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Alaskan Tails of the Trail

Share an adventure running wild.

CALL FOR RESERVATIONS

(907) 455-6469 (ALASKA TIME)

Alaskan Tails of the Trail

Share an adventure running wild.

CALL FOR RESERVATIONS

(907) 455-6469 (ALASKA TIME)

See Our Reviews on Tripadvisor

Mary playing with the new puppies
Mary playing with the new puppies

Alaskan Tails of the Trail

If you’re visiting Fairbanks, Alaska this year and you want to visit an authentic Alaskan dog musher, come to Goldstream Valley — 10 miles northwest of Downtown Fairbanks — and let me show you around my little piece of heaven.

Next, I’ll introduce you to my family of happy huskies. My loving and loyal dogs have taken me down a trail of challenge and adventure through some of the wildest beauty left on Earth. It would be my honor to share some of these experiences with you.

After you see a winter camp and learn how I fell in love with sled dogs way back in 1969, we’ll go in the cabin and have some refreshments. After getting comfortable around the kitchen table, I’ll compare the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod, and share with you how I felt to cross the finish line as the first woman to ever complete the Iditarod. Then, I’ll recount the greatest adventure of my life so far — the 1,200-mile Hope ’91 journey through the Russian Far East.

In the summer, the tour begins at 10:00 a.m. and finishes around 1:30 p.m. I strive to give you the best trip possible to teach you about the history of mushing and the joy of being around these wonderful dogs.

Mary playing with the new puppies
Mary playing with the new puppies

Alaskan Tails of the Trail

If you’re visiting Fairbanks, Alaska this year and you want to visit an authentic Alaskan dog musher, come to Goldstream Valley — 10 miles northwest of Downtown Fairbanks — and let me show you around my little piece of heaven.

Next, I’ll introduce you to my family of happy huskies. My loving and loyal dogs have taken me down a trail of challenge and adventure through some of the wildest beauty left on Earth. It would be my honor to share some of these experiences with you.

After you see a winter camp and learn how I fell in love with sled dogs way back in 1969, we’ll go in the cabin and have some refreshments. After getting comfortable around the kitchen table, I’ll compare the Yukon Quest and the Iditarod, and share with you how I felt to cross the finish line as the first woman to ever complete the Iditarod. Then, I’ll recount the greatest adventure of my life so far — the 1,200-mile Hope ’91 journey through the Russian Far East.

In the summer, the tour begins at 10:00 a.m. and finishes around 1:30 p.m. I strive to give you the best trip possible to teach you about the history of mushing and the joy of being around these wonderful dogs.

My Family of Merry Dogs

I have been a dog lover my entire life, and I look forward to welcoming you to meet my gang of dogs. They have taken me down a trail of challenge and adventure through some of the wildest beauty left on Earth. It would be my honor to share some of these adventures with you. 

Families with children or those a little skittish around dogs need not be afraid. While I have big dogs, more than anything, they will just want to greet you with a cuddle and a wag of their tail.


I live on 20 acres of boreal forest, made up of mostly white-barked birch trees and old spruce. During your Alaskan adventure, you and your kids are welcome to explore the forest and enjoy the natural beauty of the land.

Puppy hugs are the best
Puppy hugs are the best

Reserve Your Spot Today

In order to provide every guest with the best experience possible, I keep my groups small. This way, we can all get to know each other during our adventure. Please make reservations for your dog sledding tour experience as soon as you know your plans.

I’ll see you in Fairbanks,

Mary Shields