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Skagway Dog Sledding & Glacier Flightseeing Helicopter Tour

This Skagway dog sledding and glacier helicopter tour is an epic excursion that you do not want to miss!

Combine your helicopter flightseeing tour with Alaska's favorite sport - dogsledding. Whether it's the thrill of driving a sled, playing with puppies, flying through breathtaking scenery, or getting to be a part of the largest sub-arctic dogsled camp operation in the world, this excursion is for you!

Depending on which pier you're coming from in Skagway, a 5~30 minute walk brings you to the heliport where, following a safety video, you are outfitted with glacier boots that go over your footwear and loaded onto the helicopter. Once airborne, soar over stunning glaciers and snowfields, before landing at the Skagway dog sledding camp situated on the Denver Glacier.

Leave your aircraft behind to become acquainted with the world of 'mushing' and dogsledding. You have the option to either stand on the sled and help mush or relax in the sled and observe the breathtaking environment around you. A truly authentic Alaskan adventure, this Skagway dog sledding outing enables you to meet the professional mushers and their friendly sled dogs that have made the Iditarod dog race famous.

Included: Glacier boots

Please note: Guests weighing 250lbs or more, with all clothing and camera, are required to purchase a seat surcharge. Extra space will be reserved on the helicopter. Guests are not able to stay on the helicopter at the glacier. Please dress appropriately for weather and conditions. Children under 2 can ride for free on an adult's lap.

FAQ
What are the best dog sledding tours in Skagway?

How much does a dog sledding tour cost?
Dog sledding tours typically cost $125-$750 per person. Tours that visit musher's camps in the forest without snow are more affordable, while excursions that include helicopter tours and dog sledding on a glacier cost more.

What is the minimum age for a dog sledding tour?
Our Skagway dog sledding tours do not have age restrictions or a minimum age requirement. One tour, the Mendenhall Glacier Dog Sledding & Helicopter Tour from Juneau, allows lap children (under 2 years old) for free.

View all Skagway Dog Sledding Tours.

Duration: 2 hours (Roundtrip from downtown Skagway. Time on Glacier: 1 hour. Dogsledding: 30 minutes. Flight Time: 30 minutes.)

Inclusions:

  • Headsets to listen to the narration by your pilot
  • Traction overboots

Requirements:

  • Guests must be able to walk to and from the helicopter as well as climb two 18 inch steps in and out unassisted. Guests must be comfortable walking on uneven and occasionally icy surfaces. 

Duration: 2 hours. Tour times below are approximate:

  • 30 minutes - preflight safety briefing and preparation
  • 30 minutes - helicopter time
  • 60 minutes - at the dog camp with approximately 30 minutes of dogsledding

Meeting Instructions:

  • This tour meets at the helicopter base, a 5~30 minute walk from your cruise ship, depending on which pier you're coming from. Fully detailed instructions are included on your finalized ticket vouchers.

ADA Accessibility of Tour:

  • This tour is not wheelchair or limited mobility accessible.

 

Can I pet and play with the sled dogs?

Yes, the dogs love human interaction and the mushers will let you get close and snuggly with their team.

Do I get to drive the dogsled?

You will be given the opportunity to run the sled with your musher if you wish.

How many passengers ride in the sled together? 

Each sled can accomodate 4 guests.

How many passengers ride in the helicopter together?

There is a maximum of 6 passengers per helicopter. If there are more than 6 passengers, multiple helicopters will fly at the same time and land at the dog camp together. 

What is the seating arrangement in the helicopter?

There are two front seats and four rear seats; FAA safety guidelines require seating positions to be assigned based on weight and balance of all passengers for each helicopter.

What is the temperature on the glacier? 

The average temperature is between 15-20°F cooler than on the ground

Will I see any wildlife or bears on this tour?

Wildlife is abundant in Southeast Alaska and sightings are possible on any tour, however this is not a designated wildlife tour and sightings are not guaranteed.

Are there any age restrictions for children?

There are no age restrictions for this tour.

Can I bring a backpack?

All bags must be stored at the helicopter base and are not allowed on tour.

Can I bring my DSLR camera?

Yes, you can bring your DSLR camera on this tour.

Can I bring my own food or drink?

Food and drink are not allowed during this tour.

Are food and drink included?

Food and drink are not provided while on tour.

Are there child prices?

Adult and child prices are the same for this tour. There is no charge for infants under 2 years old and they will be required to ride on a guardian's lap. 

Are there any physical requirements for this tour?

Guests must be comfortable walking short distances on uneven and occasionally icy surfaces.

What type of clothing should I wear?

Layered clothing, hats, gloves and sunglasses are strongly recommended.

Are there restrooms available during this tour?

There are restroom facilities at the helicopter base before you depart on your tour, but there are no restrooms available on the glacier. 

Not seeing answers to your questions?

Check out other frequently asked questions here!

Want to learn more about our dogsledding tours?

Check out our blog for more details on all of the dogsledding tours we offer: Alaska dog sled tours!

Customer Reviews
Aug 2022 - Betty S.

We had to substitute the glacier trip but our three pilots were outstanding. We had a group of seventeen and everyone said this was the best excursion!

Jul 2022 - Camilla E.

Helicopter ride was amazing. Pilot showed us many wonderful sights on the way to the dogsled camp. We loved the camp experience. Luther was our musher. He was outstanding! Learned so much. The dogs were wonderful. This was our favorite excursion during our LONG trip. Would definitely do again!

Jun 2022 - Robert C.

This excursion was by far our favorite part of our cruise. The helicopter views were incredible. The mushers were kind and so great with our kids. The dogs had so much personality. We'd do this excursion all over again!! It was truly a once in a lifetime experience.

Jun 2022 - Cheryl L.

A wonderful experience we will never forget!

May 2022 - Linda B.

Beautiful view from helicopter. Dog sledding was amazing 👏

Sep 2019 - Jon H.

This was well worth the $$$$$. Youngest to attend was 7 years old in the group. Even husband who is generally a frugal sort, admitted that this was really an experience. Petting the cute dogs was a bonus (for the children).

Sep 2019 - Helen R.

The dog sledding part of this tour was cancelled but the helicopter ride and glacier excursion was sensational....we had brilliant weather and a great pilot and guides on the glacier

Aug 2019 - Nicole J.

This tour was the most phenomenal experience of our cruise. So different from anything that we can do back home. The team at the camp really look after the dogs and the dogs seem so excited to get to run. Definitely worth doing this tour.

Aug 2019 - Nicole V.

Our dog sledding trip was canceled due to hot weather, so we opted for the helicopter/glacier tour. This is a must do!! First time for most of us on a helicopter and our pilot did a great job. The scenery was beautiful. We were the 4th helicopter in line so we got some amazing pictures :) The glacier was very cool and guides very informative. You even get to lay down and drink the freshest water you will ever taste. We will be doing this again on our next trip!!!

Aug 2019 - Amitabh G.

We were only able to do the helicopter tour, as the dog sledding place is closed. The glacier tour was awesome. Just being in the middle of the glacier, it was a great feeling. Easy ride, our pilot shared many interesting info during the ride. Our guide was super enthusiastic during the tour. Highly recommend.

Jul 2019 - Sean R.

Awesome experience!!

Jul 2019 - Laurie C.

I can't say enough about this excursion and how the staff really made the effort to make this experience happen for me. I had an accident shortly before the trip and tore a muscle in my leg and it was difficult for me to walk on snow or far distances. When I arrived at the dog camp, they had arranged for the snow mobile to pick me up in the helicopter and take me to the sled. They did the same when I had to board the helicopter again. Once I arrived back at the landing pad, they brought my cane out to the helicopter. I was so grateful for being able to share this experience with my family and for all they did for me. The whole experience was amazing including the helicopter ride, meeting the dogs, the dog sledding and seeing my daughter's face light up when she got to hold a puppy.

Jul 2019 - Darren W.

We had an awesome time! The flight over was brief, but fun. Our musher was very nice and easy to talk to. And of course the dogs were super cute and energetic. Would recommend to anyone!

Jun 2019 - John Z.

This excursion worth more than 5 Stars, at least for me! It's worth every penny you pay though the most expensive one for our Alaska excursions. The service, the view, the dogs and the experiences are all unforgettable! They are all short trips, but it's good enough for you to have everything as program described. Highly recommended, everyone should book it.

Jun 2019 - Oneta Michelle V.

Once in a life time opportunity. Loved it!

Jun 2019 - Heather C.

From start to finish this tour was a jaw dropper. The helicopter ride to the top of the glacier was so beautiful and unexpected only because we were so focused on the dogsledding part! So it was an awesome bonus to see the beauty of Alaska from the sky. Dogsledding was a once in a lifetime experience that our musher Luther did a great job at explaining, sharing his dogs with us, and helping capture the moments with pictures.

Jun 2019 - Misty F.

Absolutely AMAZING!!!! By far our favorite Alaskan excursion!

Jun 2019 - Brian B.

This trip was awesome. My children loved being able to to see the dogs and going dog sledding. The helicopter ride over the glaciers was a huge added bonus.

Jun 2019 - Anne Marie C.

Out of this world experience. Loved our helicopter pilot who made my two children super comfortable and excited during the flight. Views from the glacier were amazing. And the dog sledding was so much fun! Highlight of our trip.

Jun 2019 - Greg G.

The staff were exceptional at this tour. Although we were extremely disappointed that we were unable to do our dog sledding due to the bad weather, we were given the opportunity to still do another tour to the glacier which was exceptional. The guides were very professional and informative. We thoroughly enjoyed this tour.

Jun 2019 - PEARL D.

Spectacular experience. If you do NOTHING ELSE, do this.

Jun 2019 - Amylia B.

This was a great excursion! The helicopter ride gave spectacular views you wouldn't normally see! The dog sledding was awesome, the dogs were very excited to pull the sled. We were given several opportunities to take pictures along the way. Our sled dog driver was a wealth of information and knew what he was doing! We are a family of four with two teenagers (14 & 18) that loved the excursion, highly recommend!

Jun 2019 - Nelda C.

The helicopter ride was awesome. It was wonderful to see the glaciers and ice fields from above. The dogs were so excited to pull us. We really got the feel for sledding. And we were able to hold some puppies. A highlight of our trip.

May 2019 - Danial R.

Our Skagway Dog Sledding & Glacier Flightseeing Helicopter Tour was the highlight of our trip! From the moment we arrived at the helicopter base in Skagway, we were greeted with friendly faces and all of the information we would need for the excursion. Once we took off in the helicopter, we felt like we were immediately transferred to a fairytale land because the views were so spectacular! Landing in the middle on Denver Glacier with snow all around us was surreal. My husband and I are both animal lovers and getting the chance to meet and let the sled dogs was a great experience. Riley, our dog musher, was super friendly and make us feel safe and secure during the dog sledding. He also offered to take photos of us on numerous occasions during the tour. The one thing we did think should have been included is the professional photo that was taken during the dog sledding. The excursion is already so expensive that we thought this would have made the experience that much more enjoyable. We still paid the to buy one of the professional photos, but thought this was an unnecessary added cost. Thank you!

Aug 2018 - Colin G.

AWESOME. Jessie was a tremendous pilot and Joey was a great musher. We had a blast!

Jul 2018 - Leanne V.

Absolutely Brilliant, Alaska Shore Excursions were fantastic to deal with. This was one of the highlights of our holiday. From beginning to end this was amazing, the pilot was awesome, pointing out interesting landmarks and getting us within brilliant viewing distance. Then the dog camp what can I say it was exhilarating and our Musher Riley was wonderful. This was the most expensive excursion we did but it was more than worth it.

Jul 2018 - Janet H.

Had a great time. Everything went smoothly and our dog guide was full of information and we had a chance to meet the dogs and run the sled.

Jul 2018 - Ashley A.

Wonderful excursion! Everything we expected and more! Would highly recommend to anyone!

Jul 2018 - Carolyn W.

Helicopter ride was great. Dogsled experience pretty brief but fun.

Jul 2018 - Nancy C.

This was a highlight of our vacation! The scenery was fantastic and it was great to learn so much about the sledding and how it made an impact in Alaskan history. The people we encountered were very courteous and friendly.

Jul 2018 - Kristina S.

Amazing helicopter flight and dog sled experience. It has spectacular views and we got some amazing videos and photos. It was totally worth the expense. The staff, pilot, dogs and musher were wonderful!

Jun 2018 - Subhashini M.

Awesome tour cool yo. I liked the doggos very much. Sled ride was thrilling and fun. I would recommend this to a friend.

Jun 2018 - Jason B.

This excursion was the highlight of my vacation. They were incredibly helpful and concerned about our safety and they were clearly interested in the safety of the dogs as well. Really fantastic!!

Jun 2018 - Abbie S.

This excursion was the highlight of our Alaskan cruise. Everything from checking-in, to the helicopter ride, and then the dog sledding was operated so professionally and all staff were incredibly friendly! I can't say enough great things about this top-notch experience all the way around! Thank you for the memorable experience!

Jun 2018 - Anthony R.

Fantastic experience. Highly recommend

Jun 2018 - John E.

We had high expectations for this excursion and they were exceeded by a mile! From the thrilling helicopter ride with a magnificent view of the rugged Alaskan landscape to the incredible joy of dog sledding across a glacier, this was the best experience of our Alaskan visit. Talk about doing something out of the ordinary, this was it. Thanks to Ryan....and especially to Wingo....our lead dog....what a great experience.

Jun 2018 - Emma B.

Great experience! Well organised and fun to meet the dogs who loved the experience and try out sledding and mushing. Views from the helicopter were great!

Jun 2018 - Ruby F.

Overall great experience!

Jun 2018 - Scott H.

We had a great time on this excursion!! They had to reschedule us due to weather but were very accommodating and friendly!! Definitely recommend!

Jun 2018 - Timothy W.

Absolutely amazing. Everyone we interacted with wasn

Jun 2018 - Jeanie B.

This was by far the best excursion we did in Alaska. It is not to be missed. I do wish the helicopter ride was a bit longer as the views were spectacular. Our musher, Joey, was really good!

Jun 2018 - Joan A.

Breathtaking helicopter ride to the glacier. Adorable, happy, friendly working dogs. Extreme dog-sledding experience, we all got a chance to mush, adorable puppies, lovely enthusiastic people. Do not miss this!

Jun 2018 - Amanda E.

This was amazing! Our helicopter guide (Ian) was fantastic. His narration and flying were top notch. Our mushing guide (Joey) was personable and really enthusiastic about his dogs and sport. We were a bit surprised about the amount of time we actually had on the rig (one short lap) for the cost, but appreciated being a part of such an awesome excursion. How many people can say they have been dogsledding on a glacier?

May 2018 - Maureen D.

This excursion is AMAZING!!! From start to finish an unforgettable experience. We had a brief orientation and were outfitted with snow boots. Personal belongings are stowed in a secure locker. The helicopter ride to the glacier was beautiful. Our pilot gave is a narrated tour along the way. The dog sledding was incredible!! We had an awesome guide who told us all about life out there on the glacier with the dogs. We got to meet our team of the dogs and pet them. We each had a turn to sit and also drive the sled and had a beautiful ride on the glacier. Then we got to hold puppies!! The landscape out there on the glacier is absolutely breathtaking. After a brief helicopter ride back, we were offered hot chocolate or coffee upon our return. Hands down the best excursion we did in Alaska! I'd do it again in a heartbeat. The tour operator was excellent and I highly recommend them!

May 2018 - Ethan H.

Once in a lifetime adventure. The cost is high, but how many people get the chance to walk on a glacier and mush 'real' Alaskan mushing dogs.

May 2018 - Jill B.

Excellent highly recommend. Initial morning tour cancelled due to poor weather but offered flight in afternoon weather permitting. Luckily we got to go on the adventure of a lifetime the helicopter service was excellent, great flight over mountains onto Glacier. Dog handler great and sledding great fun. A fabulous adventure of a lifetime highly recommend.

May 2018 - Cheri R.

Excellent staff and helicopter pilot. The dogs and musher were amazing, Thank you for providing a once in a life time expirence. Well done to all!

May 2018 - Darlene K.

This was a 5 Star bucket list experience. As an AKC show breeder of Chows for over 25 years, we so enjoyed learning about these superb K9 athletes. Our musher, Riley, was so accommodating and knowledgeable. Surprisingly he is from a small town only about 40 miles from where we live. We only wish we could have stayed longer and even helped with kennel chores. Your entire crew from those who assisted us as we entered the facility to the pilots were friendly and amazing. The icing on this cake was the perfect weather the day we took the tour. Larry & Darlene Kofoed

May 2018 - Ryan K.

Hopefully we have another opportunity too do it! Staff was friendly. Experience was once in a lifetime

Aug 2017 - Simone S.

we were delivered to the dog camp by helicopter soaring over breathtakingly beautiful scenery that seemed to go on forever! The camp itself was amazing with very enthusiastic dogs, eager to please. The sled ride with the chance to mush ourselves left us speechless and cuddling the pups afterward was delightful. This excursion exceeded our expectations. It was simply brilliant. Do it if you get the chance!!!

Aug 2017 - Anish K.

THE one excursion you must do in Alaska! The helicopter ride was outrageous and dog sledding was super fun. An added bonus was playing with the pups!

Aug 2017 - Esther G.

This was spectacular. Everything was very organized and exactly as explained to me when I called and talked with a person at the Heliport site. The dog sledding could have been a little longer and a little less time talking with the musher before starting the ride, but all of the information he provided was very interesting.

Aug 2017 - Max I.

Excellent in everything, organization, installations, tour guides, and price. Already recommending the tour.

Aug 2017 - Gabriele P.

Tour was amazing however only 4 stars because due to timing conflicts with train ride I booked this excursion privately. Even though there was a transportation van at the dock we had to walk because if the tour wasn't booked through Norwegian then they wouldn't pick us up. Walking with an elderly was difficult

Aug 2017 - Susan H.

AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING...from beginning to end..the guides and pilots were awesome and constantly gave facts and information. This is a MUST DO in Skagway

Jul 2017 - Jabrina R.

This trip made our vacation. Ryan (Ryne) was a great guide. Thenpuppies were adorable too!

Jul 2017 - Carol C.

Fantastic, amazing, not to be missed. Despite the rain and the cold this day was the highlight of our trip.

Jul 2017 - Clay L.

Great experience!

Jul 2017 - Melinda B.

Awesome awesome awesome!!! Best tour ever!! We had a great time and I highly recommend this excursion if you go to Skagway!!!!!! We loved it!!

Jun 2017 - Mina R.

Life time memories for me and my family. It was a great experience. we loved it.

Jun 2017 - PHILLIP C B.

The most exciting time that we had in Alaska. Greg was great on the dogsled ride. We would do it again in a heartbeat.

Jun 2017 - Bill G.

Excellent tour....Riley was our Dog Sled Guide, very informative and you can tell he loves what he is doing. All people involved were great. Favourite excursion of all the ones we did. Highly recommend it.

Jun 2017 - Joylene C.

One of the best experiences of all our holidays. Helicopter fantastic and pilots lovely. Wonderful to be flying so near magnificent mountains. Dog sledding great fun and mushers lovely people. Loved the way the staff care for the dogs, and loved the way the dogs were so friendly and so enjoyed what they did. Joylene, Adelaide south Australia

Jun 2017 - Erika S.

This was our favorite. Luther was awesome and we loved the helicopter rides! I was a bit disappointed in the quality and background of the two pictures we purchased for but felt compelled in the moment to purchase.

Aug 2016 - Rebecca C.

We had a fun time here! It was the first time we had ever been in a helicopter and the ride alone was a great experience. Once you land on the glacier, you're introduced to the dogs slowly and they all seem like they're really excited to get to run. It doesn't surprise me that they can run 100 miles a day with all that energy. The dog sledding itself is pretty fun too - they take you on a ~ 1/3 mile loop around the top of the glacier, stopping every once in a while to allow a different person to be the secondary 'musher' (standing behind your guide and primary musher), otherwise you're seated. The dog's don't run at a speed that one might be scared of, and it's definitely a fun experience for the 10 minutes that you're on the loop. (It might be longer but maybe it felt short because it was fun). I do wish it were cheaper - I understand that the very expense of bringing everything up to the glacier and back down in the off-season must be very high and that the price is reasonable for the amount of work that goes into training and taking care of the dogs, but it is quite a limiting factor in deciding whether to go again or not. For the time you get to spend actually on the trail I'd say it's fun, but not worth doing more than once.

Aug 2016 - CATHERINE L.

Gorgeous time with wonderful people and dogs Thank to them to allow us to discover their refuge.

Aug 2016 - Hui H.

Great trip, great service

Aug 2016 - Sima S.

Highly recommend this excursion!! It is something you can't do anywhere else. We were so happy that we chose this. Also impressed with the crew - they were awesome!! Go enjoy - you would not be disappointed.

Jul 2016 - Miguel R.

What an experience!! Unforgettable!

Jul 2016 - Melanie W.

What an amazing experience. We ended up having great weather that day and have the most beautiful pictures from our trip. The guides were very courteous and informative. This is a once in a lifetime excursion and is a must! We didn't go through the cruise ship, but we had no problem finding the location and going directly through Alaska Shore Excursions.

Jun 2016 - Cheryl V.

What an awesome excursion this was! This was an experience that I don't think will ever forget. If you have the opportunity to sign up for this tour, take it. You will not be disappointed.

May 2016 - Wendy B.

This was an amazing excursion. We loved every minute of it and will talk about it for years to come.

May 2016 - Scott E.

Fantastic excursion! My daughters loved it. My only complaint is the cost, but we are very glad we did it. The mushers who helped us were terrific!

May 2016 - Jenny B.

AWESOME EXPIERIENCE....THE WEATHER GODS WERE KIND AS WELL

BEST PRICE Guarantee!

$629.00

BEST PRICE Guarantee!

Duration: 2 hours



Number of Passengers *

Age 2+

Passenger: $629.00

250lbs+ Passenger: $779.00

Total
$0.00
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