Fairbanks Snow Sleighers: Snowmobile Tours

Take an exhilarating snowmobile ride across Alaska’s winter landscape on a small-group tour with a dedicated guide who’s local to the Goldstream Valley. Choose from 2 daytime tours and 1 nighttime aurora-viewing expedition; multiple departures each day make it easy to fit them into any schedule.

You’ll start by gathering in a rustic, dry cabin, around 10 miles north from downtown Fairbanks, where you’ll meet the team, get fitted with gear, and have experts train you on the machine’s operation and trail safety.

Then head off! You’ll start in the Goldstream Valley floor, where a blanket of snow covers up spruce bog and tussocky wetlands, then transition into stands of birch and aspen groves as you climb up the rolling hills and ridges of the Yukon-Tanana Uplands. The elevation gain delivers spectacular open-sky, panoramic views, which are perfect for aurora viewing.

Guides lead small groups of 3-4 machines, making frequent stops throughout the tour to provide insights and give everyone a chance to take photos. They’ll also take a reading on the group’s interests and customize the trip accordingly, since some people want to maximize driving time while others like to stop and talk about the area’s culture, history, and vegetation.

The Tours

• The Lynx Loop. Perfect on the coldest days or for those short on time, the Lynx Loop offers a one-hour guided snowmachine ride with about 30 minutes for outfitting and instruction. You’ll get geared up in warm winter clothing before heading out on easy-to-navigate trails designed to build confidence and comfort on the machine. It’s a great introduction to snowmachining and a fun way to sample Alaska’s winter landscape.
• The Local. The most popular tour, ideal for beginners and return visitors alike, includes two hours of riding time and the chance to explore more terrain than the Lynx Loop tour. After gearing up and a brief orientation, you’ll drive over open stretches and forested trails that showcase the stunning surrounding landscape.
• The Aurora Sleighers. This late-night snowmachine tour, running from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., offers the perfect chance to see the famed aurora borealis, as it takes you to higher vantage points with wide-open skies and away from city lights. It’s an exciting adventure even if the northern lights don’t appear, as you cruise over the winter landscape and enjoy the night-sky with plenty of scenic overlooks. And while viewing the aurora is not guaranteed, Snow Sleighers allows customers to reschedule as their schedule allows to give them the best chance to see the northern lights.

About Snow Sleighers

Snow Sleighers was founded in 2015 by Brian and Jeremy, two fishy friends who met while working on Yukon River salmon conservation projects with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. In the winters, while the rivers were frozen and the salmon were away, they both got hooked on the thrill of snowmobiling and developed a passion for guiding. Today, they bring a deep local knowledge, a background in fisheries and wildlife science, and a genuine enthusiasm for Alaska’s winter landscape to all of their tours.