Please print and fill out the below forms for your upcoming overnight trip. Either return them via email prior to your tour or bring them with you.
Four Day Dog Sled Tour in Alaska
Tolovana Lodge (Tolovana Roadhouse as it is known historically) is located 50 miles by trail from Nenana, Alaska and 32 miles by trail from Manley Hot Springs, Alaska. It is most famous for being the first stop in The Serum Run of 1925 – a sled dog relay that brought the diphtheria antitoxin to Nome to save the lives of many children during this historical epidemic. The Serum Run was a precursor to the modern-day Iditarod Sled Dog Race which follows much of the original relay route. Due to lack of snow in Anchorage (the traditional Iditarod race start since 1973), the 2003, 2015 and 2017 Iditarod Sled Dog Race starts were moved to Fairbanks and Tolovana Roadhouse provided a hospitality stop for mushers in 2015 and 2017.
This is a great tour for avid outdoor adventurers who want to spend more time learning the art of mushing, are interested in the history of dog sledding in Alaska, enjoy remote backcountry lodge hospitality and/or winter camping, and want to experience the solitude of bush Alaska.
Physical Fitness Requirements
Multi-day dogsledding trips are intended for active individuals with no issues limiting movement or tolerance to cold weather. For our longer tours you will be required to fill out a health form and/or get medical clearance to enjoy these adventures with us. You should be prepared to physically stand on a dogsled for up to 6 hours/day for our longer tours. Temperatures may range from -40F to +40F depending on the weather patterns. At the roadhouse you will be many miles for any road or medical facility and emergencies will require an airlift which may or may not be available due to weather conditions. Please call to discuss your physical fitness and sense of adventure with us, and we will direct you to an appropriate tour.
Spring 2024 Tolovana Roadhouse Tour Offerings
In each of our Tolovana Roadhouse tours you will be surrounded by wilderness along the Serum Run Trail of 1925, and receive an authentic Alaska bush experience with sled dogs and learn a bit about the history of this remote landmark. This season our base camp is Tolovana Roadhouse (description of Roadhouse page : https://www.pawsforadventure.com/tolovana-roadhouse/) Leslie and Dave welcome you to visit them and the Paws Dogs at the roadhouse and enjoy one of 3 offerings for this year’s adventures. All adventures start with an ‘only-in-Alaska’ style ski-plane flight into the roadhouse including landing on the frozen Tanana River just outside our lodge and include private accomodations at the roadhouse. The chartered plane can carry 3 people maximum + gear. If your group is larger, it may be possible to charter back-to-back flights between Fairbanks and Tolovana. Camping/drive-your-own tours are limited to 4 people maximum.
All necessary equipment provided, including Arctic outerwear.
Cancellation Policy: A 50% deposit is due to book. A full refund will be issued on cancellations made more than 30 days prior to tour. No refunds will be issued on cancellations made within 30 days of an originally scheduled tour. A full refund will be given for any weather conditions that prevent us from providing the tour.
Tolovana Roadhouse is situated 32 miles from Manley Hot Springs, AK and 50 miles from Nenana, AK on the Tanana River near the Minto Flats State Game Refuge. It is accessible via the Serum Run trail which runs on an overland trail alongside the river, or bush plane (or riverboat in the summertime). Though it is called a ‘roadhouse’, there are no roads leading to this location. This tour will begin in Manley Hot Springs with stays in Manley, Tolovana and /or along the trail at Paws Camp. We also offer a chartered fly-out option directly to Tolovana Roadhouse via bush plane on skis. Ski plane options will depend on availability of our pilot, where the Paws Crew is positioned during the overnight season, and when you book. First to book has the most options as we fill our multi-day tour season which runs from the beginning of February to the end of March.
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This tour begins and ends in Fairbanks with with a ski-plane flight to Tolovana Roadhouse. The tour includes a lodge stay and opportunity for wilderness camping . You will be responsible for all lodging while in Fairbanks and your transport to/from the airport for bush flights. All meals and lodging are included once you get to Tolovana Roadhouse until you fly out of either Tolovana or Manley.
EXAMPLE BASIC ITINERARY
Four Day Tour
Day 1
- After lunch meet the dogs and learn how to drive-your-own team in mushing school
- Enjoy home cooked food and night time activities such as Aurora Viewing, taking a sauna in the wood-fired sauna and hearing stories of Tolovana’s history; sleep in your own private room on a comfy mattress and enjoy the warmth of the woodstoves.
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Tour Cost: Starts at $4500 per person – all inclusive.