Most people picture Alaska dog sledding as a winter thing — dark skies, snow up to your knees. We did it in the middle of summer, after a 15-minute helicopter ride over the Chugach Mountains, on a glacier most travelers never set foot on.
We flew out of Girdwood with our 4-year-old, landed on Punchbowl Glacier, met a team of sled dogs and puppies, and got to drive the sled ourselves.
Getting There Is Half the Experience
After check-in and a safety briefing (no backpacks allowed), we boarded the helicopter. The 15-minute flight over glaciers and snowfields was worth the trip before we’d even seen a dog.
Meeting the Dogs
Once we landed, we had time to wander the camp — meeting dogs, holding puppies, sliding down a small glacier hill — while another group took their turn. Our daughter didn’t need constant entertainment; the dogs and snow did the job.
One detail that stuck with us: the dogs were loud and excited right up until the sled started moving. Once running, they went almost silent, all business.
Driving the Sled
We got to drive, not just ride. The sled portion lasted about 15 minutes — short, but only one piece of a bigger day that included the flight, the landing, and the dog camp.
Can Young Kids Do This?
Our daughter was 4, and it worked for our family — though I wouldn’t use her age as a blanket answer for every child. This involves getting in and out of a helicopter and walking on uneven snow, so a child’s comfort with those things matters more than their exact age. There are also weight and physical requirements for the helicopter, worth checking in advance.
What It Costs
This isn’t cheap. It runs seasonally (mid-May through August), with prices varying by date — worth checking current rates directly. What justified the cost for us: the full combination of helicopter flight, glacier landing, and real time with a working dog team, not just fifteen minutes with huskies at ground level.
Worth Knowing Before You Book
- Arrive early for check-in.
- Dress for the glacier, not for Girdwood — conditions on the ice differ from sea level.
- Backpacks usually aren’t allowed on the helicopter.
- Weather can cancel or delay flights — don’t schedule this for your last available day.
Was It Worth It?
Yes, and I’d book it again. It wasn’t the sled ride alone — it was the whole sequence, done as a family, with a 4-year-old along for every part of it. Real dogs, real snow, no engine noise once you’re on the ice.
This post was written by SheRoamsMiles.com, a family travel site sharing firsthand guides for ambitious trips with young kids. Read the full breakdown of cost, requirements, and booking details on glacier dog sledding in Alaska.
There are a lot of things which we do not expect but it’s really happening in us. Yes, accepting it can be very hard and painful. Things that you didn’t imagine that you will also experience. I have encountered a lot of cancer patients/client in my everyday work as claims representative but never in my mind that my father would be a victim also with this monster cells. I have comforted all of them with encouraging words but when it comes to myself I realized that it so hard to deal with it. I feel so depressed upon knowing that my father has a stage 2 gastric cancer. It seems that our world has shaken. Tears is the only way to express how we feel inside. It’s so hard. After 23days in the hospital my father was discharged already and is now recovering at home. It is so painful to see that he is losing weight but I know he will be ok and regain his strenght soon. We trust God for everything. He already been with us since from the first day until now and He will be with us always in this difficult journey. His words are the only anchor that we hold on. Papa please know that we are with you in this battle and we will do everything we can to bring your energy back. Just keep on holding on to God’s promise that He will never leave us nor forsake us.
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I am taking care of my 3 kids now. Two of them are of almost the same age. The one I did not anticipate was that it is a great problem in caring for them. Yes, my mother told me that in her years, she took care of her 7 children all by herself without a helper. I cannot imagine how my mother handled all the pressures and sacrifices. But in my case, maybe because I am a working mom and soon will be resuming to work. I am nursing my newborn 24/7 and I have a hard time taking care of my 1 year old which made me feel guilty as a mother. I am so much thankful for my siblings for helping me take care of my kids. My mother also is always available when I needed her when their titas are not around. In 3weeks time I will be resuming to work. I need to find a helper to assist my sister who will be taking charge with my 2 kids. I hope I can find one soon. I have a lot of things running in my mind now which made me overthink, my dad is in the hospital right now for an operation, a helper to find and I am afraid I wont fully breastfeed my baby when I resume to work. I can express milk in my workplace but time will come milk supply will not be enough for my baby’s demand and by that time formula milk will be introduced which mean another expenses to top of our budget. Well, having three kids with close age gap is difficult but despite of it all the joy that they are giving me is enough to sustain me every day.