Husky Homestead

Husky Homestead runs 1.5-hour narrated tours twice a day. Start with a puppy-cuddling session, before watching adult dogs hit the trail at breakneck speeds. One of the mushers narrates and answers questions as the dogs run, explaining how to care for the huskies, their habits and preferences, and their incredible value to Alaskans. From there, you’ll move to a wooden theater to learn about the Alaskan lifestyle, check out mushing equipment, and hear Iditarod anecdotes from the mushers themselves.

• You need to book your Husky Homestead tours in advance via the website.

• Wear a warm jacket and closed-toe shoes with good grip as the ground is gravel.

• Bring bug spray, as mosquitoes are prevalent in summer; you won’t need it in winter.

Husky Homestead is roughly eight miles (13 kilometers) from the entrance to Denali National Park, making it a great add-on to any national park trip. You’ll need your own vehicle to get there—there’s plenty of free on-site parking—or you’ll need to book a separate tour that includes a stop at the homestead. The homestead doesn’t have its own shuttle service.

In short, come at your tour time. Husky Homestead runs two tours daily in the morning and early evening to fit the dogs’ schedules. Outside tour times, the homestead is not open to the public, so there’s no need to come early (and no way to get extra cuddling time with the puppies, unfortunately).

If you’re visiting Husky Homestead beyond summer, don’t be discouraged by the “closed” sign. The homestead runs customizable tours that can include meeting the dogs, riding on a dogsled with the race team, and learning dog care basics and mushing fundamentals. The truly adventurous can inquire about remote camping, too.