TEMSCO Glacier Sled Dog Experience by Helicopter

Dog sledding on a glacier is the ultimate blend of Alaskan adventure, as you also get there by helicopter! Board a flight that whisks you thousands of feet above sea level to the Denver glacier and a dog sled camp hidden away on a remote snow field.

The journey begins at Skagway’s historic waterfront, where you’ll step into a TEMSCO helicopter that can access areas you can’t get to any other way. Seeing Alaska and its stunning vistas from the seat of a helicopter is itself a unique experience, topped only by the opportunity to land on a glacier and spend time in a dog camp that is host to 300 Alaskan sled dogs!

These dogs were bred to run, and their world will be opened up to you as you talk with professional mushers who tend the dogs all summer in the largest sub-arctic sled dog camp in the world. Learn about the rich history and cultural significance of the mushing tradition. Then meet the team and get insight into their individual personalities.

The dogs know they are going to run, and they let you know how excited they are through a chorus of energetic barking before taking off with their musher across the glacier. Watch them run against a backdrop of the ultra-white snow field surrounded by the pristine snow-capped mountains of the Coastal Range which lies between Canada and the United States.

After the demonstration there's one more “little” highlight that awaits: a chance to snuggle with the puppies, which are possibly the cutest, most lovable creatures you’ll meet during your entire Alaskan adventure. Then you'll load back into the helicopter for your return flight to Skagway.

The TEMSCO glacier sled dog experience is truly a once-in-a-lifetime adventure – highlighting the state’s dramatic nature scenes as well as dog mushing, its popular and unique state sport.

TEMSCO

When TEMSCO launched in 1958, its mission was pretty straightforward. An acronym for Timber, Exploration, Mining, Survey, Cargo Operations, the Ketchikan-based helicopter company was founded to provide support and rescue capabilities for the lumber, fishing and mining industries, since its aircraft could reach places that fixed-wing planes couldn’t—namely, by landing on ice.

Great Views, Unparalleled Access

In the 1980s, TEMSCO added tourism to its repertoire, offering travelers both amazing views of the mountains, glaciers and vast, untouched landscapes, as well as unparalleled access once the helicopter lands. TEMSCO’s tours – based out of Juneau, Skagway, or Denali National Park – give you the chance to walk on glaciers, drink glacier water straight from the source, or go dog sledding in some of the most beautiful and pristine environments imaginable.

Though there are no age requirements for TEMSCO tours, they do require a moderate level of activity. Guests will need to be able to walk a minimum of 100 feet to and from the helicopter, over uneven snow, as well as have the ability to get on and off the helicopter (which requires navigating two 18" steps with minimal assistance).