The popularity of dog sledding has been growing across the country in the last few years, and more and more companies in Big Sky Country are putting their winters on paws. You can find everything from quick half-day sled outings with a guide to multi-night resort adventures with planned dog sled itineraries. And no, you don't need to bring a pack of 12 huskies along; you'll find trained teams and everything else you need to get started.
The second weekend in January, Seeley Lake and Lincoln host the Seeley Lake Sled Dog Races. Typically there will be 200 and 300 mile Iditarod qualifying races with a total of up to thirty teams entered. The races attract some of the best mushers from Alaska, Canada and the lower 48.
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Annual Events
Race to the Sky Sled Dog Race
Ranked one of the top five sled dog races on earth. Since 1986, the race has been organized by Montana Sled Dog, Inc., a private non-profit group dedicated to commemorating the historical use of sled dogs in Montana. The 350-mile race begins at Camp Rimini just outside of Helena, runs to Deer Lodge, the next day restarts in Lincoln, and goes to White Tail Ranch, Ovando, Seeley Lake Community Center, Seeley Lake, to a wilderness checkpoint and back to Seeley Lake Community Center and onto the finish at Hi-Country Beef Snacks archway near Lincoln, making it one of the most physically challenging sled races in the world.
In 2010 this event will take place from February 12th through the 16th.
The Race to the Sky will have its official kick-off celebration on Friday, starting with a vet check at noon. That evening an auction for rides at the restart in Lincoln will happen. Don't miss an opportunity to bid on a sled ride with a Race to the Sky competitor and feel the electricity of the race.
On Saturday, onlookers will be able to witness the start of the race at Camp Rimini. Camp Rimini was a former World War Dog Training and Reception Center near Helena that was used to train dogs for military operations during World War II. Watch them finish Saturday in Deer Lodge after running 45 miles. Events in Deer Lodge during the afternoon and evening.
On Sunday, the race restarts its continuous portion of Race to the Sky at Hi-Country Snack Foods in Lincoln at noon. Successful bidders at Friday night's auction will be boarding their musher's sleds for a first-hand view of the Race to the Sky excitement. Watch the teams start their day and night journey through the mountains of Montana.
For the next couple of days teams will be going through the White Tail Ranch near Ovando, the Seeley Lake Community Center in Seeley Lake, and making a wilderness checkpoint coming back to Seeley Lake. The finish is at Hi-Country Snack Foods near Lincoln and is predicted sometime Tuesday with finishes crossing the finish arch until Wednesday afternoon. The awards ceremony is Wednesday night in Lincoln. The public is welcome and encouraged to attend all the events.
Race to the Sky is one of the qualifying races prior to the Alaskan Iditarod. In years past, anywhere from 22 to 35 teams have begun this 350-mile race through the Montana backcountry.
Directions: Race to the Sky Sled Dog Race events will take place in Helena, Camp Rimini, Deer Lodge, Lincoln, White Tail Ranch near Ovando, Seeley Lake Community Center in Seeley Lake, back to Hi-Country Snack Foods in Lincoln for the finish and Lincoln Community Hall in Lincoln for the awards ceremony.
Seeley Lake Sled Dog Race
In 2010 this event will be taking place from January 15 through the 17th.
The Seeley Lake 200 mile sled dog race will be held the weekend of January 15, 16, and 17, 2010. The race is an Iditarod qualifying race and the field will be limited to 20 teams combined this year. The 200 mile race will start in Lincoln in the afternoon on Friday, January 15. The mushers will travel to Seeley Lake and return to the finish in Lincoln no later than 5:00pm Sunday, January 17. The 300 mile race will not be running this year.
The Lincoln start/finish line location will be chosen later this year so please check the race blog for updates regarding the race throughout the summer and fall.
Jeremy Gebauer is the lead Race Director/Organizer this year. Any changes to his contact information will be posted in the race blog on the website.
The mushers will travel a trail that takes them to Whitetail Ranch near Ovando and then on to the Lincoln checkpoint. The mushers will be in Lincoln starting in the early morning hours of January 10th and will then travel back to Seeley Lake for the finish before 5:00pm on January 11th. The best time to meet and view the mushers and their teams are prior to the starts of these races and at the Lincoln checkpoint which will be across from the Lincoln Hotel and Lambkins Restaurant.
Other Listings
| Company | Phone | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Dog Sled Adventures http://dogsledadventuresmontana.com |
406-881-2275 | Whitefish |
| Base Camp Bigfork, LLC 11360 Lakota Trail http://www.basecampbigfork.com |
406-871-9733 | Bigfork |
| Winter Woods Dog Sled Tours |
406-862-6874 |
