You don't need to compete in the Iditarod to embrace dog sledding. Instead of horsepower, this sport harnesses the power of anywhere from eight to 16 dogs. Mushers strap the animals to the front of a sled and let them pull the craft as they run. Native Americans have relied on dog sledding for centuries. Today, during the winter months, a variety of outfitters offer one- or multi-day dog-sledding experiences for all to enjoy.
Dog Sled Adventures; Olney, Mont.
Tucked away in the northwest corner of Montana's Flathead Valley, Dog Sled Adventures owner Jeff Ulsamer takes the reins as teams of Alaskan malamutes lead groups on two-hour day trips into the vast, scenic Stillwater State Forest. One of the trails follows a stream poetically named Dog Creek.
The landscape in these parts is beautiful - the snow-covered foothills of the Rocky Mountains. On the most popular trail, a 12-mile jaunt dubbed the "Eskimo Roller Coaster," the dogs drag sleds at speeds of up to 30 mph past brambles, conifers and other obstacles. At some points along the way, the sled quite literally gets hang time as it soars over ruts.
During most trips, Ulsamer crams two or three visitors into each sled. If you're traveling with family members, this shouldn't be an issue. If you're traveling alone, however, be prepared to get up close and personal in a confined space with a total stranger. Ulsamer provides wool blankets and pillows, but be sure to dress warmly.
After the tour, head back into Whitefish for a night on the town. For dinner, try the Cajun-inspired Tupelo Grille; for a nightcap, head to the Great Northern Brewing Company, a classic dive bar. Spend the night at Whitefish Mountain Resort, where you can wake up the next day and hit the slopes.
Alaska Dog Sledding School; Anchorage, Alaska
Nobody knows dog sledding better than Alaskans, so naturally, this three-day excursion in the wilderness 200 miles northwest of Anchorage is serious business. Visitors fly by floatplane to the rustic Winterlake Lodge. From there, the trip follows parts of the Iditarod Trail.
The excursion is sponsored by Alaska Tours. Under the tutelage of mushers from the outfitter's Alaska Dog Mushing School, guests receive practical hands-on instruction regarding the care and feeding of sled dogs, lessons in theories of dog team building, a tutorial in voice commands ("Ha" to go right; "Gee" to go left), and, of course, plenty of time in the sled.
Guests sleep and eat gourmet meals at Winterlake Lodge. The cabins sit on the shore of Winter Lake, a finger-shaped lake with spectacular views of Trimble Glacier and Rainy Pass. Behind the lodge, Wolverine Mountain is a great spot for wildlife watching. Prices for the three-day tour start at $2,750 per person.
Back in Anchorage, don't miss Jens' Restaurant, one of the city's hottest new eateries. Chef and owner Jens Haagen Hansen uses fresh fish, farm-raised game and local organic produce. Try the peppercorn-crusted elk loin chop with sautéed chanterelle mushrooms and a potato and spinach gratin.
Winterdance Dogsled Tours; Haliburton, Ontario
Husband-and-wife team Hank DeBruin and Tanya McCready-DeBruin run this Canadian outfitter, which operates out of the Haliburton Highlands alongside Algonquin Provincial Park in Haliburton, about three hours north of Toronto. In all, the couple owns more than 100 Siberian huskies to shuttle guests through the snowy landscape by sled.
The tours are run mainly on a 5,000-acre slice of private property north of Haliburton Lake. These trails are near the end of a road system heading north, and once groups leave the road, guests see nothing but untouched wilderness and pristine undeveloped lake chains. This scenery goes by quickly, as the dogs can run up to 35 mph. On some of the trails' tight curves, visitors may feel like their furry drivers are going a little too fast.
Winterdance offers a number of tours, from two-hour trips ($85 per person) to full-day ($240) excursions. The DeBruins also are known to customize multi-day trips, for which they house guests in a three-bedroom cottage retreat on the property, down the road from the dog kennel.
Haliburton itself is a great place to spend a winter. The town (population 12,500) is known for its ice fishing, snowmobiling and cross-country skiing, and the local arts community is vibrant as well. For overnight accommodations, try the Downhome Bed & Breakfast Inn.
Sun Valley Sled Dog Adventures; Hailey, Idaho
Variety is a selling point for the small and relatively bare-bones Sun Valley Sled Dog Adventures, through which owner Brian Camilli offers a number of trips to suit guests with varying levels of patience and interest in learning to mush.
The 1.5-hour trip ($95 per person) is geared toward kids, and a team of Alaskan Huskies takes visitors out in a big loop for a brief taste of the action. On the four-hour half-day trip ($175), the dogs take guests over Muldoon Summit to a rustic warming hut, where guides serve hot drinks and home-baked goodies. The full-day trip ($250) goes even further, to a Pioneer homestead at Cold Springs Creek. It also includes lunch.
For the true adventurers, Camilli also offers an overnight trip that heads out to a remote cabin where guides follow dinner with stories around a wood-burning stove. The next morning, after a brisk snowshoe, the group returns to Hailey. Price: $350. The downside? The company does not accept credit cards.
Even though Hailey is 10 miles from the resort town of Sun Valley, the city has plenty of its own appeal. Check out Zou 75, a new eatery that serves sushi and French-Asian fusion food in a modern setting. When you're ready to call it a night, the Wood River Inn is both clean and newly renovated.
Mountain Musher; Cordillera, Colo.
Colorado's Vail Valley is known best for its powder and epic skiing, but the guides at Mountain Musher are working hard to put dog sledding on the local map, too. The company runs two, two-hour tours daily, both of which provide breathtaking views of the valley, Glenwood Canyon and miles upon miles of aspens.
Alaskan malamutes and huskies (no more than 12 at a time) lead sleds on a 10-mile private trail that starts in Cordillera and goes onto the 10,000-acre Diamond Star Ranch. Because this land is private, groups advance in virtually total silence - no sound of snowmobilers or skiers nearby. On still days, visitors can hear the dogs' tiny feet crunching through the snow.
All Mountain Musher trips stop at the halfway point for a break and a hot drink. Here, guides usually let curious guests try mushing for themselves. Back in Cordillera, guides let visitors interact with the dogs, mostly petting and brushing them. If it's close to feeding time, visitors can feed the animals, too.
Because Cordillera is a resort town with a number of golf courses, lodging there isn't exactly affordable. The Lodge & Spa at Cordillera is a luxury property with 56 rooms. Cheaper lodging alternatives, as well as a steak-and-potatoes joint called the Grand Avenue Grill, can be found in Eagle, about 10 miles away.
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