6 Dog Sledding Experiences in Michigan + Where to see Sled Dog Races

Otter River Sled Dog Training Center and Wilderness Adventures is a place that you can visit to share our passion for everything about sled dogs

Rides and Tour Packages 2021-22: Let us help you plan a great dog sledding package for your group or event!

3 mile ride-Allow about 1.5 hours as you first learn how to hook up sled dogs, then enjoy a beautiful ride through the woods. Be a passenger or drive your own sled. $75each
10 miles-About 3.5 hours. $125 each

Half Day Adventure, 5-6 hours, includes trail-side lunch and tales from the trails around the campfire. $250 each

Overnight Camping-An afternoon of dog sledding followed by dinner on the campfire. Spend the night in our heated Montana wall tent followed by hot breakfast, then more dog sledding ending with lunch back at the homestead. All this in the wilderness areas along the Otter River. $500 each.

Local motels available at reduced rates.
Add ice fishing to your dogsledding tour, about 4 hrs, for an extra $125 each.
Let us come to your location for family gatherings or parties for $250 per hour. Add $50 if we will be travelling farther than 60 miles.

If we are creating a unique dogsledding experience for you or your group, prices may vary accordingly.

Owned by Kim Darst, who in 2009 became the first musher from New Jersey to embark on Alaska’s Iditarod, brought her team to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to be able to train her team. Now you and your family can learn about this unique and fascinating mode of travel and feel the incredible power of dog sledding for yourself.

Winter tours, about 8-10 miles long, are available with a double driver sled so our guests can get to drive with another person explaining the driving process. The area boasts miles of picturesque trails, complete with waterfalls and an abundance of wildlife. Pictures and hot chocolate are available at the end of the tour, while they answer all of your questions. Tours last about 3-4 hours and start at $150 per person.

Note: Summer tours are available if you want to learn about them.

Owned by Ed and Tasha Stielstra, who have owned sled dogs for more than twenty years and love sharing this magical sport with others. They offer adventure tours for guests of any age and ability. If you are up for the trip, they are located in the Eastern Upper Peninsula, near McMillan, Michigan.

They offer a variety of packages. Starting out with a half-day 10-mile trip, perfect for families, and then they also have a 20-mile all day trip. Prices will vary depending on the length of your trip, if you are a rider verses a driver, and weekday vs weekend, but plan on spending over a couple of hundred dollars for these rides. If you are looking for a weekend family getaway, overnight packages are available as well.

Note: Summer camps are available too.

Join Iditarod pro, Liza Dietzen and her team of dogs from Evergreen Kennel for a thrilling dog sled adventure at Treetops Resort.

Recommended for adventure seekers for all ages! Minors must be accompanied by parent/guardian.

A “sled load” consists of the following:
1 adult under 200 lbs.
1 adult and 1 child under 200 lbs.
2 children under 200 lbs.
A separate time slot must be booked for each “sled load.” To accommodate families, it is recommended that you reserve time slots that are back to back.

Sarah Dobbrastine, a local nurse who rescues Sled Dogs, brings her Second Chance Mushers to Schuss Mountain on the weekend for Dog Sled Rides when trail conditions permit.

The dog sledding trail is about a mile long and is located at Schuss Village (based out of the Nordic Center). The ride itself lasts about 15-20 minutes and are scheduled in 30-minute time slots. This allows additional time for a dog meet-and-greet, instructional time, and sanitization between rides.

Rides are $65 each and have a strict 200-pound rider weight limit (mix and match your sled occupancy up to the weight limit with 1 adult, 1 adult + 1 child, 2 children, ​1 child).