Dogsledding in Haliburton, Ontario's spectacular winter wilderness, offers a glimpse into a time gone by, when life was slower and people were as one with the natural world around them. Winterdance offers various dogsledding packages with our beautiful Purebred Siberian Huskies to allow people to step back in time. Your dog team will come completely outfitted with all food & beverages provided on 1/2 & full day trips and moonlite tours. Please note it is your responsibility to bring warm clothing. We have included a basic list below to serve as a guideline. All the sleds are 5 foot wooden basket style, with cushions on the bottom and back making for a very comfortable ride and warm, snuggly fleece blankets are provided for extra warmth. Simply choose a dogsledding tour and let us introduce you to an amazing adventure! Our dog sledding trips book up quickly, especially on weekend so advance reservations are highly recommended. Click here to Reserve a Dogsled Tour Now! If you are a travel planner, yes our dogsled tours are commissionable.

Winter 2007/2008 Season Tour Price per person (add GST) Two Hour $ 85 Half Day $140 Full Day $240 Moonlit Run $150 Multi-Day custom package pricing (scroll down for tour itineraries)

Heli-dogsledding

This is a truly unique experience. How many people do you know that are dropped off by helicopter to enjoy a full or 1/2 day of dog sledding? You can arrange your own group or ask to be included in our next guided adventure. This can be an executive outing or just casual group of friends. You will love it!

Fex Aviation will pick you up at a takeoff location in the Greater Toronto Area. On route you will enjoy a spectacular panoramic view, don’t forget your camera, you will not want to miss recording this great event. You destination will be the rugged wilderness of the Haliburton Highlands, bordering on Algonquin Park, our pilot will personally escort you to our dog sledding location, 30 minutes north of the Village of Haliburton. The entire flight will take less than an hour.

After your arrival you’ll have time to gear up before receiving a complete introduction and instruction on how to handle and drive your team of dogs. Then prepare to harness and hook up all the teams for remarkable day of fun and fresh air.

We can stop as often as you like to capture the scenery and nature on film so, remember your camera or a video camera. For the full day tour we stop for morning and afternoon snacks as well at noon your guide will hook down all the teams and start a roaring fire to cook you a hearty lunch. we then continue exploring the trails by dogsled for the rest of the day. We will cover approximately 40 km on this tour.

For the 1/2 day tour we stop mid morning or mid afternoon for a cup of hot chocolate and some freshly baked pastries. We cover approximately 15 km on the 1/2 day tour.

At the end of the day it’s time to say good-bye to your new found companions and board the helicopter for your return trip home. This will give you a chance to reminisce (mushing talk) of the days adventure. Call us for adventure dates and let us take care of the details. Cost for this remarkable experience is just $700 per person for the full day or $620 for the 1/2 day, based on a group of 4.

Two Hour Tour

Get a taste of the wonderful sport of dogsledding! We will instruct you in the basics of driving a dog team, and then introduce you to your dog team with 4 or 5 of our affectionate Siberian Huskies. Tours have 2 people per sled with clients taking turns riding and driving (if they wish). A guide is always in the lead with their dogsled team. After instructions you're off exploring our east lake trail up to picturesque Bowen Lake. You will be out on the trail with the dogs for approximately 40-45 minutes. Best enjoyed by people in at least average physical shape and on a tight time line or with younger children. Reservations are highly recommended!

Price: $85 per person + G.S.T.

By far our most popular dogsled tour with first time dogsledders and return clients alike, as you really get an opportunity to know your huskies and get a true feel for handling a dog sled! These dogsledding trips offer a variety of trail conditions, including challenging rugged, forested terrain, and a multiple lake system. Novices are welcome as you will be given complete instructions on dogsledding skills. You should be in at least average physical shape to best enjoy a 1/2 day tour. This dogsled trip includes a midway break for a snack and hot chocolate (provided) and is a great opportunity for those "Kodak moments" of the beautiful Haliburton scenery and of course your new 4-legged friends! We offer 2 of these dog sledding tours every day with the instruction sessions starting at 9:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. After instructions you will be on one of several 1/2 day trails for approximately 2 1/2 - 3 hours, with additional time at the end for photos & rewarding your huskies! Reservations required.

Price: $140 per person + G.S.T.

The full day dogsledding tour starts around 9:00 a.m. with an instruction period of approximately 1/2 hour, allowing you a chance to help harness your own huskies and hook them up if you wish! We will then head out on the trail for the day with your team of 6 beautiful sled dogs, exploring around 30 km's of this unspoiled wilderness. Travel through Bear Valley and Beaver Valley, to get to various remote lakes, or experience the challenge of the ridge trail. We have several full day dogsled tour trails and your guide will pick the trail that best suits the group. You will stop for morning and afternoon snacks (for people and dogs) and hot chocolate. At lunch time you will take a layover at our remote, picturesque heated lakeside Teepee, to enjoy a hot, hearty lunch, prepared by your guide over a roaring campfire (all food is provided and we guarantee you won't leave hungry). Please let us know if anyone in your group has special dietary needs. The trip will end around 4:00 p.m. allowing you time to help unhook your new best 4-legged friends and wish then a fond farewell! This is a popular tour with return clients or people in good physical shape and winter adventures! Reservations required.

Price: $240 per person + G.S.T.

Dogsledding at night is truly an incredibly moving experience and one that is impossible to put into words. With a crisp, clear night, the stars and moon radiating off the snow can be so bright you may not even need your head lamp or the provided flashlights. There is also such silence, all you hear is the dogsled runners on the snow and the breath of your huskies - a truly magical experience. The trips will start around 7:30 p.m. with brief instructions. We will then hit the trail with your 4 dog team for about 30 minutes until we reach a clearing with a roaring fire. There we will spend about 20-30 minutes with appropriate refreshments being served. Those looking for some romance will have some private time to gaze at the moon and stars and if we are lucky hear the distant howl of the resident wolf pack. By the time we sled out again, the trip will end around 9:30 p.m. Enjoyed best by adults in at least average physical shape, these trips run only on select dates. Reservations required.

Price: $150 per person + G.S.T.

These trips can include any combination of 1/2, full day and moonlite runs with overnight accommodation at our own cabin or local resorts & inns. Some people have also chosen to stay overnight in our heated teepee's. We have over 60 km of dogsled trails, so that mulit-day clients get to explore different trails with each tour (except for the first several km's which is the main trail that all other trials branch off of). These trips require advance reservations and prices will be determined based on the client's individual requests and desires. Please call or e-mail us for more information.

Price: custom package pricing

Group Dogsled Tours

Have a group that you'd like to take dogsledding? We enjoy working with various groups, including school & scout/guide groups, tour operators and corporate clients. Packages can include dogsledding for various lengths of time, snowshoeing, outdoor cooked lunches, sleigh rides, and various other local activities. We can handle groups of up to 60 people for same day packages. Call or email for more details.

Children (aged 2 - 16) are welcome on our trips but must be accompanied by an adult. As a guideline we recommend children be at least 2 years old for our 1 hour trips, 5 years old for 1/2 days and 7 years old for full days. Our dogs are all very friendly, but an excited dog can easily accidentally knock down a small child. Parents keep a close eye on the little ones! Children must ride in the basket of the sled at all times. It is solely up to the discretion of the guide whether a child is big enough, strong enough or mature enough to try driving a team of dogs. Children rates are based on "sled load", usually children 8 and under can be put together in the basket of a sled in which case the tour for each child is 1/2 price.

If you have a special occasion (birthday, anniversary, proposal, etc.) and want some special extra's (a rose laying on the sled, birthday cake, fine dining, etc.) please feel free to contact us, we will be happy to make the arrangements for you!
Price: dependent on clients requirements

What To Bring

Thermal underwear
Fleece/warm synthetic pants and sweater
Gortex (or equivalent) outer pants and jacket
Wool socks
Warm boots (such as Sorrels or Kamiks)
Sunglasses
Sunscreen
Mitts or gloves (mitts are preferable)
Toques or balaclavas

** Don't forget your camera or camcorder as there will be opportunities for memorable pictures of you with your team as well as possible wildlife sightings.