Spring Equinox Aurora Safari | Arctic Dog Adventure Co.

3-7 day WHITE MOUNTAINS NRA TRIPS

Cabin-to-cabin dog sledding trips in the White Mountains National Recreation Area

Travel by dog team into the remote, pristine wilderness of the White Mountains National Recreation Area. A Northern extension of the Rocky Mountains located just north of Fairbanks, the White Mountains are marked by rolling hills of black spruce forest, rocky limestone cliffs, open river valleys, and mountain ridges adorned with mystical black granite tors.

Drive your own small dog team through thick boreal forest, alongside the fantastic rock arches of Limestone Gulch, across Beaver Creek (a National Wild & Scenic River), paralleling steep mountains studded with tors.

Beautiful, rustic log cabins are dotted throughout the 200 miles of trails traversing the region, roughly a day's travel apart.

Pricing is all-inclusive. This means it includes travel to and from your hotel to Arctic Dog Adventure Co., meals, snacks, sleeping bags, pads, cold weather gear + accommodations.

Accommodations: Shared accommodations in remote BLM log cabins.

Duration: 3-7 days.

Difficulty: Moderate.

Price: Contact us for a quote.

Dates: Not available in 2022.

To request a quote, please send us a message with using the form below:

FYI: MULTI DAY TRIP PLANNING

AVAILABLE TO BOOK

by requEST

LOCATION

white mountains national recreation area, alaska

WHAT'S INCLUDED

✔ Hotel/airport pickup

✔ Alaskan-inspired meals & snacks

✔ Dog mushing lessons

✔ Cold weather parkas, snow pants, boots

✔ Sleeping bags, liners and pads

✔ Basic aurora photography lessons

✔ Accommodations

is this trip right for me?

Are you an adventurous soul? A dog lover? Do you love winter? Are you desirous of a closer connection to nature? Answer yes to any one of these? Then yes! This trip might be perfect for you!

No previous mushing experience is required. We will teach you everything you need to know to feel comfortable and equipped for your days on the trail.

That being said, dog mushing is a physical activity...from harnessing dogs to standing on the sled all day, you will need to be reasonably able-bodied in order to fully enjoy this experience. The White Mountains frequently has sections of trail that are steep and technical. If you are hesitant about your ability to manage a dog team, please contact Lisbet & she will guide you through a series of questions designed to evaluate your abilities. You are probably better suited for this than you think.

You do not need previous experience with cold weather climates, but you will need to equip yourself with a proper set of winter base layers in order to ensure your comfort and safety. Even though it is spring in Alaska, weather and temperatures can still be harsh and unpredictable. We will provide you with a list of suggested & required gear -- your comfort is our utmost concern !

GALLERY

will i drive my own dog team?

Yes. You will drive and be responsible for your own small team of 4-6 dogs. You are accompanied at all times by a professional dog sledding guide who oversees the whole experience, allowing you to relax and enjoy the thrill of driving your own dog team. On orientation day, your guide will introduce you to your team, give you a lesson on how to drive the sled, and take you out on a short trip to practice your new mushing skills. You will learn how to harness a sled dog, and how to slow and stop your team. Your guide drives their own team just ahead of you, keeping an eye on the dogs, the trail, and your progress. You will drive a dog sled all five days -- you will not have the option of sitting in the sled as there is only one person per sled/team.

whEN IS the best time to see the aurora?

Although the northern lights can be viewed in Fairbanks from August through April even at Kp0,* your chance of seeing the lights in increased when the skies are clear. March is historically the driest month all year in Fairbanks, meaning clear skies and good chances of spotting the aurora. Additionally, spring equinox occurs during March. The northern lights are caused by charged particles from the sun (solar wind) hitting the Earth’s magnetosphere. Around the equinoxes (fall and spring), the Earth’s axis is side-on to the sun, which happens to sync with the magnetic field of the solar wind. That means that during the equinox, charged particles are more likely to be accelerated down the field lines of Earth’s magnetosphere, therefore allowing us to see the northern lights. That being said, we see great aurora at all times during the month in wintertime, including during full moons. According to Explore Fairbanks, 90% of people who stay in Fairbanks for a minimum of three nights see the aurora while they are here.