Helicopter To a Dogsledding Experience

The thrill here is the arrival: a smooth helicopter flight from Juneau drops you onto a vast snowfield at Herbert Glacier, where a team of Alaskan huskies is waiting. You get a real dogsled ride on snow, not a wheeled cart on a dry track, with towering ice and mountains all around. The flight over the Juneau Icefield and the chance to meet the dogs are the two best parts for me.

The main caution is time. The full outing lasts about three hours, but the actual sled ride may be only 20 minutes to an hour, depending on camp operations and flight timing. At $727 per person, this is a major splurge, and poor weather can cancel the experience even after you have set aside much of your day.

Key points to know before you book

• Herbert Glacier landing: You fly from Juneau to a remote dogsled camp on an ancient snowfield.
• Two ways to ride: Stand on the runners and help guide the sled, or sit comfortably while the dogs do the work.
• Small-group setting: The tour accepts no more than 12 passengers, although helicopter seating depends on weight and balance.
• Real winter conditions: Boots and raincoats are available, but you should still dress warmly in layers.
• Weather matters: Flights can be canceled for poor conditions, with a different date or full refund offered.
• Strict weight and luggage rules: Individual weights are required, and bags stay at the helicopter base unless medical needs have been arranged.

Flying from Juneau to a remote glacier camp

This experience combines two classic Alaska activities in a compact half-day: a helicopter flight and a dogsled ride. The helicopter is not simply transportation. It is part of the attraction, carrying you from Juneau’s airport over icefields and mountain country to a camp that cannot be reached by ordinary road.

You meet the Coastal Helicopters team at the airport after pickup in Juneau. The company provides transport from several downtown locations, including the area beneath the Goldbelt Mount Roberts Tram, as well as airport-area hotels. Cruise ship passengers should allow at least 45 minutes between ship arrival and pickup, and another 45 minutes between the return drop-off and the ship’s all-aboard time.

Before takeoff, you receive a safety briefing and get fitted with overshoes. The helicopter cabin has limited room, so accurate passenger weights are required at check-in. This is not a minor formality. Incorrect weight information or the wrong passenger category can cause delays or cancellation without a refund.

The flight to the glacier takes about 15 minutes according to the scheduled itinerary, though individual flight paths and operating conditions can affect the timing. You will want your camera ready, but you cannot bring a regular bag into the aircraft. Bags remain at the tour office unless you have a medical reason to carry one and have arranged it in advance.

What the helicopter ride adds

The aircraft gives you a view of Alaska that you simply cannot get from Juneau’s streets or a standard coach excursion. As you leave the airport, the city gives way to rugged peaks, snowfields, and broad expanses of ice. The return flight over the Herbert Glacier is also part of the planned experience, so you get another chance to watch the terrain from above.

Several people describe the helicopter ride as the strongest part of the outing. That makes sense, especially if this is your first flight in a small aircraft. The views can be spectacular in clear weather, and the short flight keeps the experience exciting rather than tiring.

You should keep your expectations realistic. A helicopter has tight seating, and Coastal Helicopters cannot promise that a family or group will all sit in one aircraft. Weight and balance determine the seating plan after everyone has been weighed. If your party is split between helicopters, the glacier landing is planned to happen together.

The flight is also the part most exposed to weather. Clouds, wind, and visibility can stop the operation. One cancellation account describes the frustrating experience of waiting until close to departure before the final decision was made. That uncertainty is normal for flightseeing in Southeast Alaska, but it is worth considering if Juneau is only one stop on a tightly planned cruise itinerary.

Landing at Herbert Glacier

The glacier camp is the heart of the trip. You land on Herbert Glacier, surrounded by a broad snowfield and mountain peaks. The setting feels far removed from Juneau, even though the flight is short. There are no roads, shops, or ordinary sightseeing crowds here, only the camp, the dogs, the mushers, and the ice.

The dogs are a major part of the appeal. The camp has a large team of Alaskan huskies, including young and older dogs with different personalities. You get time to meet them and pet them, and the mushers explain how the teams work. For many people, the close contact with the dogs is nearly as memorable as the sled ride.

The guides bring the camp to life by talking about the dogs, the glacier, the weather, and the work involved in running sled teams. Names associated with this experience include mushers Sam, Peter, and Stuart, with Kendra also praised for her work with the crew. Guides can vary, but the best part of the camp routine is the chance to ask questions directly rather than simply taking a short ride and leaving.

Bring your camera, but protect it from cold and moisture. The company supplies boots and raincoats when needed, yet you should arrive in warm layers and wear rubber-soled shoes such as light hiking boots or athletic shoes. Gloves and a hat are especially sensible. At least one person arrived so rushed that they forgot both.

The dogsled ride: real snow, limited time

At the camp, you board a sled pulled by a team of huskies. You can ride on the runners and take a more active role, or sit in the sled and let the musher handle the work. Families and friends can share the ride, though the camp may divide a group into smaller sled teams.

The experience is best understood as an introduction to dogsledding, not a full-day mushing expedition. The scheduled dogsled portion is listed as one hour, but actual movement may be shorter. Some accounts describe roughly 20 minutes of riding around a fixed course, with stops and waiting time included in the overall camp visit. Another description calls it one loop around the camp with several breaks.

That difference matters at this price. If you have already taken a long dogsled tour in Finland or another winter destination, you may find this ride brief. The setting is the compensation: you are moving over real glacier snow beneath Alaska’s mountain peaks, rather than taking a short cart ride in town.

The pauses are not necessarily wasted time. They allow the musher to manage the team, answer questions, and let you meet the dogs. Still, I would not book this tour mainly for the number of minutes spent moving. Book it for the combination of flight, glacier landing, dogs, and a taste of mushing in a remote place.

How much value do you get for $727?

At $727 per person, this is one of Juneau’s expensive excursions. You are paying for the helicopter, pilot, transfers, glacier landing, camp staff, dogsled ride, equipment, and the logistics of operating in a remote setting. The price is not comparable to a standard city tour or a longer coach excursion.

I think the cost makes sense for a particular kind of visitor: someone who wants a major Alaska memory and is willing to pay for access to a place that cannot be reached by road. The helicopter flight alone provides a striking aerial view, and the glacier landing gives the dogsled ride a sense of place that an in-town version cannot match.

The value is weaker if your main goal is extended sled time. The dogsled segment can feel short, particularly when the camp includes stops and waiting for the return flight. You should also remember that weather can cancel the flight, and your schedule may remain uncertain until fairly close to departure.

The 4.6 rating from 150 submitted ratings, with 91 percent recommending the experience, reflects the overall appeal. The strongest praise centers on the views, smooth operation, friendly dogs, and musher enthusiasm. The sharpest criticism focuses on price, a short ride, and late weather cancellations. Both sides are fair.

Pickup, timing, and cruise ship planning

Pickup is offered from several Juneau locations. If you are staying downtown or arriving by ship, the usual meeting point is outside beneath the Mount Roberts Tram cables at 490 South Franklin Street. Look for a Coastal Helicopters representative in bright orange with a yellow sign.

Airport-area hotels have a different pickup arrangement, with a representative meeting you outside the main lobby doors. Passengers at AJ Dock can request pickup at the dock, which is scheduled automatically for the first tour after a ship arrives. The company contacts passengers with the final pickup details.

The times shown for the tour include pickup and drop-off. Shuttles for cruise passengers operate about one hour before flight time. Build in the required 45-minute buffer after ship arrival and before ship departure. I would not schedule this excursion close to all-aboard time, even if the listed duration looks comfortable. Helicopter tours depend on weather, aircraft rotation, and weight checks.

The total tour takes about three hours, but allow extra flexibility around it. You may wait at the glacier camp for the aircraft to return, and weather decisions can alter the day. If Juneau is your only port call and you have other must-see plans, place this excursion early enough to leave room for changes.

Who will enjoy this most?

This is a strong choice for couples, families, and first-time visitors to Alaska who want one big, memorable activity. Most people can participate, and children have enjoyed the flight, dogs, and snow. Every passenger, including children, needs a full ticket. Lap children are not permitted.

You should be comfortable with a helicopter cabin, outdoor cold, and a short period of standing or moving around on snow. If you have limited mobility, contact the operator before booking so the staff can discuss how to make the outing more comfortable.

This tour suits you if you value scenery and a special setting more than a long technical lesson in mushing. It may disappoint you if you want hours behind a team of dogs or if you dislike uncertain weather plans.

Accurate weights are essential. Each passenger is weighed at the base, and the listed total passenger weight limit is 500 pounds. You must provide each person’s individual weight in the correct kilograms or pounds format. This information also affects seating and aircraft assignment.

Weather, cancellations, and practical preparation

The tour operates only in favorable weather. If poor conditions cancel the flight, you are offered another date or a full refund. If the minimum number of passengers is not reached, you are offered another date or experience, or a full refund.

Outside those situations, the booking is non-refundable and cannot be changed. That makes travel insurance worth considering if your plans are uncertain.

Dress in layers. Wear rubber-soled shoes, and expect the company to provide overshoes and raincoats when needed. Do not bring a normal bag to the base. Medical carry-on needs must be disclosed when booking, and other bags are stored at the office while you fly.

Keep your phone or camera handy, but do not count on carrying binoculars or extra gear inside a bag. The space is limited. The company specifically recommends cameras and binoculars, but the no-bag rule means you should confirm how you will carry them before departure.

Should you book the Herbert Glacier dogsled tour?

Book it if you want a short, polished Alaska adventure built around a spectacular helicopter flight, a genuine glacier landing, and friendly sled dogs. The setting makes this more than a standard city activity, and the small maximum group size helps keep the camp visit personal.

Think twice if $727 feels uncomfortable or if your priority is a long dogsled run. The ride may last only about 20 minutes in some conditions, with stops and waiting time around it. You are paying for the complete package, not just time on the runners.

For a cruise passenger, I would book it only with a generous schedule around the ship’s arrival and departure. For a family, couple, or first-time Alaska visitor with room in the budget, this is one of Juneau’s more memorable ways to see the icefield. Just arrive prepared for cold, strict weight rules, no luggage, and the possibility that Mother Nature gets the final word.

FAQ

How long does the helicopter and dogsled tour last?

The full experience lasts approximately three hours, including transportation, helicopter flights, the glacier visit, and dogsledding.

Where does the helicopter depart from?

The helicopter departs from Coastal Helicopters’ airport facility in Juneau.

Where does the helicopter land?

It lands at a dogsled camp on Herbert Glacier.

How long is the helicopter flight?

The scheduled flight is about 15 minutes each way. The return includes an aerial flight over the Herbert Glacier and Juneau Icefield area.

Can I drive the dogsled?

You can choose to ride on the runners or sit comfortably in the sled. The information provided does not specify how much direct control each passenger has over the sled.

Is the dogsled ride on real snow?

Yes. The ride takes place on Herbert Glacier, a snow-covered glacier setting.

What is included in the price?

The price includes round-trip helicopter transportation, the dogsled experience, transportation to and from the facilities, a pilot, a dog musher guide, and boots and raincoats if needed.

Can I bring a bag on the helicopter?

There is a no-bag policy. Bags brought to the base are stored in the tour office until you return. If you have a medical need for a carry-on, you must mention it when booking.

Do I need to provide my weight?

Yes. Individual passenger weights and the correct passenger type are required. Each passenger is weighed at the facility, and inaccurate information can cause delays or cancellation without a refund.

What happens if bad weather cancels the tour?

If poor weather cancels the experience, you are offered an alternative date or a full refund. The tour is subject to favorable weather conditions.