This Story is Archived
Please note this page may no longer be up to date. For new stories about Northern Ontario visit us here.

Are You a Driver or a Passenger?

Learn to 'Mush' with Ravens Adventures Dogsled Tours!

Imagine the rush of feeling like you are flying across the snow, your heart pounding to the excited barking of a team of dogs as they pull your sled through the Northeastern Ontario wilderness. It’s a feeling that Gail Palmer and Brent Kramer know well. Both have been involved in dogsledding for a number of years, and as owner-operators of Ravens Adventures Dogsled Tours in Cochrane, their love of their dogs and their love of the sport is contagious. Once you’ve tried it, you’re bound to get hooked too!

Be a Driver or a Passenger

You can be a passenger in one of their sleds or drive your own team of dogs. While trips vary in length, each Ravens Adventures tour begins with an orientation and instructional session to introduce you to the amazing dogs that will make up your team.

You will learn the basics such as how to harness and hook up the dogs, along with tips on how to handle the sled. Remember—there’s no steering wheel here—you’ll need the commands “Gee!” and “Haw” to direct your team. To fully enjoy your experience, Gail recommends that you, “Dress warm, bring your sense of adventure, and if you’re going to drive a sled . . . NEVER LET GO!”

Once you’re familiar with the basics, all of Greenwater Provincial Park becomes your playground. Plan a weekend trip and get your introductory session in early, because on Day Two your possibilities for adventure only grow! Spend your entire morning travelling across a pristine northern landscape, or make it an afternoon of ice fishing.

Plan a Custom Getaway

Custom overnight trips are available for dedicated outdoor adventurers. To give you an idea of what the Custom Couples Overnight Package has to offer, this preplanned tour-for-two leaves the staging area in the early afternoon. You and your experienced guides will spend the day travelling through the exquisite boreal forest in the best of furry company.

By the time you make camp in the evening (Don’t worry, the tent is heated!) and have taken care of the dogs, you’ll be good and ready for a home-cooked meal prepared especially for you. Then it’s time to strap on some snowshoes as you and your guides make your way to the top of Calhoon Mountain, where—if you’re really lucky—you will witness the dazzling lightshow of the Aurora Borealis and hear the mournful howl of the timber wolves.

Once you’ve returned to camp, it’s time to get warmed up by the fire, give your favourite dog a belly rub, and then turn in for the night so you can be well rested for the trip home in the morning. 

About Northeastern Ontario Tourism

Whether planning a fun-filled family road trip, a quick weekend expedition, or a romantic getaway, Northeastern Ontario is undeniably BIG and unbelievably close.

Recommended Articles

Spectres of the Past: A Ghost Town Field Trip

Follow this trail of abandoned communities on a road trip through the history of Northeastern Ontario

Fish for one of the World's Rarest Species of Trout

Found only in 12 remote Ontario lakes–and nowhere else in the world–the aurora trout is a special fish.

The Vanishing Waterfall

Visit the "new" New Post Falls in Northeastern Ontario

Complete Guide to Moosonee & Moose Factory Island

12 essential experiences for visitors.

Northern Lights in Northeastern Ontario

5 great spots in The Seven to find the Aurora Borealis.

Eat Like It's Easter!

Check out these establishments for Easter specials & events.

A Guide to Mushroom Hunting

How, when and where to go, and what to look for

Sugar Shacks

Northern Ontario's Sweet Spring Ritual

An Insider's Guide to Manitoulin Island

12 communities, sights, hikes and experiences that most first-time visitors miss!

Ontario's Secret Lagoon

Discover paradise just outside of Sudbury

Cochrane: Wonderfully Unexpected

One of Canada's top 50 small towns!

Best Things to Do in Kirkland Lake: The Town that Gold Built

Check out a self-guided gold mine tour, a northern chateau museum, and get some beach time!

Increase Your Odds

Visitors to the region often wonder, how do I see the Northern Lights?

Crossing The Northern divide

You don’t need a passport to hop this border!

Explore the Northeastern Towns of Ontario

Non-Resident Guide to Ontario's Whitetail

Know before you go.

Observe the Galaxy Like Never Before

Take in the inky night sky, just outside of the city!

The Northern Lights Trip Planner

3 trip ideas for an illuminating experience in Ontario

Stonehenge of the North

Huge boulders aligned with the setting sun on solstice pose more questions than answers.

Colder Than Expected

How to prepare for spring brook trout bounty.