Dec-Apr
Season
9:30am, 12:00pm, 2:00pm
Departure Time
2 Hours
Duration
All Ages
Age
Leisurely
Activity
Our most popular dog sledding tour! Lake Louise, in Banff National Park, is an icon for Canada and a stunning place to visit. Dogsledding is the most popular winter activity and an adventure suitable for anyone.
Combined these are bound to create the most memorable experience of your holiday.
Dogsledding the Great Divide Tour takes you along the base of giant peaks in Lake Louise nearly 8km to the Continental Divide the high point separating the east from the west.
Guests have the opportunity to get to know the dogs, their guides, learn the basics of driving a team and are encouraged to drive the team home, covering 16km (10 miles) in total!
Please note the below holiday dates, where the tour is $215.00 per person ($35 for children under 5 years):
December 16th – January 4th
February 9th – February 19th
March 9th – March 11th
March 16th – April 1st
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The best parts of the tour for most people include the following:
1
1.5 hour dogsled in Banff National Park
You will be mushing in Banff National Park, one of Canada’s UNESCO World Heritage sites. This 16km tour takes you along the base of giant peaks in Lake Louise to a pass at the Continental Divide.
2
Option to drive the sled
Guests
have the opportunity to get to know the dogs, their guides, learn the basics of
driving a team and are encouraged to drive the team home.
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The tour lasts about two hours which includes an hour and a half of dog sledding.
This tour travels a full 16 km, or 10 miles, from Banff National Park to Yoho National Park through the Kicking Horse Pass at the Continental Divide. There will be plenty of time to take photos while travelling through such striking mountain landscape, and approximately 1.5 hours of dogsledding. On the return journey, the guide will teach you the basics and encourage you to mush your team home. After the tour, you are welcome to toss chicken popsicles to the dogs.
The tour starts in Lake Louise at the Great Divide Trailhead which is near the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise. It is recommended to allow an hour to drive here from Banff, and full driving directions will be provided in your booking confirmation. Please arrive 15 minutes before your tour time and meet the guides and dogs! They dogs love visitors and welcome the pre-tour attention.
The tours do not include transportation, but there is a Winter Adventurer Tour package available which includes pickup from Banff at 10am (return to Banff at 5pm), that includes drop off at the dog sledding location for your 12pm or 2pm time slot plus free time to spend at Lake Louise, a snowshoe sample and guide commentary from Banff to Lake Louise. Please enquire for further details.
Unfortunately not. The tour heads along the Great Divide Trail, and then turns around in British Columbia. The group then heads back along the Great Divide Trail and turns off onto something that looks like Narnia. It is covered with untouched snow and the only evidence that there has been there is the trail that the dogs are running along.
There is a maximum of two adults in a sled with an infant (under 5 years old) as long as the total weight is under 400lbs (181kgs) per sled. If the weight is over the limit you would need to book another sled and there would be a single supplement charge.
There’s no age limit or height restriction; but taller people may have to bend their knees slightly to feel more comfortable in the sled.
It can get cold in the sled, you will be wrapped up in blankets but if you wear appropriate clothing, then you should be fine. It’s recommended to wear ski gear to this activity, including ski pants and ski jacket. Hiking boots or snow boots are also recommended to keep your feet warm.
The only other dogsledding tour at Lake Louise is the Narnia Tour, which is a shorter 30 minute tour. The Narnia Tour is a taster for dog sledding and is a great option if you only have a short amount of time while in Lake Louise or have small children. The Narnia Tour only runs once per day and you are unable to mush (drive) the sled due to the time limit. The Great Divide Tour is an hour and half long and runs three times a day. It has a longer trail and gives you a chance to mush as well.
They are completely different set ups with a different atmosphere and experience. The Lake Louise dogsledding is a little more romantic, secluded and less intense, whereas the dogs at Spray Lakes are what we call ‘Hollywood dogs’, all nice and fluffy, and there are a lot of dogs out on the trail at once which makes it a high energy, hands on experience. There are also guides on every third sled so you may be on a sled that is run by you and other guests. If you are looking for something a little more intense, perhaps the Powder Hound Express at Spray Lakes is for you.
There is a 72 hour cancellation policy, which allows you to change/cancel or refund your booking up to 72 hours outside your booked tour (up to 7 days for group bookings).
Tips are not expected, but are certainly appreciated. If you think your guide did a wonderful job and would like to indicate that with a tip, it will be graciously accepted.
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- Prices are based on two adult rates per sled (children aged 6 years and over are charged at the adult rate).
- There is a maximum of two adults and one small child (under 5 years) per sled.
- The maximum weight per sled is 400lbs (please advise of weight for each guest when booking).
- Solo riders are charged a full sled rate equivalent to two adults.
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