Helicopter Glacier Dogsledding: Punchbowl Glacier & Huskies from Girdwood

Ultimate Summer Tour offers a concentrated, high-adrenaline introduction to Alaska’s backcountry: a helicopter flight from a Girdwood hangar at 599 Mt Hood Dr, Girdwood, Alaska, into rugged alpine terrain where you’ll dogsled across Punchbowl Glacier and step onto a remote icefield. Departures launch from the hangar near Girdwood and Anchorage, and the whole adventure takes about two and a half hours.

The flight climbs above the valley to reveal cirques, serrated ridgelines, and sprawling blue-tinged glaciers. Your first stop is Punchbowl Glacier, a broad snowfield sitting roughly 3,200 feet above sea level. There professional mushers from Seavey’s IdidaRide Kennel, led by Iditarod champion Mitch Seavey, meet guests with enthusiastic Alaskan Huskies. After a short briefing you ride a dogsled across the glacier, the dogs’ energy cutting across the white expanse while peaks loom overhead. At camp you meet the team, learn mushing traditions, and—when puppies are available—spend time with young huskies.

Back in the helicopter the route pushes deeper into the backcountry, revealing meltwater pools that create electric blue accents against the ice and snow. The pilot will land on a second, more remote glacier for roughly half an hour of exploration. With only the sound of wind and the crunch of boots on ice, you can photograph crevasse patterns, wind-sculpted sastrugi, and scan nearby ridgelines for wildlife: moose browsing lower slopes, mountain goats on cliff faces, Dall sheep on high ridges, and the occasional bear in valley forests.

This experience stands out because it combines two signature Alaskan elements—mushing culture and helicopter access—into a single outing. Seavey’s IdidaRide Kennel brings genuine local expertise; Mitch Seavey’s involvement ties the tour directly to Alaska’s competitive dog-mushing history. The tour uses Robinson R44 helicopters and adheres to FAA guidelines, and operators limit group sizes for safety and weight-and-balance reasons.

Practical details: check in 30 minutes before departure at the Girdwood hangar (599 Mt Hood Dr). The tour runs seasonally from May 15 to August 31 and includes short hikes over uneven ground—expect to walk about 100 yards. Dress in layers for wind and rapidly changing temperatures; glacier landings are cold even in summer. Shuttle pickup from Anchorage and Girdwood hotels is available. The Ultimate Summer Tour is a compact, sensory-rich way to experience Alaska’s ice, dogs, and sky—ideal for travelers who want a concentrated taste of true Alaskan backcountry in one unforgettable outing.

Booking notes: aircraft seating is three per Robinson R44; parties larger than three may fly separately. Infants under 24 months may lap-fly per FAA rules; children two and older require purchased seats. Guests should disclose weights at booking for safe helicopter load planning. Contact the operator in advance for accessibility questions and to confirm puppy availability at camp before.