cleary Summit – 1.5 hours
Healy / Denali National Park – 2.5 hours
- Fairbanks Trails and Rivers at (907) 750-5179
- Avoid Uber/Lyft! These options tend to be very unreliable for getting to/from our location.
- Fairbanks Trails and Rivers at (907) 750-5179
- Avoid Uber/Lyft! These options tend to be very unreliable for getting to/from our location.
We are located approximately 15 miles / 45 minutes northwest of Fairbanks. Drive times are longer if coming from Chena Hot Springs (2.5 hours), North Pole (1.5 hours) or Cleary Summit (1.25 hours).
Most of our visitors have their own personal or rental vehicle. Usually a small, compact car can make the trip up here just fine. However, in winter, snow storms may force us to temporarily restrict our tours to only those visitors with all-wheel drive (AWD) or (4WD).
Need a ride?
- Fairbanks Trails and Rivers at (907) 750-5179
- Avoid Uber/Lyft! These options tend to be very unreliable for getting to/from our location.
Tour Times
Tour times for most of the winter are at 9 am, 11:30 am, 2 pm. In March, we add a 4:30 pm tour time as well. All tour times will allow you to experience mushing during the daylight.
For most of the winter, the 9 am tour time will begin in the dark, but by the time you get dressed, meet the dogs, learn how to drive the sled, and hook up your dog team, it will be daylight while you are on the trail.
The 2 pm and 4:30 pm tours also offer daylight mushing on the trail, but it may be dark by the time you leave our property, depending on the time of year.
For more information about what the daylight will be like during your visit to Fairbanks, check out this Sun Calculator
There is no “best time” of day to take this tour. Simply think about what other activities you may want to do on this day and plan accordingly.
Group Size
Our maximum group size may be up to 8 people, and our minimum group size is 2. Please check the booking calendar to see our capacity on your date and time of interest.
The capacities you see online are accurate. They adjust in real time as bookings come in.
We do accommodate solo travelers. However, solo travelers may only book into tour time slots in which other guests are already scheduled. While booking online, the reservation system will either block or permit your reservation depending on pre-existing bookings. You can also contact us to find out which dates are available for solo travelers.
Watch this old Expedia Highlight from 2016!
Our Other Tours
Sled Dog Safari
Did you know!? Traditional dog sleds require about 1.5 FEET of snow before they can safely be used? So in summer, fall and early winter, we train our dogs on wheels! This unique method of dog mushing is crucial for training long distance racing dogs. Come check it out!
Husky Hike
Beautiful, off-leash hiking tour in Fairbanks with a pack of free-running Alaskan Husky sled dogs. Enjoy the scenery and friendly dogs as we walk the tundra together. Ask us about the 1,000 mile Iditarod sled dog race and our life off-grid! Book online today!