Winter Activities: Banff winter echoes with dogsledding in Canadian Rockies

Spend some time leading dogs like these for a truly unique way of exploring the Canadian Rockies.

BANFF, Alberta – Drive your own dog-sled team.

How nice does that sound? For that truly memorable, unique vacation to the Canadian Rockies, it’s pretty hard to beat.

Well, with a half-hour introduction and instruction, you really can take control of a sled and mush along the snow. We offer several tours to get you started. By the time you’re done, you’ll have a greater appreciation for these beautiful animals and the wonders Banff National Park and its environs contain.

You don’t have to drive the team, of course. You’ll be accompanied by a trained and friendly guide at all times, and you’re perfectly welcome to ride along as a passenger. It’s still an ideally Canadian way to explore these lovely mountains.

But the dogs are superbly trained and very friendly, and with just a little preparation you really can be mushing along in almost no time whatsoever.

Here are some of the tours we offer:

- POWDER HOUND EXPRESS: Take your team of dogs along the stunning trails of Goat Pond. It’s a great introduction to dog-sledding. The tour lasts 4 hours, and there are several daily departures from Banff and Canmore.

- GREAT DIVIDE TOUR: This is our most popular dogsledding adventure. In the two hours you’re out on the trail, you’ll mush along the shore of Lake Louise nearly 8 kilometers to the great Continental Divide, the high ridge that separates east from west. You’ll learn the basics of mushing on the way and be encouraged to drive the team home yourself. For a small extra fee, one of the daily tours includes transportation to and from your hotel.

- SUNFEATHER WINTERLUDE: This tour covers some of the same territory that you’ll see on the Powder Hound Express tour, but you’ll be mushing longer and cover more territory. In fact, in the 6-hour tour (of which 1 hour is spent in transit), you’ll be on the sled for about 3 and a half hours. Trails you’ll follow take you along the Goat Creek and through expansive forests of huge spruce trees. Plus, we’ll treat you to slow-roasted deli smokies and other Canadian treats.

- FLIGHT OF THE GREAT SNOWY OWL: Here’s a combination of two of our most popular activities. You’ll spend a couple of hours mushing a team through beautiful, remote wilderness. The wilderness is so remote, in fact, that you’ll take a 25-minute ride in a helicopter just to reach the starting point for the sledding!

Just a reminder, be sure to dress warmly. All of our tours do include professional guides and training. Also, be sure to bring your camera!

For more information, call 1-877-565-9372.