Your Guide to Dog Sledding in Ontario

Dog sledding is pure magic! There’s nothing like the feeling of harnessing the enthusiasm of a team of dogs and working together to glide through the winter woods. It takes years to become a professional musher (as dog sledders are called), but even a rank beginner can get a taste of this historic activity on a guided dog sled ride in Ontario. Dog sledding is a unique experience for families and anyone looking for a quintessential winter adventure.  

What is dog sledding?

Dog sledding has ancient Indigenous origins, especially among Inuit cultures. European settlers adopted dog sledding for the fur trade, policing and transporting mail. The activity has always relied on hardy northern breeds, such as Siberian huskies, Inuit dogs and Alaskan malamutes, which love to run and pull and thrive in the cold. Today, most sled dogs are known as Alaskan huskies—speedy, strong, high-endurance mutts that are bred for dog sledding.

Dog sleds are usually made of wood with slick runners, a foot-operated brake and space for a passenger to sit and a driver to stand. The sled dogs are harnessed and arranged, usually in pairs, along a “gangline” that’s attached to the sled. There may be a dozen dogs or more in a team, though six is average for a guided tour. Lead dogs are smart, athletic and trained to respond to commands (such as “hike” for go, “gee” for right, “haw” for left and “whoa” to slow down), while the strongest dogs are placed in the rear, closest to the sled. A typical team cruises at eight- to 10-kilometres per hour on dog sledding tours.

Sled dogs are treated like both athletes and family pets. They are fed well, receive outstanding veterinary care, get plenty of positive reinforcement and socialization with their teammates, and often get to spend time indoors with their human companions.

Learn more interesting dog sledding facts from veteran guide Tanya McCready, co-owner of Winterdance, a dog sled tour company in Haliburton.

Day tours

You’ll find an array of dog sled tours across Central and Northern Ontario. Options range from basic one-hour dog sled rides to half- and full-day programs where you’ll receive a more in-depth overview of the activity, as well as specialty tours like moonlight trips. Ontario dog sled tours start with an orientation to ensure the ride is safe and fun for both you and the dogs. Group tours involve several teams and sleds, with a trained guide to lead the way.

Abitibi Sled Dogs offers a range of dog sled tours near Timmins. You can tour the kennel to meet the dogs or sign up for a guided sled dog ride ranging from one hour to a half-day.

Borealis Sled Dog Adventures offers dog sled day tours near Vermilion Bay, between the cities of Dryden and Kenora, in Northwestern Ontario.

Sugardogs Adventure Company offers two-hour dog sled workshops and 3.5-hour group tours on a private trail network in Sundridge, just west of Algonquin Provincial Park.

Winterdance in Haliburton is home to a large team of beautiful Siberian huskies, and offers a variety of guided dog sledding adventures on private trails for individuals, families and groups

North Ridge Ranch caters to beginners and families with fully guided, all-inclusive one-hour and half-day dog sled tours in Huntsville.

Egan Creek Outfitters delivers custom dog sled tours for families and groups on scenic trails near Bancroft.

Green Feet Dogsledding  is Southern Ontario’s only dog sled tour operator and capitalizes on Lake Huron’s snowbelt to offer dog sled tours in Bruce County. Their operation is unique in that their operation is kennel-free and utilizes pets from local communities who go home to their owners after the tour is over.

Dog sled getaways

Sign up for a multiday dog sled program if you’re looking for a more intensive experience. Besides getting more time on the trails, you’ll also get to appreciate the rich relationship between mushers and their dogs, including feeding and care. You don’t need to be a hardcore winter camper to participate in an overnight dog sled tour, as many operators provide comfortable accommodations in cabins or traditional heated canvas prospector tents.

Voyageur Quest, based on the west side of Algonquin Provincial Park near South River, offers a unique three-day Algonquin Dog Sled, Ski and Snowshoe Log Cabin Adventure with comfortable accommodations, gourmet meals and a traditional sauna.

Abitibi Sled Dogs rents a warm and cozy prospector site adjacent to its dog kennel for overnight accommodations. The Timmins-based outfitter also offers a three-day, two-night tour for small groups that includes a night on-site and a backcountry winter camping experience along the trail, for a complete northern dog sled adventure

Winterdance offers cabin rentals amidst the frozen lakes and snowy hardwood forests of Haliburton, the perfect complement to make a dog sled tour even more memorable.

Borealis Sled Dog Adventures' adventurous multiday dog sled tours in the wilderness of Northwestern Ontario include cozy traditional canvas tents and woodstoves. Tours are led by guide, musher and artist, Burton Penner. 

Dog sled workshops

Although all Ontario dog sled tours include a basic lesson, Bruce County’s Green Feet Dogsledding is your best bet for a course in doing it yourself. The company offers immersive workshops and sled dog training that offers great socialization and a new skill for your pooch.

Dog sled races

Ontario dog sled races are equal parts excitement, fun and sense of community. There’s no better way to appreciate the athleticism of sled dogs and the special bond forged between a musher and their dog team.

Held over a weekend in early February, just north of Huntsville, the Kearney Dog Sled Races is Ontario’s largest dog sledding event. There are multiple race classes ranging from single dog skijoring (cross country skiing with a dog) competitions to elite events, as well as kids’ races. The festivities are open to the public and many mushers allow visitors to meet their dogs, as well as deliver informal dog sled workshops.

Meanwhile, the Seguin Sled Dog Mail Run is a fun community event celebrating the history of dog sledding, with food, demonstrations, time to interact with sled dogs and opportunities to try dog sledding.

Book your tour for a unique and magical winter experience

Dog sledding has stood the test of time because of the unique bond the activity creates between humans and animals. It is a signature Ontario winter adventure and there are plenty of places for snow-loving beginners to try it out.

Showing 'Edited Body' is no longer supported.