It’s that point of yr when the snow begins to fall in Canada. Alberta has already seen its first snowfall and northern Ontario received’t be far behind. Dog sledding in Ontario affords a singular and unforgettable winter expertise, combining journey, pleasure, and the fantastic thing about the province’s snow-covered landscapes. From the trails of the Haliburton Highlands to the picturesque surroundings of Muskoka and the rugged fantastic thing about Algonquin Park, there is no such thing as a scarcity of locations to get pleasure from this conventional winter exercise.
Best Dog sledding in Ontario
We have had the alternative to go canine sledding a number of instances in our lives. We even joined legendary Canadian canine musher Hank Debruin in Haliburton on an all-night coaching enjoyable earlier than he left for the epic Yukon Quest race.
If you could have ever considered doing a canine sledding expertise, it’s straightforward in Ontario Canada. There are so many locations to get pleasure from this winter exercise and we’re going to break down what it’s like on a canine sledding journey and to let you realize what it’s like.
Is Dog Sledding Cruel?
But first, let’s talk about the elephant in the room. Is canine sledding merciless?
The query of whether or not dogsledding is merciless could be a complicated and divisive subject. When carried out ethically and responsibly, dogsledding will not be merciless. We have seen the sturdy bond between the canines and their mushers at a number of completely different canine sled operations. We have seen that huskies love to run and their homeowners love to run with them!
We have studied this subject extensively and have visited canine sled operations in Ontario, Alberta, and British Columbia. When speaking with canine sledding tour operators, they’ve the identical reply as with the case of all companies round the world – There are a number of unhealthy apples that break it for the remainder of the canine mushers who really love their canines and deal with them like household.
The one widespread thread you will notice from the canine sledding firms listed under is that they’ve a deep love and respect for his or her Siberian and Alaskan Huskies. So much has modified over the years with the canines effectively being and security being the most essential elements to these homeowners. Check out our publish The Misconceptions of Dog Sledding
A Brief History of Sled Dogs
Did you realize that canine sledding has a historical past that spans hundreds of years and many alternative cultures? The use of sled canines dates again to at the least 2000 BCE, with proof of dogsledding discovered in Siberia, Northern Canada, and Greenland.
During the gold rushes of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, dogsledding grew to become a vital technique of transportation.
Dogsledding additionally has a notable place in historical past for its function in public well being. In 1925, a diphtheria outbreak in Nome, Alaska, was halted thanks to a relay of mushers and sled canines that transported antitoxin serum over 700 miles in treacherous winter situations, in what grew to become often known as the “Great Race of Mercy.”
Dogsledding in Ontario
“Was this photo taken in Banff?” A reader requested us this after we posted a photograph of our canine staff from our canine sledding journey in Ontario. Many individuals assume that they’ve to go to Alberta, The Yukon, and even Quebec for canine sledding, however Northern Ontario affords wonderful excursions the place you’ll be able to drive your individual canine sled staff and have the journey of a lifetime.
What to Expect on Dog Sledding Trips
Dog sled excursions range in size, expertise, and vacation spot. Most excursions final 3 – 5 hours however you’ll be able to e book a full-day, half-day, and even in a single day and multi-day excursions. Some e book particular occasions for faculties and companies and all of the operators have one factor in widespread, a love for his or her canines!
Some canine sledding kennels provide in a single day lodging in cabins and even heated prospector tents set in snowy forests the place you’ll be able to chill out for the evening having fun with home-cooked meals.
All are led by skilled professional guides who’ve loads of expertise operating groups and all of those Ontario.
Your Dog Sledding Adventure
Upon arrival, you’ll obtain a brief complete lesson on how to drive and management your sleigh and educate you the fundamentals of dealing with the sled and speaking with the staff earlier than the employees brings them out from their cozy kennels and begins to hook them onto the sleds.
They will then introduce you to your staff and you might even have the probability to assist harness and put together them for the journey. This is the place the frenzy begins. When canine sledding, you’re an lively participant. As the canines come out, one among your two-man staff has to maintain on to the lead canine to hold it from operating over to see what all the different canines are doing.
It’s more durable than you assume to hold them nonetheless. They need to run round, sniff the different groups, and say howdy, they combat with one another, nuzzle their noses in the snow, and yip and yap quite a bit. It’s a high-octane expertise and you haven’t even began but!
Like a pack of wolves, there are completely different hierarchies for sled canines. Lead canines are the heads of the pack that hold the groups in line. They are the strongest, healthiest, and most assured. But there are additionally, level canines, swing canines, and wheel canines. Wheel canines are the workhorses. They are sturdy and can pull the sled out of the snow.
The Tour Begins
It’s essential to pay shut consideration to the directions out of your skilled guides in order that when your dogsled staff takes off, you’re prepared. We noticed many individuals operating after their sleds as they have been taken off guard as soon as the staff began operating.
As you step onto the sled, you’re instantly immersed in the winter wonderland that surrounds you, with snow-covered timber and the crisp, chilly air filling your lungs. The canines calm down and get to work wagging their tails as they run by means of the snow-covered trails.
The run often works with one particular person getting on the again of the sled to drive, whereas the different slips underneath a blanket and relaxes in entrance. You can swap off all through the day as it may be a bit of bit tiring. Dog sled excursions do take a bit of labor, you will have to assist the staff.
There are solely 5-6 canines on a staff and there are two of you. If you don’t lend a serving to hand, they’ll flip round and provide you with a glance of, “Come on, do you really think we are going to do this ourselves?” So be ready to sweat a bit.
Don’t fear although, it’s not that troublesome and you’ll be able to work as exhausting or as little as you want. You might simply be solely a passenger letting the skilled guides do all the work as you watch the surroundings go.
Most excursions have a cease the place you’ll be able to get pleasure from sizzling cocoa and snacks and have a while to work together with the lovable Alaskan huskies.
Half Day vs Full Day
If you’ve by no means been on a dogsled earlier than or are a bit of uncertain if you’ll get pleasure from it, a half-day tour is for you. It lasts about 3 hours and it takes you thru different canine sledding trails and beautiful surroundings. Half-day journeys are enjoyable for the entire household taking you thru trails in the Muskoka Wilderness, Algonquin Park, or different personal trails by means of lovely forests. They often cease at a clearing the place you’ll be able to take a break get pleasure from some sizzling chocolate and work together with the lovely Siberian Huskies.
Full-day excursions provide you with a whole day of dogsledding the place you’ll actually get to know your canine sledding staff whereas going deeper into the forest of locations like the Haliburton Highlands and Algonquin Provincial Park. The Haliburton Forest is linked to Algonquin Park and it’s merely one among the most lovely places in Ontario. When a recent snowfall comes down, you’re feeling as for those who’re in a dream.
Dogs are sensible and they like being praised as a lot as the remainder of us so we have been continuously giving them stomach rubs after we stopped and confirmed them loads of affection. The extra we praised them, the sooner they ran!
Most full-day canine sledding excursions will provide a sizzling chili lunch or hamburgers and sizzling canines when you get pleasure from heat drinks by the fireplace to keep heat. And that’s precisely what occurred throughout our tour. We loved snacks whereas the guides fed the staff some snacks too!
Best Dog Sledding Tours in Ontario
We have gone dogsledding with a number of firms round Canada and have all the time loved them. Whether you determine on a day journey or to do some multi-day canine sledding, you’ll be able to depend on having a real journey. You may even e book a one-hour taster tour for those who like. Regardless of what you e book, you’ll be positive to adore it. Here are some extremely beneficial canine sledding excursions in Ontario.
1. Winterdance Dogsled Tours
Winterdance Dogsled Tours is a part of Ontario’s signature expertise canine sledding and now we have identified Hank and Tanya for greater than 10 years. Their lovable Siberian Huskies weren’t named the prettiest staff on the Iditarod path for nothing!
Winterdance Dogsled Tours is a family-run operation owned by Hank DeBruin and Tanya McCready that solely runs with Siberian huskies. They have been operating excursions for greater than 20 years and have 150 Huskies in their lovely kennels on their property sitting excessive on a hill in the center of the forest.
Hank has run and completed each the Iditarod Race and Yukon Quest along with his personal staff of aggressive Huskies. Folks like us might not have the ability or guts to compete in a thousand-mile canine race ourselves, however by taking the 3-hour drive from Toronto to Haliburton Highlands, we will get a style of what it’s like to spend a while on the sled.
You can e book all the things from half-day excursions to longer excursions that embrace multi-day outings. They even provide moonlit runs and heli-dogsledding. We have carried out a moonlit run with Hank when he was coaching for the Yukon Quest. We spent all evening along with his canines on the final winter journey and noticed the nice care he takes ensuring his canines are protected and wholesome.
Where to Stay
Turn your outside journey right into a romantic escape at their four-season cabin the place you’ll be able to gentle up the wood-burning range and sip wine when you reminisce about your extraordinary day journey.
Located close to Haliburton there are many selections for lodging and different adventures in Algonquin Park.
2. Sugar Dogs Adventure Co. in Sundridge Ontario
Sugar Dogs Adventure Co. supplies a particular and thrilling manner to expertise the winter panorama of Ontario by means of their canine sledding and skijoring adventures. They have an expansive, personal path system taking company into the backcountry in the highland forests on the western border of Algonquin Provincial Park.
For teams of greater than 4 adults, in addition they provide backcountry ski & snowshoe excursions that you could mix with dogsledding, so you can also make a weekend out of it. Sunridge borders Algonquin Provincial Park making it a real journey vacation spot in winter. Tours embrace park entry.
Ed has been canine sledding for 25 years and has been working this family-run firm since 2005. Get extra particulars on excursions right here.
3. Snow Forest Adventures
Dogsledding with Snow Forest Adventures in Algonquin Provincial Park and Temagami affords a hands-on, interactive expertise that immerses you in the world of mushing. Owner Greg Lawrence has been guiding individuals by by dogsled and canoe since 1987.
The well being and happiness of his staff are a high precedence. Alaskan huskies differ from Siberian Huskies as they’re a mixture of completely different breads made for long-distance operating. You’ll discover they’re long-legged and long-bodied with a cute and enjoyable persona to go together with it.
Snow Forest Adventures affords multi-day canine sledding journeys that embrace winter tenting
Where to Stay
For these choosing an in a single day expertise, the tour consists of an introduction to winter tenting the place you’ll keep in heated prospector tents, wrapped up in sleeping luggage on a comfortable camp cot. Inside the canvas tents, you’ll keep toasty heat with a wooden range to hold you heat. In the night, you’ll get pleasure from a scrumptious, home-cooked meal ready by your information, supplying you with a style of conventional Canadian delicacies. There is nothing fairly like winter tenting as you watch the stars and get pleasure from the magical silence of all the things being in the wild affords.
4. North Ridge Ranch Muskoka Dogsledding Tours
North Ridge Ranch in the coronary heart of Muskoka has been in operation for greater than 20 years. Owners Brad & Leah Fetterley are obsessed with dogsledding and their greater than 60 Alaskan Huskies. As with all the dogsledding firms listed, their staff’s well-being and happiness is the most essential a part of their enterprise.
North Ridge affords one-hour and half-day excursions. The half-day canine sledding tour takes you on a 20 km journey by means of personal trails. Tours provide the standard choices of studying how to deal with the sleds, stops in the wilderness and sizzling drinks and snacks. See extra particulars right here.
Where to Stay
Being situated in Huntsville there are many issues to do from skating at the Arrowhead Provincial Park ice path to exploring the city of Huntsville. Plus, there are loads of selections for lodging and locations to eat close by.
Tips for Dog Sledding in Ontario
Give your self loads of time to get there, as street situations could be sketchy throughout the winter months and be sure that to verify your map beforehand.
There is restricted cell protection right here, so in case you are counting on Google Maps, you’ll be in bother.
Dress Warm. You can be out in the chilly for a number of hours so heat winter clothes is a should. Make positive to have good snow boots and pack some sizzling pictures on your fingers and toes. When you’re the passenger you’ll be sitting on the canine sleds and your metabolism will decelerate. Even although you’ll have a blanket over you, it’s chilly.
We additionally recommend packing goggles or UVA Sunglasses and a heat hat and balaclava.
So are prepared to reply the name of the wild and e book your individual winter escape? Instead of watching Netflix on chilly winter days, get exterior and embrace the snow. You received’t remorse it.