Juneau Dog Sledding on Mendenhall Glacier — Tour Guide

What to Expect

A Juneau dog sledding tour on Mendenhall Glacier combines two of Alaska’s most iconic experiences into a single excursion: a helicopter flight over the Juneau Icefield and hands-on mushing with a team of Alaskan huskies on a high-altitude glacier camp.

Your day starts with a shuttle from the cruise terminal to the helicopter staging area near Juneau International Airport, roughly a 15-minute drive. After a safety briefing and gear check, you board a helicopter for a spectacular 15 to 25-minute flight over the Tongass National Forest, tracing the spine of the Mendenhall Glacier until you reach the dog sled camp perched on the ice at approximately 3,500 to 4,000 feet elevation.

The camp itself is a small seasonal operation staffed by professional mushers who live on the glacier throughout the summer season. These are working sled dog teams, not a petting zoo. The dogs are athletes who train year-round, and many of them have run the Iditarod or Yukon Quest with their handlers.

Once on the ice, your guide will introduce you to the team and walk you through the basics of sled handling: how to stand on the runners, use the brake bar, and steer through turns. Then you are off. A typical run covers 1.5 to 2 miles across the glacier surface, with your guide riding a parallel sled or running alongside. The dogs are vocal, enthusiastic, and fast. Even on the flatter glacier terrain, a team of 10 huskies pulls with surprising power.

After the run, you will have time to visit the puppy area if there are young dogs in camp. Operators breed their own teams, so there are almost always puppies or juvenile dogs to interact with. This is the part of the tour that children remember most vividly.

Who Runs These Tours

The primary operators for glacier dog sledding out of Juneau are Alaska Icefield Expeditions and TEMSCO Helicopters (which partners with established mushing outfits for the on-ice portion). Some cruise lines also contract with NorthStar Trekking for combination helicopter-and-dog-sled packages.

Alaska Icefield Expeditions is the longest-running glacier dog sled operation in the Juneau area and maintains their own camp and dog teams on the Mendenhall or Herbert Glacier. Their mushers typically have competitive race backgrounds, and the dogs are purpose-bred Alaskan huskies built for endurance.

Pricing across operators is remarkably consistent. Expect to pay $550 to $700 per person for the standard tour, which includes the helicopter flight, approximately 30 to 45 minutes of mushing, puppy time, and return transportation to the cruise port. Some operators offer extended tours with additional glacier walking time for $750 to $850.

What to Wear

The glacier is a different climate zone from downtown Juneau. Even on a 65°F day at the port, the ice surface sits well below freezing.

• Layers are mandatory. A moisture-wicking base, a fleece mid-layer, and a waterproof windbreaker or shell jacket will cover most conditions.
• Thick socks. Wool or synthetic hiking socks keep your feet warm inside the provided glacier boots.
• Sunglasses. Non-negotiable. The glare off open ice on a clear day is punishing.
• Gloves. Lightweight waterproof gloves protect your hands on the sled handlebar, which gets cold quickly.
• No loose bags. FAA helicopter regulations require hands-free boarding. Cameras must have neck straps or fit in a pocket. Purses and backpacks stay in lockers at the heliport.

Is It Worth the Price

At $550 to $700 per person, this is among the most expensive shore excursions available in Alaska. For context, a standard helicopter glacier landing without dog sledding runs $350 to $450, and a whale watching tour costs $150 to $200. You are paying a significant premium for the dog sled component.

That said, this excursion consistently tops satisfaction surveys and review platforms for Alaska cruise excursions. The combination of the helicopter flight, the physical thrill of mushing, and the puppy interactions creates a multi-sensory experience that is difficult to replicate anywhere else. If you are debating between this and a standard helicopter glacier tour, the dog sledding version delivers substantially more activity time on the ice and a far more interactive experience.

Ship vs. Independent Booking

Unlike the standard helicopter glacier tour, dog sledding is often better booked independently. Cruise lines mark up this excursion significantly, sometimes adding $100 to $150 per person over the direct operator price. Because the dog sled camps have fixed capacity regardless of who books the seats, you are getting the exact same experience either way.

The one advantage of booking through the ship is weather protection. Helicopter flights are frequently grounded by fog, wind, or low clouds, and ship-booked guests get priority rebooking when weather clears. If dog sledding is your absolute must-do and you cannot risk missing it, the ship booking gives you a safety net. If you are flexible and can accept the small risk of a weather cancellation (with a full refund), booking directly with the operator saves real money.

Best Time to Book

Dog sled glacier tours have extremely limited daily capacity because each camp can only rotate so many groups through. Prime morning time slots (the first flights of the day, which have the best weather odds) sell out months before the cruise season begins. Book 4 to 6 months in advance if possible, and no later than 60 days before your sailing date. If you wait until you are onboard the ship, this excursion will almost certainly be sold out.