Discovering Dogsledding

Dog Sledding is one of Canada´s oldest official sports. It became an official sport in 1908 in Canada´s Yukon Territory. Of course, it really began thousands of years prior to this! Our Native North Americans such as the Canadian Indian and Inuit tribes were the foremost peoples to use the huskies in an interdependent relationship.

When the temperature drops and the first flakes of snow begin to accumulate each fall, the dogs and their human companions know that people from around the globe will soon be flocking to the Alberta Rockies for the world-famous snow. Many of those visitors are eager to experience the thrill of running their own dog team from the back of the sled, with an experienced guide close at hand. Others are content to let their guide direct the dogs while they sit back and soak up the view. A sled-dog trip is fast becoming an integral part of a Canmore winter visit. Could there be a more quintessentially Canadian experience?

Dogsledders get the opportunity to interact closely with the high-spirited Alaskan Huskies, learning everything from proper techniques for rigging a harness to keeping the pooch-powered sled under control.

The best part is, no experience is needed - dogsledding is accessible to people of all ages and fitness levels.

Local dog-sled operators offer a number of different trips through the remote Spray Lakes region east of Banff National Park, and transportation is available from Banff or Canmore.