Private Expeditions
Have you ever wanted to learn to drive your own team of Alaskan Huskies and explore the wilds of Alaska from the back of a dog sled? Now is your chance! Join us on an overnight, 3-day, or 5-day mushing expedition.
Our guides are experienced and knowledgeable with over ten years of expedition guiding experience! Mush with the best!
Overnight Expedition
This is our shortest expedition option. Located one hour east of Fairbanks, Alaska, join us on a two day, one night mushing adventure through the Chena River Valley. We’ll camp in cozy Arctic Oven tents at the top of Trapline Mountain for optimal aurora viewing opportunities.
Food, gear, and mushing training are provided.
Day 1 :
11:00 AM arrive at Chena Outdoor Collective and get outfitted in the proper winter gear. Follow your guides to Ryno Kennel, where you’ll meet your team of Alaskan Huskies. Learn how to harness your team and the basics of sled driving. At last, it’s time to pack up your sled and hit the trail! Mush down the famous Yukon Quest trail and meander along the frozen Chena River. That evening, you’ll be warm and cozy in the wood-heated Arctic Oven tents. Snuggling with a canine athlete or two is encouraged.
Day 2 :
Wake at your leisure and enjoy a relaxing morning with your huskies. Once you’re ready, we’ll hook up the teams for a day of sledding. Explore our local trails and wind your way through black spruce forests and groves of birch and aspen trees. Keep an eye out for wildlife like moose, grouse, fox, and lynx. Return to Ryno Kennel around 2:00 PM. Take final photos with your team, then head back to the Chena Outdoor Collective. End of tour 3:00 PM.
Time of Year: December- early April
Trail mileage: 15-20 miles per day
Email ChenaOutdoorCo@gmail.com with inquiries or to book the Overnight Expedition.
3-Day White Mountains Cabin Trip
This 3-day, 2-night expedition is perfect for new mushing fanatics. We explore the BLM White Mountains Recreation Area by dog team! Lodging consists of remote cabins.
Food, gear, and mushing training are provided.
Day 1:
Meet at the White Mountains Trailhead at 10:00 AM. Unpack truck, load sleds, meet dog teams, and have a mushing school about gear, driving a sled etc. Hook up the teams and hit the trail! Mush 15-20 miles to our first cabin. Learn how to camp with a dog team. Bed down the dogs on straw, prepare a hot meal for your team, and get settled into the cabin.
Day 2:
Wake at your leisure and enjoy a delicious warm breakfast and hot drinks. Help do the morning chores of feeding your team and scooping their poop. We know you’re on vacation, but it’s all part of the experience! Once you’re ready, we’ll hook up the teams and enjoy a day full of mushing. We’ll stop on the trail for lunch and photo ops. Depending on conditions, we'd either mush to another cabin or adventure around then return to the same cabin. With any luck, Mother Nature will put on a fantastic aurora show!
Day 3:
Wake at your leisure and enjoy a relaxing morning with your huskies. Once you’re ready, we’ll hook up the teams for a day of sledding. Explore the White Mountain trails, winding your way through black spruce forests. Keep an eye out for wildlife like moose, grouse, fox, and lynx. Mush back to the trailhead, say goodbye to your teams, and with any luck we'll have converted a few more mushing fanatics! End of tour 3:00 PM.
Time of Year: December- early April
Trail mileage: 15-20 miles per day
Email chenaoutdoorco@gmail.com with inquiries or to book the 3-Day White Mountains Mushing Expedition
5- Day Alaska Range Adventure
Join us on a 5-day, 4-night mushing adventure through the heart of the Alaska Range! Mush down the Denali Highway and enjoy stays in warm Arctic Oven tents as well as a couple nights at remote lodges! Learn to mush from accomplished Yukon Quest and Iditarod mushers and meet the canine athletes that compete in the 1000-mile races. Once you're comfortable on the runners, you'll have the opportunity to drive your own team of our elite racing huskies and mush through some of the most stunning scenery in Alaska. Keep your eyes peeled for caribou, moose, lynx, wolves, fox, and ptarmigan as you mush down the trail. At night, listen to stories from the Yukon Quest and Iditarod trails and maybe get a glimpse of the dancing Aurora Borealis!
Day 1: Get picked up at your hotel and transported to the trail head at the start of the Denali Highway. The Denali Highway is unmaintained throughout the winter, turning it into the perfect location for mushers, snowmachiners, and other outdoor enthusiasts. Mush approximately 15-20 miles to our remote Arctic Oven camp.
Day 2: Mush 20-30 miles to a remote lodge (either Alpine Creek Lodge or Maclaren River Lodge).
Day 3: Musher’s choice! Would you like to explore the backcountry by dog sled or snuggle up with a book and relax for the day? It’s your choice. This day is all about relaxing and getting ready for the return trip.
Day 4: Mush 20-30 miles back to our remote Arctic Oven camp.
Day 5: Mush 15-20 miles back to the trailhead. Load up the trucks and return to Fairbanks.
For all expeditions, we provide parkas, sleeping bags, and other cold weather gear. All meals are included as well as transportation from Fairbanks to the start of the expedition and back to Fairbanks for 5-day trips and longer.
Time of Year: March - April*
*since our guides compete in 1000-mile races like the Yukon Quest and Iditarod, the scheduling will be dependent on our race season
Trail mileage: 15-30 miles per day
Email chenaoutdoorco@gmail.com with inquiries or to book a 5-Day Alaska Range Adventure.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
We highly recommend Travel Insurance for your Mushing Excursion. This will ensure that weather or emergencies won't cost you your vacation.
Alaska is at the mercy of Mother Nature & she doesn't always cooperate. Tours (specifically expeditions) can be postponed or cancelled due to inclement weather and unsafe conditions. We apologize if this happens to your highly anticipated mushing vacation, but we want to make sure you get properly reimbursed for your inconvenience and receive a refund to re-book your tour! Travel insurance will provide that reimbursement.
EXPEDITION CANCELLATION POLICY
A 50% nonrefundable deposit is required at the time of the booking. Remainder is due 60 days prior to the date of the booking. No reimbursement is provided for trips cancelled or shortened due to weather. For this reason, we HIGHLY RECOMMEND travel insurance.