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Chilly Dogs Sled Dog Trips

Chilly Dogs Sled Dog Trips

Chilly Dogs Sled Dog Trips
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About
All visits and appointments by reservation only, PLEASE! Located near Ely, Minnesota, a special little town known far and wide as the Gateway to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness in the Superior National Forest, we provide exciting dog sledding adventures to individuals, families, and groups of all kinds. Our knowledgeable, seasoned guides accompany you as you drive your team of eager, friendly, sled dogs over scenic wilderness trails. That, combined with our thorough trip preparation, top-notch equipment, comfortable facilities, and convenient proximity to Ely, makes a Chilly Dogs Sled Dog Trip the perfect winter activity.
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  • DA L
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Chilly Dogs - Excellent memory making winter adventure shared with dogs, nature and great people.
    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.
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written January 9, 2024
  • Erik T
    1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Unforgettable, amazing experience - my wife and I loved it!
    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!
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written January 29, 2024
  • Bobbie C
    Osgood, Indiana1 contribution
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Dream Come True
    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!
    Visited January 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written January 31, 2024
  • Emily L
    10 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Awesome adventure with dog sleds in Ely!
    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!
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled with family
    Written February 5, 2024
  • Gina L
    2 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Great dogsledding experience!
    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.
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled with friends
    Written February 16, 2024
  • Lauri Z
    Champlin, Minnesota68 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Northern MN fun with dogs!
    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!
    Visited February 2024
    Traveled as a couple
    Written February 23, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

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Emerald G
Saint Paul, MN89 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Family
I booked the 3-hour sled dog experience for my husband, myself, and our two daughters (ages 7 and 9). Our daughters loved meeting and learning about the sled dogs. My husband and I enjoyed driving the sleds through the winter landscape. It was very cold but manageable with the right gear (you can rent gear from them if you don’t own it). Our daughters want to come back when they are old enough to drive the sleds! Highly recommend.
Written February 15, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MelG131
Savage, MN27 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020 • Friends
Friends and I recently took the 3 hour trip with Jake and the Chilly Dogs crew. We had a fantastic time! My only wish is that we had signed up for a longer trip. In the 3 hours you end up spending about 30 minutes riding in the sled and 30 minutes standing on the runners. I loved the time on the trail (it's beautiful) and also interacting with the dogs in the dog yard. I also like Chilly Dogs' mission of making sure retired race dogs have somewhere to go in retirement and continue doing what they love (running / pulling). The people here are great as well!
Written January 7, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Mary G
24 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Friends
Wonderful time beautiful comfortable accomodations. We did the North Woods 2 hour trip; great instructions on how to Mush also liked info given about the dog's breed and their life style. Guides and family very informative and you can tell they love their dogs!!
Written February 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Debbie B
Saint Paul, MN4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
We took the 2 hour (backcountry loop) tour in early January. Chilly Dogs is a class act. They know their dogs individually and take pride in introducing you to these amazing athletes. Get ready for kisses: these dogs are affectionate and want to greet you. I loved the kennel tour and was ready to quit my job to volunteer at Chilly Dogs. After the kennel tour, you receive a rapid-fire introduction to mushing, suit up (thank you for the rented fur gloves - they made me so comfortable) and you're off for one of the most amazing rides of your life. I was nervous to drive a sled with six energetic and strong dogs for the first time, but the dogs know what they're doing. We humans did what we'd learned from Jake, adjusted to minor challenges that arose along the trail, and had a total blast. Our Australian friend now wants to move to Minnesota after this marvelous experience.
Written January 8, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Julie McGovern
4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2020
Awesome sled dog trip!! Would definitely recommend Chilly Dogs. Staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. They are very caring about the dogs. They are very thorough about the handling of the sled/dogs and very concerned about everyone's safety. They make sure you are dressed appropriately for the weather. Handling the sled/dogs was much easier than expected. Definitely worth a trip to Ely, MN!!
Written January 12, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Britta A
4 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2023 • Couples
My husband has very fond memories of this experience from his childhood, 17 or so years ago. He had been so excited to share this with me, and I was thrilled with this experience!
There is a great deal of learning about the dogs, - Jake is a very knowledgeable and passionate musher and was such a good guide! He made sure we all felt comfortable with commands before sending us out to drive the sleds.
We did the 1 hr trip which is a 3 hour experience, and we would highly recommend it to anyone of any age! We had such a blast taking in the gorgeous scenery, playing with the dogs, and learning about and experiencing this amazing sport! We also stayed at the Sheridan House in town which is run by the family and had a lovely stay. The family went totally out of their way to help us though a double flat tire incident over a weekend when everyone in town was closed, making sure we were safe and taken care of with food & transportation to boot! You will have the best time with these amazing people & dogs :)
Written February 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Madeline M
1 contribution
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2023 • Couples
My partner and I went on a recent dogsledding excursion with Chilly Dogs and it was a really fun way to beat the winter blues! Not only was it an incredibly unique experience, but I personally thought it was awesome that some of the dogs you get to interact with are former Beargrease/Iditarod racers! Seriously, these dogs have accomplished so much and it was so cool to be able to meet them and be pulled by them! It is also incredibly clear that the people at Chilly Dogs are true dog-people. They really want what is best for these special animals and want to educate people about them, which was really amazing to see. The staff was knowledgeable and helpful, and I personally thought the trip packages they offered were quite reasonably priced. If you are coming from a warmer climate and are not accustomed to Northern Minnesota weather, PLEASE heed their what to wear guide- winters there are really no joke. They do offer gear to rent, which can be a lifesaver for the winter- weather novice. All in all it was a great time and a very worthwhile business to patronize. Would definitely sled with them again!
Written March 17, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LGK1234
Peoria, AZ2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Mar 2020
We shared this experience with our two adult daughters who love following the Iditarod. We know the family that runs Chilly Dogs as we have booked their wonderful summer canoe trips for years. We cannot say enough about how fun and easy they make this experience. Their passion and care for the dogs is evident in everything they do, and the dogs are enthusiastic and affectionate. The scenery through the snow covered woods is pretty idyllic, and you will amaze yourself at your ability to drive a sled! Highly recommended...very worth getting yourselves up to Ely, which is a great town to hang out in with wonderful restaurants and shops. Definitely do it!
Written May 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

BigMarlin
Helen, GA7 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Friends
This was our second adventure with Chilly Dogs and it was once again a wonderful experience. We were three couples and were all able to mush a sled dog team if desired. The Hway family goes out of there way to make your trip perfect from the first call to make reservations to the last “sled dog life” discussion with Jake over hot chocolate and cookies. Thank you for another great adventure in the Northland!
Written February 18, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Christian
New Brighton, MN2 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Feb 2020 • Couples
My wife and I had a fantastic and unique experience at Chilly Dogs. The staff was genuinely happy we were there. We had zero experience and they taught us to be perfect mushers. There was plenty of knowledge to take in and a lot of experience to speak to. Many of the dogs are experienced racers and living their retirement years living what they do. This is a tremendous experience I would advise anyone to do. They have lots of affordable rental equipment to rent. I rented boots, glove liner, outer gloves, and goggles and it was way better than my own gear. Better than my Sorels by a long shot. Plus the dogs are great. You get to meet the dogs and they just have so much love to give visitors, if that’s your thing. Again, highly advise. You won’t regret it.
Written February 16, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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Chilly Dogs Sled Dog Trips - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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