Dog Sledding in the Great Canadian Wilderness North of Toronto
Dog sledding is as quintessentially Canadian as it gets but there’s no reason to travel to the Arctic to try this thrilling winter activity.
Just a few hours north of Toronto’s you’ll find many fine dog sled operators who’ll introduce you to working with these incredible animals, or take you out on a guided expedition. Some accommodations are getting in on the mushing as well, offering on-site instruction and mini trips on the trails. Check out the list of tourism businesses below that offer dog sledding adventures all winter long:
Dog Sled Adventures
ALGONQUIN PARK
Call of the Wild Adventure Consultants
Couples Resort Dogsledding Package 
Northern Edge Algonquin
Snow Forest Adventures
Voyageur Quest
ALMAGUIN HIGHLANDS
Sugardogs Adventure Company Sundridge
MUSKOKA
Hidden Valley Resort Huntsville
North Ridge Ranch Huntsville
Dog Sled Events
Each year in the Explorers’ Edge region, there are two exciting dog sled events that are guaranteed to delight the folks who come out to join the fun.
The Kearney Dog Sled Races will celebrate their 25th event this year and take place on February 9 & 10, 2019 in the Almaguin Highlands area (just north of Huntsville, Ontario). The smaller distances allow spectators to see more of the action, as do the fun 1 and 2-dog skijoring races. Teams from all over the world will be competing for the winning purse. There’s even more family fun including live music, marketplace vendors, dog sled rides, live chainsaw carving exhibition, an appearance by Rusty the Clown, and lots of winter games in the supervised children’s activity area.
The Seguin Sled Dog Mail Run will be held on February 16, 2019. This feel-good event sees teams and spectators rally at the Humphrey Arena (near Parry Sound) at 8am for a pancake breakfast, after which the mushers and dogs deliver the mail – or ‘sledvelopes’ – through a back trail to the post office in Rosseau. Fans get a great view of the dogs in action when they line the route into Rosseau, and the excitement and anticipation of the crowds waiting for the arrival of the teams is fantastic. Meet the mushers and their dogs post run, and enjoy a delicious meal in the Rosseau Memorial Hall afterwards.
(And don’t forget to mail your ‘sledvelope’ to send with the dogs to Rosseau. Hand-stamped, these special letters have become collector items all over the world. Who wouldn’t want mail delivered by a team of huskies?)
Maybe it’s the excitement of the dogs that gets their human admirers around them excited too, because everyone – kids and adults alike – wears a big smile at the Kearney and Seguin dog sled events. If you’ve never witnessed this quintessential Canadian winter activity, we’re betting the delight of seeing it for the first time will put a smile on your face too.
Looking for a fun-filled, family activity with your own four legged friend? The SportLab in Huntsville is hosting skijoring lessons at Arrowhead Provincial Park this winter. With Skijoring – cross-country skiing with a dog – skiers provide power with their skis and poles while your dog provides additional power by pulling ahead. It’s a blast! All three clinics are being held from 1-4pm and will take place January 20, February 3 and March 3, 2019. To register for one of these sessions click here.
Still can’t decide if a dogsledding trip is for you? Check out this video made by a very satisfied customer who travelled with North Ridge Ranch last winter – wheeee!
To plan your stay in the Explorers’ Edge region of Ontario click here.
For directions and how to get here, click here.
To check out Special Offers from area operators click here.
