We are located between Timmins and Iroquois Falls Ontario. Our tour locations are dependent on many factors such as tour type, weather, and groups dynamics. We do our best to reduce your travel requirements.
YES! We do short introduction to dog sledding tours which range from 30 minutes to 1 hour on trail experience. We also do half day tours which range from 3 to 4 hours on trail experience.
YES! We are a mobile touring kennel and can be booked in advance to travel for events and offer sled dog tours to guests. Dog safety and wellness is our top priority, please contact us 2 months in advance to discuss options for event planning and bookings.
When done correctly, the answer is yes. At Abitibi Sled Dogs we prioritize dog care and wellness, if they don’t want to run or the conditions are not safe, they will not pull a sled. When considering a sled dog touring kennel, ask questions, determine if the owner/operator also cares for the dogs as well as their level of experience working with the dogs. Do your research because not all sled dog kennels are the same.
ABSOLUTELY! There’s no stopping them from getting excited about pulling a sled, you will see this as soon as we begin harnessing the dogs. They love to run with their teammates, and we make sure not to overload the dogs by confirming the weight they will be pulling. When the dogs start running as a team, their run seems nearly effortless. When they finish running you will see they are calm, happy, and proud of themselves. They also know they will be receiving pets and snacks for their good work.
YES! Our dogs have been raised around people of all ages and have interacted with many people after tours. Each dog has their own personality and little qualities that make them stand out in their unique ways. We encourage people to meet the dogs, preferably when they are calm after the tour. We are working with the dogs to ensure they don’t jump on our guests in excitement, but we can’t guarantee they won’t.
We offer options for guests to experience a sled dog adventure that best aligns with their interest. We will allow you to drive your own sled, however you can also participate as a passenger in the sled or choose a tandem sled where 2 people can drive the sled together.
A tour is a family friendly experience and we do allow children to participate so long as the parent or guardian is present and takes full responsibility for their child’s behaviour. The parent will be driving the sled with the child as a passenger for example. It is suggested that children wear a helmet as an additional safety precaution.
Abitibi Sled Dogs is a team of Alaskan Huskies, they are supreme athletes and can run extreme distances in cold temperatures. We train our dogs for mid to long distance runs which can range from 25 – 50 miles per day. Our short tours are less than 5 miles (approx. 30 min) and our ½ day tours may be 20 – 25 miles. The overnight/travel tours will reach the 50-mile distance in a day.
This is a question we get asked often, it’s nearly impossible for us to answer this question for you. However, if you’ve done downhill skiing or skating on ice, it is likely you have the skill needed to drive a sled with a team of dogs. It is most important to ensure you are dressed well and have good winter gear and come into the sport with a good attitude. If you are concerned about your ability, we suggest starting off with a short tour to get a feel for the experience before jumping into a longer adventure. We offer sled dog orientation for each tour we offer.
The trails vary year to year depending on Forestry and Mining activity in the area. We discuss our trail locations with various stakeholders to ensure they are safe and well maintained. We ensure that the trail options for the year are suitable for beginners and maintain a width that is appropriate for turns and that the trails are groomed/inspected prior to taking guests out for a tour. It is always possible to see wildlife, your guide will be ahead of you and communicate with a walkie to inform you of any potential danger.
Wear winter gear suitable for spending long periods of time outdoors in cold temperatures. For winter trips it is most appropriate to dress in layers. If upon arrival, guests aren’t dressed in proper winter gear, we will be forced to cancel the tour. You can learn more about winter gear requirements on our website.
We have hot tent rentals with limited availability available at our sled dog kennel. We are happy to offer suggestions for local accommodations as well.
Guiding services, parking/trail location, hot chocolate/snack, equipment and of course sled dogs.
We accept payment by e-transfer or PayPal, we will accept payment in cash/cheque for events bookings or upon request.
We do our best to avoid cancellations. Once you have received a confirmation booking for a sled dog tour, we share itinerary and location details and other information to ensure you have the best experience. The dog’s safety and wellness are our top priority, if we cancel on short notice, it is due to reasons outside of our control (weather etc.) and we will work with you to either reschedule your tour to offer you a full refund. We ask our guests to arrive 10 minutes ahead of the tour time as we must maintain a schedule, if guests are significantly late or do not arrive for their scheduled tour time, we will not be able to refund the tour deposit fee.
All employees, visitors, and volunteers must be adequately dressed per weather conditions. Tour Guides/Operators do not bring extra clothing materials for clients. Remember layering is a convenient and easy way to stay warm and reduce heat if one is too hot.
Purpose: To ensure that all guests and clients dress appropriately for sled dog tours to stay safe and have a fun experience with Abitibi Sled Dogs. The Guides/Operators reserve the right to refuse tours if guests or clients are not dressed in proper winter gear for planned activity.
Suggestions for your comforts, bring your own blankets and/or sleeping bag for passive sled ride experience or to stay warm and cozy by the campfire.
Suggestions for best Winter Gear and Equipment for outside conditions Northern Ontario Canada.
Socks – One pair is enough. Thermal socks are best.
Tip 1: avoid tight-fitting socks. If double layering socks, thin nylons underneath are best. Doubling socks can make your feet tight in your boots, limiting the range of motion and causes cold feet.
Tip 2: Best option is one pair of thick, warm thermal socks. Warming packs are a good solution if you are concerned about having cold hands/or feet.
Thermal Underwear as a pants base layer. Alternatives to use are activewear leggings, tights, or long underwear.
Long-sleeved shirt – Tight-fitting long-sleeve shirt such as a thermal undershirt or turtleneck to wear as a base layer.
Pants: Activewear pants, sweatpants, or pajama pants are warm, comfortable, and flexible. They fit well and should provide a full range of motion under snow pants.
Tip: Avoid wearing blue Jeans, Khaki pants, or dress pants. Blue jeans get very stiff when cold and have no insulation. Khaki pants and dress pants provide no insulation and limit the range of motion as well.
Sweaters: Choose a warm, heavy, pullover or hooded sweatshirt.
Tip: Avoid zippered or buttoned shirts as they can be easily broken and opened, and zippers can break or even freeze when exposed to the elements.
Snow Pants (required). Snow pants should not be too thick so that a person cannot move comfortably, but thick enough to be outside for a few hours comfortably.
Tip: Wind pants are not considered snow pants and clothing with a thermal layer and pants on top will not be sufficient for warmth.
Warm Winter Boots (required): Supportive, insulated winter boots, above ankle height. Boots should fit comfortably.
Tip: Asses the thermal rating on your boots.
Tip: Heat packs can be purchased and fit right in the boot and can provide extra warmth. Heat packs should be applied before a tour (not during).
Winter Jacket (required): Jacket should be waterproof, thick/warm, durable, and suitable for winter conditions. Should fit comfortably over your clothing.
Tip: Assess thermal rating. Hooded jackets add an additional warming layer.
Winter Gloved/Mittens (required): Mittens are warmer than gloves (tight-knitted and insulated). Thin gloves can be worn underneath mittens for insulation. Insulated gloves (finger mittens) provide dexterity. Gloves are best to handle dogs, access your camera or any other equipment comfortably.
Tip: tight gloves underneath larger mittens; remember tight fit = cold body.
Neck Warmer/Scarves: material should be flexible enough to pull over face, mouth, and nose. A tight-knitted scarf works well too.
Tip: Avoid loose knitted items or thin materials that will not keep in heat.
Winter Hat (required): Tightly knitted and/or insulated hat that covers the ears. The head should be fully covered to retain heat.
Tip: Depending on your sensitivity to cold it is suggested to avoid headbands or earmuffs. Your jacket hood can offer extra warmth and is strongly encouraged.
