Denali National Park and Preserve is the only United States national park to utilize working sled dogs. They maintain the Parks Kennel, currently with 32 dogs who haul freight for projects and allow rangers to patrol the six million acre park during the snowy months. The Parks Kennel is open to visitors year round from 8am to 5pm. During peak season, they offer demonstrations three times daily, at 10am, 2pm and 5pm. The kennel is located near the park headquarters with limited parking. Most visitors use a shuttle bus from the visitor center. You can walk to the kennel which is about 1.8 miles each way from the visitor center using either Rock Creek or Roadside Trails.
Sled dog Clove during the program
We attended one of the demonstrations and spent some time visiting the sled dogs. The ranger program included a team of 5 dogs pulling the fall training cart (with wheels). The program was well attended by park visitors of all ages. This was one of the most highly attended national park programs we have ever attended.
Program Audience
They have a tack room which also includes the name plates of retired dogs. There is also a sled room which included some historical sleds.
Former sled dogs name plates and harnesses
One of the NPS sleds
We learned that the dogs used by the park service tend to be larger than racing team kennels, as the park service dogs are routinely used to haul freight. Each dog can pull between 50-100 pounds! The dogs move a lot of materials for projects to remote locations, like lumber used to build bridges on hiking trails.
2016 Canine Rangers roster
The dogs are raised at the kennel where about one litter of puppies per year are born. They use outside kennels dogs to periodically bring in new genes. Each year’s puppies are named based on a theme. This year’s puppies were born to Annie about a week before our program and were named after a birthday party theme in honor of the centennial of the national parks. Their names included: Cupcake, Piñata, Happy, and Party. These puppies were about 2 pounds each when we visited. They will begin to interact with visitors at about 3 weeks old.
Each dog begins training at a young age and will begin working in a team at about age 2 and continue working until about age 9. When the dogs retire from Denali’s Park Kennel, they are placed by adoption to families who go through an application process. Their new owners need to live in a cold environment and live an active lifestyle.
We also had plenty of time to visit the dogs at the kennel. Overall they were fairly calm, but also excited to have visitors. Some enjoyed being petted by the visitors.
Lava was very friendly
Nuna was a sweetheart
Mixtus was quite regal
We also happened to be there for dinner time, which was very exciting for all of the dogs. This was a fun activity for dog lovers of any age. We could have accessed this from our Riley Creek Campground or Denali RV Park.
Dinner time at the kennel
