34 years ago this was a 'someday adventure' for a winter activity in Ely. We always canoed the BWCA and winter camped in it also. With no snow , Chilly Dogs moved us to Birch Lake for our Extreme choice. At 67 68 we chose to ride only. As a surprise gift for my husband, he didn't know what to expect. It started to snow over night and we arrived at the campground at 8:15 a.m. with it still falling. Jake , Jesse, staff, and dogs were there to meet us and educate us about gear, dogs, sled driving. For those who needed warmer additional gear, they could rent it. Attention to detail relaxed the adventurous and trepid. Meeting the dogs was an emotional experience for me. So much energy, happiness and affection! They vocally let us know they wanted to run and play in the new snowfall. As riders, we still needed to stand on the brace to hold the sled as dogs were being harnessed. Amazing how the dogs love for running radiated into that very moment. Unforgettable human to dog connection memory made! In collaboration with the Northern Tiar Boy Scouts winter camp program. Jake was breaking a trail for the Scouts dog sled teams so they could still fulfill their winter wilderness outdoor camping experience because of lack of snow at the camp. This made our experience even more exciting as I was in the head sled with Jake breaking a trail with the 'working side ' of sled dogs. Not just 'racing through the woods' dog sledding as if we were on the Beargrease in Grand Portage or Itirode in Alaska. As a past BSA Post 5 High Adventure Winter camp Instructor, this type of action makes for fulfilling an adventure for a young scout a reality. Excellence in giving, owner and dogs alike. What the dogs teach you. .. They Run and Live their life with No Regrets. Dogs don't know the difference between Leisure, Work and Play. They run because their Happy. By watching them do what they love doing while snow was falling, the wind is in your face, and and the sounds of their feet breaking through that snow lulls you into a human place of - This is as close to winter Eutopia as one can get in Life. Chilly Dogs is a place where retired race dogs can live, play and show us how to grow old in happiness. This was a 10 star day adventure in our lives we will share with smiles on our faces.

I don't know where to start this review because it was all around amazing - the dogs, the sledding, the staff, what we learned - all were fantastic. My wife and I did the backcountry trip and even though the experience is a little more spendy, it was totally worth it. We had never done dogsledding before, and the ability to meet all of the dogs, learn about the sport of dogsledding, be a musher for ~15 miles on the 2 hour trip, all of this was amazing. Even though we spent 4 hours in total on property, my wife didn't want to leave and continue spending time with the family and dogs. We will be coming back!

My dream of dog sledding came true!! This adventure was amazing! You don’t need to go to Alaska, Wyoming or Montana . . . Head to Ely, Minnesota to Chilly Dogs. We got to mingle with the dogs, hear about the amazing races they have been in, get the how-to lesson and off we went meandering through the beautiful Minnesota landscape. My husband wasn’t sold on the idea of dog sledding. He ended up having the time of his life! The passion they have for their Alaskan Huskies is undeniable. These dogs are amazing in so many ways. This should be a bucket list item for everyone!

My family had an amazing experience with Chilly Dogs! The half-day adventure included a visit with the dogs, a safety lesson, and a 60-minute ride through the woods. Although the dogs are now retired from racing, you wouldn’t know it by looking at them. These dogs are amazing athletes full of love and energy! We loved to visit the dogs, learn about their incredible racing history, and give them lots of pets. After our safety lesson, the staff got us comfortable on our sleds, attached the dogs, and off we went. We enjoyed a ride through the beautiful woods! The dogs were awesome to watch, and you truly felt like you were running with celebrities! At the end of the ride, we were able to take pictures with our family and the dogs. It is very obvious that the Chilly Dog team LOVES these dogs and is passionate about maintaining their health and happiness. If you like dogs, the outdoors, and a little adventure, book this trip! It was the experience of a lifetime!

Today was our 4th year dogsledding with Chilly Dogs- we love it so much! For the first time, our trip was on a lake With islands and dense pines along the shoreline. We are grateful this family-owned business is willing to share their love and knowledge of the dogsled culture -and learn something new every time. Seeing how excited the dogs are to get out and do what they love in the beautiful Ely area is worth coming back for year after year.

So much fun! Kudos to the team at Chilly Dogs for making this a highlight of our northern MN getaway in Ely, MN. If you don’t have cold weather gear, Chilly Dogs will rent you anything you need so you stay warm. You meet and greet the dogs, get instruction and then head out of your “run”. You can trade off riding and mushing. If you’re not comfortable mushing, you can opt to just ride. The team provides all kinds of educational information about the dogs and the Alaskan husky breed that was very interesting. Highly recommend!