Canmore Dog Sledding: A Canadian Rockies Thrilling Adventure

It had long been on my bucket list to go dog sledding. With a recent winter trip to Banff, Alberta, I finally got to scratch it off my list! With eager anticipation, we flew to Calgary and booked a fantastic dog sledding excursion with Howling Dog Tours in Canmore. So, we’re sharing our experience.

My wife, Karen, was already a proud member of the “Dog sledding club” because she had taken an excursion In Juneau, Alaska, in 2009. That one required a helicopter to the top of a glacier.

In Alberta, we booked an “unleash the musher” sledding tour for our Banff winter trip, a two-hour excursion that included interaction with the sled dogs.

Why We Chose Howling Dog Tours?

While we had previously made a road trip from Vancouver to Banff in September, we decided to make a second trip to experience winter in the Canadian Rockies. Karen was in charge of our entire itinerary because she thoroughly researches every destination and tour company. 

While looking for dog sled excursions, she found tours in Lake Louise, Banff National Park, and Spray Lakes in Canmore. She chose Howling Dog Tours in Canmore because:

• They are an established family-run business that has been offering dog sledding excursions for over 25 years.
• No need to share your sled with a stranger (except your personal guide, of course).
• Their tours are more interactive and not just a sled ride.
• Rich and Dana are passionate about what they do and honestly care about their dogs.
• Each sled has a guide, so we aren’t left to guide our own sleigh.
• Guests can ride on the back (if conditions allow) and help guide the dog team.
• Howling Dog Tours provides complimentary shuttle buses to the start of the tours. Should you need it, they also offer pick-up and drop-off at a hotel in Canmore or Banff.

Canmore Dog Sledding Cost

Howling Dog Tours offers two excursions, Unleash the Musher (two hrs.) or Dog Day Afternoon (half-day). You can only go from January through March if you prefer the longer tour. We booked the two-hour tour and were required to show up one hour before our start time.

While dog sledding in the Canadian Rockies may seem pricey, Karen disagrees. In Alaska, dog sledding is only accessible via helicopter, adding significant cost. In 2009, Karen paid USD 1000 for a dog sledding trip with her daughter, and today it’s about USD 675+ per person.

In contrast, Karen and I paid only CAD 250 each for dog sledding in Canmore, a great deal, especially with the dollar exchange.

While doing research, there are some cheaper tours, but like everything in life, you get what you pay for. An advertised “Narnia tour” costs CAD 145 per person, but it’s a mere 30-minute excursion. Seriously, what can you do in 30 minutes?

Howling Dog Tours – Directions and Hours

Howling Dog Tours operates on campground lands. With winter road closures, dog sledding along Spray Lakes offers a peaceful, scenic experience. Weather permitting, tours run from December to April. In December, sleds use closed roadways, and once the ice thickens, they can run across the lagoons.

Address: 712 Bow Valley Trail, Unit #105 (in the Purely Pets store), Canmore, Alberta, CANADA.

• Take Trans-Canada Highway #1 to Exit 89 (Canmore Town Center) when traveling from either East (Calgary) or West (Banff).
• 2-Hour tour times: 10 am, noon, 2 pm, and 4 pm. Note 4 pm tours operate partly in the dark.

One of the reasons we booked with Howling Dogs was their shuttle bus service. Their drivers pick up guests from their Bow Valley Trail office to the site where the tours start. Other tour operators don’t offer this convenient service, and guests complain of arriving late or not finding the location. 

While riding the shuttle, we noticed no signage in the remote location for dog sled tours. In fact, we entered an area that said it had restricted entry. We were thankful we didn’t have to find the correct location on our own.

Howling Dog Tours is one of the rare dog sledding companies that offer pickup at your hotel in Banff or Canmore. If you’re staying at a local hotel and do not have a rental car, you’ll appreciate this handy service.

Booked guests coming from Banff pay a small fee. We had a hotel in downtown Banff and opted to drive ourselves since we had a rental SUV. Our 5-day itinerary included one night in Canmore at the Pocaterra Inn and Waterslide. But closer to our trip, Howling Dogs didn’t offer a tour on the day we were there.

It meant we switched around our itinerary and fit dog sledding into our busy schedule at the end of our stay.

Harnessing The Dogs

Our group consisted of twelve, with two per sled. When we arrived, there were almost 60 dogs, all barking in anticipation of the run. Now we know where the company name came from, lol!

We were assigned a guide, James, who introduced us to our dog team. What we loved about this tour was being able to interact with the sled dogs.

James showed Karen how to harness the dogs and prepare them for the run. The tours typically run with six to eight dogs per sleigh. After they harnessed the dogs, I sat in the sleigh to provide weight while Karen held the guidelines tightly and James attached the six dogs.

Once snuggled into the sled and covered by a few blankets, we were off on our run. During the sled tour, we were captivated by the incredible scenery. Since Karen has been dog sledding in both Alaska and Alberta, she can tell you that Alaska scenery on a glacier is boring!

There’s nothing around but ice and sky, and most of the time, the surrounding mountains are hidden by cloud cover. Compare this to dog sledding in beautiful Canmore surrounded by trees covered in fresh-fallen snow! It’s a winter wonderland.

Our Sled Tour Experience

For Alaska dog sledding, Karen flew to the glacier and completed a large oval circuit on the glacier. In Canmore, we had a picturesque trail through the woods and traveled about 5km (3 miles) along the Spray Lakes. With clear skies and postcard views, its jaw-dropping scenery left us speechless.

Five minutes into our run, a photographer on the trail captured our picture. This photo is available for purchase at the end of the run and costs CAD 25 for the print and digital image. Of course, we purchased ours as a memento of our experience.

During our tour, we learned that “lead dogs” (at the front) steer the team, and “wheel dogs” at the back provide the muscle. The guides pair males and females to prevent fighting, and the pairs usually remain the same.

As the dogs ran, they would snap at the snow to the side. The mouthful of fresh snow helped them stay cool and provided a drink.

We disembarked from the sled at the halfway turnaround point to have a tasty hot beverage (hot chocolate, tea, etc.) and a cookie. We enjoyed the welcomed break because the sleds can get rather uncomfortable after riding for half an hour over the snowy terrain.

At this point, the dogs started their ritual of non-stop barking until they ran again. During the break, we could pet the dogs and get to know them better. I found all the dogs very friendly and really appreciated the attention from humans!

Also, we got to speak to Dana and talk to her about their Canmore dog sledding operation. Karen was curious to know why Howling Dog Tours didn’t offer a summer mushing tour.

These are offered with wheeled carts when there is no snow. While the company has the carts, they have no access to summer areas to provide such an excursion.

After our break, we got back in the sleds for the journey back. Shortly after, we stopped, and James allowed me to ride on the back for part of the way. On the way back, we passed a few other dog sled groups who share the trail.

Back at camp, we unharnessed the dogs, gave them chicken water and a dog treat, and enjoyed doggie hugs. Our guide would then harness a fresh set of dogs for the next tour group.

How To Be Safe When Dog Sledding

In Alberta, sledding took us through forests with occasional turns and hills that can be exciting but risky. When the dogs run, even a skilled musher may lose control.

Our guide, James, reminded us to keep “everything inside the sled,”including our hands. I’m glad he did, as I nearly pinched my hand between the sled and stacked tires at the first curve.

Holding my iPhone near the ground and trying to get “the perfect shot,” you can quickly forget where you are. That’s when accidents happen! Here are some common-sense tips to avoid bruises (or worse) after your exhilarating tour:

• Listen closely to the instructions provided by your guide at the start and during the tour.
• ALWAYS keep your hands and arms inside the sled while it is running.
• NEVER try to stand up while the sled is moving.
• Wear insulated, warm clothing so that you can tolerate the changing weather during the tour.
• Sometimes, you get the chance to stand up at the back of the sled beside the musher. If you do, keep both hands on the rear handles and focus on keeping your balance while the sled is moving.
• Only enter and exit the sled when your guide says so. The dog team needs to be securely tied down to prevent runaways.

Why Howling Dog Tours?

Rich and Dana Bittner, founders of Howling Dog Tours, are passionate about providing a memorable experience while ensuring a safe, healthy, and ethical environment for their dogs.

At the time of our tour, Howling Dog had 181 canines, some rescued from other operators or at-risk situations. After training them to be working sled dogs, Rich and Dana allow them to “retire” and live out their lives on the property. How cool is that?

During our tour, we could see the dogs were well treated, and all were friendly. Even though not all of the sled dogs were the traditional Husky (Alaskan or Siberian) or Malamute, they worked well as a team and madly barked until they were harnessed and able to do what they loved… to RUN!

Also, Howling Dog trains their guides well, so they are skilled both as a professional “musher” and at providing excellent customer service. Our guide, James, was a transplant from England but had adopted wintery Alberta as his new home. He shared stories about the dogs and himself during our tour.

What To Wear For Dog Sledding

Dress warmly for dog sledding on snow or ice, especially with strong winds. If you’re a skier, you likely know what to wear. Weather in Canmore can drop below -20°C, but tours only cancel for avalanches or temperatures below -30°C. Riding on a sled with the wind in your face, can feel much colder.

After our research, here’s what Karen and I recommend:

• Ski pants with either jeans and/or a thermal base layer.
• Ski jacket, preferably down or a 3-in-1 winter coat, with a few layers underneath.
• Gloves or mitts (mitts preferred for greater warmth) with handwarmer inserts.
• Ski goggles or, as a minimum – sunglasses.
• Snow boots or hiking boots – preferably insulated with optional toe warmers.
• Wool or thermal socks and preferably wear two pairs.
• Warm toque that covers the ears.
• Optional – Balaclava, neck BUFF, or at least a scarf. A neck buff is versatile and can be worn around the neck or pulled up over your nose and mouth for extra protection.

It’s advisable to take tissues for runny noses and watering eyes. Believe me, that wind makes your nose run. There is room on the sleigh between your legs if you want to bring a small bag, snack, and camera.

While Howling Dog Tours provided hot chocolate, tea, and cookies, Karen couldn’t have either. Being celiac and lactose-intolerant, she brought her own snacks and drink.

Getting Tickets For Howling Dog Tours

While I loved dog sledding with Howling Dogs, the one thing that needs improvement is their online ticket booking system. You go to the Howling Dog Tours website to request a tour by filling out a form. Note that you are not actually booking an excursion when you initially complete the web form.

After choosing a date and time, the Howling Dog team sends you an email requesting you complete another form with your credit card information to confirm the booking. Unfortunately, we thought we had made a booking, and the email ended up in our SPAM folder.

When we realized the error, Karen called to get a confirmed booking. Initially, our itinerary had us going dog sledding on the day we arrived in Calgary, but due to availability, we adjusted our schedule to go two days later.

My suggestion would be to have a LIVE online booking system where you can see what tours are available, book it, and pay at the same time. Maybe Rich and Dana will consider this in the future? Lol.

What I Loved Most About Dog Sledding

I found the overall dog sled tour exciting, informative, and a tremendous amount of FUN! As a result, it’s impossible to describe just one or two things that were the best. 

Here are a few things that I loved about the dog sledding experience:

• I was learning something new and doing it in a place like the Canadian Rockies, which offers spectacular beauty in the wintertime.
• Hearing nearly 60 barking dogs drown out the host’s instructions. Minutes later, they were silent, pulling Karen and me across the glistening snow at peak performance.
• We got to participate in the harnessing, the mushing, and as a privileged passenger, taking everything in like a kid in a candy store.
• We got to support a family-run Canadian business.

Final Thoughts

Dog sledding was on my bucket list for years, and I’m so glad I experienced the thrill of racing through snow with a seasoned team. Though not cheap—CAD 500 for Karen and me—it was worth every penny for a “Once in a Lifetime” experience.

Choosing a passionate, quality operator is key. We found Howling Dog Tours to be professional, with excellent customer service and a strong commitment to their dogs.

In a few years, we plan an “encore tour” in Banff and Jasper to practice mushing. There’s nothing like the winter wind and the dogs racing through fresh snow.

If you’re up for a “frosty winter vacation,” I highly recommend Banff. During our five-day trip, I skated on Lake Louise, enjoyed a sleigh ride, and visited the Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary in Cochrane, Alberta.