Just Short of Magic
Just Short of Magic
5
This location was reported permanently closed
Full view
About
We offer dog sled rides ranging from a half-hour to one-and-a-half hours. Tour the beautifully forested Alaskan winter trails on a dog sled or drive the team. Our Dog Mushing School offers customized dog mushing lessons. Sled rides or lessons can be combined with educational kennel tours. Learn about amazing canine athletes, mushing equipment, and what it means to be a musher.
Fairbanks, Alaska
Meets animal welfare guidelines
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingSimilar Experiences
Just Short of Magic
Booking unavailable on Tripadvisor
Want other options you can book now?
Show optionsTravelers talk about
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
774 reviews
Excellent
741
Very good
22
Average
6
Poor
2
Terrible
3
Dona C
Mesa, Arizona, United States7 contributions
Feb 2020
We booked with Just Short of Magic the dog mushing school and it was awesome! We came early so we had time to meet the dogs and when we walked in the door the office is cozy and welcoming and we were immediately greeted by Mindy. She registered us right away, made sure we had the right clothing to keep us warm, and invited us to go meet and pet the sweet dogs. The dogs were all so friendly and loved the attention! When it came time for our tour, Eleanor was our instructor and guide. We learned about the Alaskan Husky, learned to harness a team and then hit the 7 mile round trip trail. Eleanor talked both my husband and I thru the mushing part and then we drove the sled all by ourselves with Eleanor in sled helping us to do our best. She was encouraging and so much fun! The ride and the driving were spectacular and you can feel how much she loves her dogs and her top priority is theirs and our safety and enjoyment. Then to top the day off, we stayed in the yurt for the night. It's warm and inviting and again Eleanor made us feel comfortable and welcome. A good nights rest and a lovely breakfast the next morning , served in the yurt and our memorable experience was over. Everyone there was so great!
We would highly recommend Just Short of Magic and if we are ever fortunate enough again to be in Fairbanks we will do it all over!
Thanks so much
We would highly recommend Just Short of Magic and if we are ever fortunate enough again to be in Fairbanks we will do it all over!
Thanks so much
Written February 27, 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.
Dona!,
Your words touches our hearts! We are always thrilled to hear that our guests had a great experience at Just Short of Magic - whether visiting the dogs, learning about mushing, enjoying the ride through beautiful scenery, or staying in our cozy yurt. It makes us even more happy to hear that you experienced, and enjoyed, all of it!
We definitely agree that our dogs are amazing! The are very friendly and love the attention from the guests. The also love to run and are incredible athletes! Eleanor, of course, as well as all the mushers who work with us love their dogs like family members. Their health and happiness is always their first priority. All mushers are very experienced. They love what they do and love sharing their knowledge and passion with the guests.
We really enjoyed having you stay in our cozy yurt! It is a unique and memorable experience - especially if the northern lights are out!
Thank you very much for your kind words! We would love to see you again!
Warm wishes,
Heloise
Written February 27, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
workingabovethecloud
Amelia Island, FL52 contributions
Jan 2020
My husband and I took a 1 hour dog sled ride through the pristine white snow covered 7 mile trail. It was a winter wonderland. They helped us arrange transportation and our driver waited on us; it was very reasonable. We arrived, were greeted, given a little history of the location, fitted for ski pants, boots, parkas, hats and gloves. Then we met Darin, our musher/tour guide and a team of 10 amazing dogs. We sat down in the sleigh, while Darin stood to drive the dogs. These amazing dogs pulled us pull hill, down hill and on the flat trail. They trotted, ran and then walked at a pace that we would have to run to keep up. These dogs were so excited to be pulling and on the trail. Darin told us all about the dogs and the Iditarod and other races. Once of our dogs was even a 3rd place finisher and 2 other dogs were finishers. I asked a lot of questions about the work of the dogs and many other questions and found that these dogs thrive in the cold temperatures and long for the ability to do what they do. After Darin gave a snack to the dogs after our trip, he showed us how quick the dogs recover from the pull. Then we greeted each one of the team individually, getting kisses and lots of photos. Then we greeted all of the other dogs that did not get to pull the sled. They were all so excited for to be greeted and have their photos taken. We had a thrilling and exciting time. This is an excellent company. They give good care to customer service and customer relations and the dogs are well cared for. I highly recommend this company, it's not just a company to do tours, it is a way of life and they love their dogs.
Written January 24, 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.
Thank you so much for your very kind review and for sharing the details of your experience at Just Short of Magic!
We are very lucky to have Darrin and the rest of the mushers who work with us and take guests on sled dog rides. Every single one of them love what they do, love their dogs as members of their family, and they truly enjoy sharing their passion for mushing with our guests. They are always happy to answers questions and share "tales of the trails". And of course all the dogs are amazing! Not only as athletes but also because they all have wonderful and loving personalities. Visiting every single dog in the yard is always a memorable time for our guests. We all strive to make our guests' experience at Just Short of Magic the highlight of their trip to Alaska.
We are so glad that you had such a great time with us. We hope to see you again!
Warmest wishes!
Heloise
Written January 29, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
qinz1014
Thousand Oaks, CA4 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
We 16-people groups were absolutely enchanted by Eleanor and her staff, especially her sled dogs. They were very considerate in accommodating our big group, very professional and courteous in all phone calls and email correspondence. Their business was very easy to find, located right next to the big road. Their price is very reasonable, supplying the best protection gears to keep you warm. And the sled trip: so peaceful and scenic, dogs are so friendly and love to run. They actually cry after the sled took off! Would love to go back again!
Written January 1, 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.
We loved having your group here! You all made it very easy for us to accommodate so many people at once. We really appreciated how well organized and easy-going everybody was and we loved your enthusiasm! The dogs were of course thrilled to have loving visitors!
We are very lucky to be located right on Chena Hot Springs Road and yet to have access to beautiful and peaceful trails taking you through spruce and birch forests and wild open spaces.
We would love to have you come back!
Warmest wishes!
Heloise
Written January 2, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Brad1631
8 contributions
Feb 2020
We highly recommend Just Short of Magic for a great dog sledding experience. Everyone on staff were very skilled and make you feel at home. The ride was a wonderful experience that most of us don’t have the opportunity to do back home. The dogs are sweet and well cared for.
Written February 26, 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.
Thank you for your kind words Brad. We enjoyed your visit - and the dogs loved having you spend time with them in the yard!
We know that we are very lucky to be living and working with incredible dogs, in a spectacular place, and doing something that we all love to do! We understand that for most people, dog sledding is a once-in-a-lifetime experience and we want to do our best to make sure that they will cherish and remember their experience for a very long time!
We would love to see you again!
Best regards,
Heloise
Written February 27, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Aurora_Guy
Fairbanks, AK320 contributions
Jan 2020
Just Short of Magic is literally half a mile from my house, and I can't believe after all these years I have only just ventured there. Some friends of California recently flew up, and a dog sled trek was on their to-do list. I couldn't resist joining them. I could not have been more pleased with the experience.
I'm not a musher, but I've volunteered for dog races like the Yukon Quest and Iditarod. I adopt retired sled dogs. But not one musher has ever invited me to ride along the trail in 20+ years. A half-hour ride at 20 below was well worth the $65, not to mention the experience meeting the animals and super hospitality from the hosts.
Even if you're not Alaskan, not to worry. You'll be warm and well-catered with loaner clothing and warm drinks before and after. Learn about the dogs, some of whom are delightful characters, and how mushing fits into the story of settlement of the far north. Take a mushing course for even more details. The expert mushers and seasoned handlers will expand your mind. Anyone who thinks the sled dogs work under duress is just plain wrong. They love what they do, and you will, too!
I'm not a musher, but I've volunteered for dog races like the Yukon Quest and Iditarod. I adopt retired sled dogs. But not one musher has ever invited me to ride along the trail in 20+ years. A half-hour ride at 20 below was well worth the $65, not to mention the experience meeting the animals and super hospitality from the hosts.
Even if you're not Alaskan, not to worry. You'll be warm and well-catered with loaner clothing and warm drinks before and after. Learn about the dogs, some of whom are delightful characters, and how mushing fits into the story of settlement of the far north. Take a mushing course for even more details. The expert mushers and seasoned handlers will expand your mind. Anyone who thinks the sled dogs work under duress is just plain wrong. They love what they do, and you will, too!
Written January 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.
Hello!
What kind words, we couldn't be more grateful to have an Alaskan feel so warmly about what it is that we do here. We love our dogs and are so glad you were able to experience some of their incredible personalities. I know they had a blast meeting you as well! Guests like you are why we love what we do here and couldn't be more proud you feel the same way.
Thank you, and we hope to see you again!
Warmly,
Elke
JSoM Admin Assistant
Written January 24, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sherri B
Lynchburg, VA30 contributions
Feb 2020
Our dog mushing experience with Just Short of Magic was epic! It was so amazing to get to ride on a sled with the dogs and have the owner of the company be our tour guide! There's attention to detail with this amazing company. You walk in and there is hot cocoa and tea available, along with an indoor bathroom (even though you're out in the country and there could easily be no indoor plumbing!) They make sure you have all the warm gear you need, and if you're missing something they provide it! After our 1/2 hour tour, Eleanor made sure she got pics for us with the dogs and the sled. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone, and will certainly return when we are in the area again! 5 stars!
Written March 3, 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.
velarava71
Dubrovnik, Croatia16 contributions
Jan 2020
Our family visited Fairbanks recently and took the Just Short of Magic dog sledding tour. This was great family fun with an experienced musher. The tour through the woods lasted about an hour and provided wonderful sights. We recommend that you bundle up in layers of clothing due to cold weather, it was about -20 deg. during our trip. The staff is experienced and very helpful.
Written January 6, 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.
We love having families come enjoy the dogs together! It's great to hear how much you loved the charm of Alaska wilderness. We definitely agree with your recommendation to bundle and we even have extra winter clothes for guests to borrow. Thank you for the kind words!
Written January 8, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kristi
Kansas City, MO23 contributions
Jan 2021
This was the first time dog sledding for both my partner and I and we both really enjoyed the ride. Eleanor was truly spectacular- ready with fun dog sledding information, quick with answers to any question you might have, and full of great Alaska sightseeing recommendations. Her dogs were equally awesome, with all of their own fun quirks and personalities. We opted for the 30 minute ride, but I think a longer ride would've been a blast too. If you're looking for an exciting yet wholesome experience, look no further.
Written January 17, 2021
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.
hgwielewicki
Florianopolis, SC100 contributions
Jan 2020 • Friends
Just Short of Magic has been an unforgettable experience to both my son and I. Eleanor and Mandy were just amazing and the dogs welcome us in their way. The ride was much more intense than we expected, not only because of our excitement, but also because of the extreme cold morning. They are very professional and have all the gear for whoever is not properly ‘winterized’. Eleanor constantly checked if we were fine and safe during the ride and we felt absolutely confident we were in very good hands. She also helped us find a good shuttle service to spare us from driving in conditions we were not used to. I totally recommend Just Short if Magic for whoever wants to experience dog sledding in the best possible way.
Written January 14, 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.
We are so happy to hear that you had such a wonderful experience at Just Short of Magic! Sharing a ride with the dogs in the middle of the Alaskan wilderness is something that is very special and memorable! Mushing in extreme cold bring another level to the experience - as long as you stay warm and comfortable. We always thoroughly assess the winter gear that our guests are wearing and we would always rather give too many extra layers of arctic gear than not enough. Our mushers are very experienced and always keep in mind the safety and comfort of our guests. And of course our dogs provide not only lots of pulling power but also lots of love! They always enjoy when guests spend time in the yard to visit them.
Also we do not personally provide transportation, we do work very closely with a few shuttle companies that will cater to the needs of the guests.
We hope to see you again!
Best,
Heloise
Written January 15, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Nutchanart K.
1 contribution
Jan 2020
If you go to Fairbanks and want to try the best Alaskan experience like Dog sledding, I recommend you guy to try "Just short of magic" You will love it like I do. Eleanor and her team were amazing.They love what they do. Dogs were nice and friendly. Their winter gears helped us so much to stay in such a freezing weather. Even the weather was around -30F, my feet couldn't feel the cold. We enjoyed lots. Thanks for wonderful experience. WE LOVE IT!
Written January 14, 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.
Thank you very much for sharing your enthusiastic experience at Just Short of Magic! We are so glad to hear that the extra layers of arctic gear helped you stay warm and comfortable on your tour. Those bunny boots are not only very "stylish" (Alaska Style) but they will keep your feet warm! ;-)
Everybody hear love sharing our passion of dog mushing with our guests and our dogs love visitors just as much as we do!
Sincerely,
Heloise
Written January 15, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Hello!
We do not pick up but we work very closely with Bills Tours and Charters who would be able to take very good care of you.
You may contact him at (907) 460-5734
Thank you and if you have any other questions you may give us a call at 907-750-0208
Best,
Elke
JSoM Admin Assistant
Written January 20, 2020
If we book the Mushing School Tour, after instruction, how long do you actually spend on the sledding trail. Can you drive the dog team part of the time and ride the rest?
Written January 6, 2020
Thanks for the question! The Mushing School tour lasts two hours. During that time, you will learn about the Alaskan Husky breed, the equipment, and how to harness your own sled dog team. The sled ride itself is 7 miles and lasts about an hour. If everyone is feeling comfortable, the musher will sit in the sled and the guest will drive the team for part of the ride. The Mushing School is one of our favorite tours!
Written January 8, 2020
How long does the Swing Dog Sled Tour (30 min) actually last? Are we gonna have a full 30-minute ride, or the actual ride takes much less time? Thanks!
Written November 2, 2019
The Swing Dog tour is actually 30 minutes on the trail. You are welcome to spend time here before and after your tour with the dogs, they love having people visit. And we have hot tea and chocolate for after your tour.
Hope you can join us!
Best,
Eleanor
Written November 4, 2019
we want to visit there 9/16.
3:30pm is the last time to enjoy the dog sled?
Written September 14, 2019
If you want a ride on 9/16 you will have to come in the morning because the afternoon is too hot to run the dogs.
If you want to come to visit the dogs, spend time with them in the dog yard and take pictures you can come later than 3:30.
Please call me at 907-750-0208 if you want a ride tomorrow morning.
Thank you,
Eleanor
Written September 15, 2019
Ruojia W
Vik, Iceland
We are planing to go there on July, can we still do this at that time ?
Written April 24, 2019
Hi,
We do not give dog sled rides in the summer due to the temperature being too warm for the dogs. We do, however, offer kennel tours where you can visit the dogs in the yard and learn about mushing, the equipment used, and the dogs themselves. Currently, our booking system is not available yet for the upcoming season. It should be up around the end of May/early June. Feel free to give us a call, 907-750-0208, around that time, and we can book you or answer any other questions you may have.
Thank you,
Kristen, JSoM Admin Assistant
Written April 25, 2019
Yes we are open most every day from September 1st to April 1st.
Please let us know if you have any other questions we can help with.
Best,
Eleanor
Written January 17, 2019
Hi how would you recommend to get there for solo travelers who don’t drive a car? Any public transport?
Written January 11, 2019
We are about 30 minutes from downtown Fairbanks, so out of the public transportation system route, but if you contact us directly we can recommend a number of transport companies that will gladly you bring you here, wait for you while you're on tour tour and then bring you back to town or anywhere else you would like to go. Please contact us by calling 907-750-0208. Hope this helps!
Best,
Eleanor
Written January 12, 2019
Were you happy with the 30 minute ride or would you recommend doing the 1 hour tour? Thanks!
Written March 8, 2018
Hey there! Most folks this time of year with it being as warm as it is come back from the 30 min tour wishing they had gone longer. It is a great experience and most people if they are only doing this once in their life time and 30minutes can be a great introduction to dogsledding but if you are wanting a great experience the Lead Dog Tour goes through 7 miles of forest and is only $30 more than the Swing dog tour.
Written March 24, 2018
Showing results 1-10 of 19
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.