Event

Sled Dog Demonstration

  • Everyday from 05/15/2018 to 09/18/2018 Location: Sled Dog Kennels (Mile 3.1, Denali Park Road), Fee Information: Free Contact Name: Denali National Park Contact Email: E-Mail Us Contact Phone Number: (907) 683-9532
    These are no racing dogs! Denali's Alaskan huskies are stockier than dogs used in races like the Iditarod - they're built for power rather than speed. Their winter job is two-fold, as their patrols around the wilderness of the park also end up leaving great trails for skiers or recreational dog mushers to travel. In summer, they are furry ambassadors, helping people understand what it means to travel in the Alaskan wilderness. At one of our demonstrations, you'll learn about the history of dogs in the park and watch a ranger ride a sled pulled by a team of sled dogs.

    Demonstration times vary during the year, peaking at 3 demonstrations per day during the main summer months.

    In 2018, the schedule will be:
     
    • Morning: 10 am - 10:45 am.
      Offered daily from May 20—September 13
       
    • Early afternoon: 2 pm - 2:45 pm
      Offered daily from May 15—September 18
       
    • Late afternoon: 4 pm - 4:45 pm
      Offered daily from June 1—September 3

    Please note, parking is very limited at the sled dog kennels. Therefore, we ask all demonstration attendees to come to the Denali Visitor Center early, to use our free bus system to reach the sled dog kennels. Buses begin departing from the visitor center 45 minutes before a program is scheduled to start - i.e., if you wish to attend the 2 pm demonstration, arrive at the Denali Visitor Center around 1:15 pm.

    As many buses as are needed will bring attendees from the visitor center to the sled dog demo, until 15 minutes before the program starts - at that point, buses will no longer bring attendees to the kennels (i.e., if you arrive at the visitor center at 1:55 pm, you will not be able to catch the bus). So please, arrive early at the visitor center to ensure you are on time to see the program!

    Before and after the program, you'll have a chance to pet some of the dogs and talk to rangers and volunteers who work in the kennels. Buses will bring all attendees back to the visitor center after the program, although on a nice day it is a great downhill walk (~ 1.5 miles) back to the visitor center.

     

    Other Ranger Programs in Denali

    Let us be your guide. Rangers at Denali offer a variety of programs, ranging from the very active - such as guided hikes, like our all-day Discovery Hikes - to the relaxed - such as talks in campgrounds. Be sure to check out our most unique program, daily demonstrations in the park sled dog kennels.

    Activities include:
    • Evening campground programs at Riley Creek, Savage River and Teklanika River Campgrounds. Talks also occur in Savage River Campground on weekends (Friday through Sunday).
    • Visitor Center talks, from early June through September. 
    • Demonstrations in the park sled dog kennels, three times a day most of the summer
    • Trail hikes starting from both the Denali Visitor Center and Eieson Visitor Center
    • Off-trail "Discovery Hikes," lasting all day and exploring the rugged backcountry of the park.
     

    2018 Ranger Programs


    Duration and other details about each of these programs can be found on the relevant webpage for each program type, as linked below.

     
    Time Program Name Frequency Location
    8 am Discovery Hike Daily, June 8—September 3 Varies
    10 am Nature Walk Daily, June 8—September 19 Denali Visitor Center
    10 am Sled Dog Demonstration Daily, May 20—Sep 13 Park Kennels*
    10 am Ranger Talk Mondays only, May 22—September 18 McKinley Chalet Resort***
    1 pm Eielson Stroll Daily, Jun 1—Sep 13 Eielson Visitor Center**
    2 pm Sled Dog Demonstration Daily, May 15—Sep 18 Park Kennels*
    3:30 pm Ranger Talk Daily, Jun - Sep 19 McKinley Chalet Resort***
    4 pm Sled Dog Demonstration Daily, Jun 1—Sep 3 Park Kennels*
    7:30 pm Evening Campground Program May 20—Sep 17 Riley Creek Campground, Savage River, Teklanika River and Wonder Lake Campgrounds. Please look for flyers in each campground for program frequency.


    Notes: Programs entail being at the proper location at the times indicated. 
     

    * Getting to the kennels for a ranger program involves arriving at the Denali Visitor Center 45 minutes before a sled dog demo begins. There is no parking available at the kennels, so park at the visitor center (if you have a car) and ride a free bus to the demonstration.

    ** Programs at Eielson Visitor Center require a shuttle bus trip of roughly four hours, so choose a departure that gets you to the facility before a given program is set to begin. 

     *** The Chalet Amphitheater is located outside of the park. To get there you can take a free shuttle from the Denali Visitor Center or drive a private vehicle to the McKinley Chalet Resort, about 1.5 miles north of the park entrance on Highway 3.