Yukon Discovery & Sled Dog

There is a reason that visiting the Yukon is one of the most popular Skagway shore excursions. This full-day scenic tour starts in Skagway and begins with a beautiful, picturesque ride north over the White Pass summit to Canada’s Yukon Territory, paralleling the White Pass scenic railway. The Yukon Discovery & Sled Dog Tour is narrated with local Klondike history by your guide and contains photo opportunities just about everywhere you look. What separates this tour from the Yukon Discovery Tour is an extra bonus: an exciting 1-mile ride on a customized, wheeled cart with authentic Iditarod huskies. Once you arrive in the Yukon, you'll stop for lunch at Wild Adventure Yukon. Your free time provides the opportunity to not only view the husky puppies but to experience what it’s like riding behind a team of these elite canine athletes. Along the ride, the local mushers, who are professional racers in the winter, share stories about what it’s like training, caring for, and racing up to 90 dogs at a time!

Climb aboard the 12-passenger wheeled training cart while mushers ready the teams. As guides add each new dog to the line, you'll hear each dog's excitement as they can't wait to take off running. During this time, you will have the opportunity to experience the team dynamics, social order, and passion of your dog team. After the team of 8-12 dogs is ready, the musher drops the brake and you're off. The sled dogs respond instantaneously to the musher's commands, forking right, then left, as you meander through the forested trail, specially designed to train these canine athletes in the off-season.

A 1-mile ride is the perfect amount of time to see the team respond to mushing commands, and romp in their watering pools. This exhilarating portion of the trip is approximately 15 minutes long and provides time for team hookup, safety briefing, and your ride through the forest. Time on the trail can vary due to conditions, temperatures, and the team of dogs. Following the tour, feel free to wander through the incredible Wildlife Gallery and RCMP Heritage Centre, and pet the animals in the farm area.

Weather: Although rare, the Yukon can experience heat events. Should this occur the HOT PAW Protocol will be put into action. This program offers time with the sled dogs, and mushers where you will be taken on a tour of the trail with a sled dog co-pilot. You will learn about the races, preparation, and training. 

You may consider the Yukon Discovery Tour which includes all the same features without the husky dog experience.