Horse-Drawn Covered Wagon Ride with Backcountry Dining
Recommended by 91% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Denali National Park, USA
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Pickup offered
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
Travel like the Alaskan pioneers did, in horse-drawn covered wagon, during this 3-hour tour from Healy. Listen to your guide's commentary about the history, culture and environmental features of the area as you travel through the Alaskan tundra. Snap photos of the mountains of Denali National Park looming nearby. Finish your tour with a family-style meal in the heart of the backcountry.
- Travel through the Alaskan wilderness in a horse-drawn covered wagon
- Pass rustic Alaskan cabins in the shadow of Denali's immense mountains
- Learn about the history of the area through your guide's commentary
- Enjoy a family-style lunch in the backcountry
What's Included
- Meals as per itinerary (B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner)
- Professional driver/guide
- Round-trip transport from select Healy and Denali-area lodgings
- Gratuities
- Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
Meeting and Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Itinerary
Make your way to the Black Diamond Resort Co. to begin your Alaskan adventure. Alternatively, pickup is available at select Healy-area hotels.
Climb into a covered wagon hitched to a pair of sturdy draft horses. Take off into the Alaskan wilderness, traveling like the pioneers did. Soak in the historic ambiance and imagine the experience of the first Alaskan settlers as you travel in the shadows of nearby Denali National Park's looming mountains. Be sure to bring your camera for impressive photo ops.
After the 45-minute wagon ride, arrive at a pavilion set deep in the backcountry. Sit down for a hearty meal, served family-style.Â
Get a chance to meet the hardworking draft horses and take some photos with them, then head back to your starting point, skirting the Denali National Park Boundary. Pass a few rustic Alaskan cabins and listen to your guide's commentary outlining the history of the area as a mining mecca.Â
Return to your starting point, where your tour ends.
Climb into a covered wagon hitched to a pair of sturdy draft horses. Take off into the Alaskan wilderness, traveling like the pioneers did. Soak in the historic ambiance and imagine the experience of the first Alaskan settlers as you travel in the shadows of nearby Denali National Park's looming mountains. Be sure to bring your camera for impressive photo ops.
After the 45-minute wagon ride, arrive at a pavilion set deep in the backcountry. Sit down for a hearty meal, served family-style.Â
Get a chance to meet the hardworking draft horses and take some photos with them, then head back to your starting point, skirting the Denali National Park Boundary. Pass a few rustic Alaskan cabins and listen to your guide's commentary outlining the history of the area as a mining mecca.Â
Return to your starting point, where your tour ends.
Denali National Park and Preserve (Pass By)
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Not recommended for travelers with back problems
- Stroller accessible
- Infant seats available
- Most travelers can participate
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- Infant seats are available if pre-requested when booking
- Must be 21 or older to drink alcohol
- Vegetarian food option is available; please request when book along with any other specific dietary requirements
- Involves a moderate amount of walking
- Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated, as long as the participant is accompanied by someone who can assist them board and disembark
- Operates rain or shine; please dress accordingly
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 30 travelers
Supplied by
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
4.6
based on 468 reviews
Sharon_A, Sep 2025
Everything was wonderful about this horse drawn wagon tour. Awesome driver and tour guide both funny and very knowledgeable!! Best part of my Alaska trip beautiful horses, fun time. wonderful views and pictures!! The dinner provided was very yummy too 😃
Kris_B, Sep 2025
Our guides were very knowledgeable. This was a fun experience. Went back to Black Diamond Grill and had dinner. The best fettuccine I've had.
Simone_K, Sep 2025
Had a wonderful horse wagon ride experience! Turbo and Rustin were exceptionally well-behaved horses throughout the entire journey. Chad and Eric were incredibly helpful guides who demonstrated extensive knowledge about the local area, sharing interesting facts and stories that really enhanced our trip. Their expertise and friendly demeanor made this a memorable adventure. The evening was topped off with a delicious dinner and great company, making it a perfect combination of outdoor adventure and hospitality. Highly recommend this experience for anyone looking for a unique way to explore the area!
Jerald_P, Sep 2025
Great knowledge of guide, nice ride , nice meal, saw Moose and calf in woods, beautiful horses , nice views
Morris_L, Sep 2025
This was a very good excursion. The girls working it, Edel and Zoe, were very good, knowledgeable, and friendly. The ride was a lot of fun. Saw a moose! The horses were kept under control. The lunch that was served was great! So much food!!
Paul_M, Aug 2025
First this tour cost 2 adults $225.00. We arrived after a lovely ride from our hotel by a young lady from Galway. She was the highlight of the entire day. We were given a hot chocolate chip cookie before boarding the covered wagon for our ride. Nice touch. Once on our way with our blankets over our legs, we were introduced to our guide and the local young lady who drove the horses. She was very knowledgeable and answered questions. Our guide proceeded to ask us about ourselves and then telI us about herself, and the life journey she took to get herself to Alaska. I would have preferred more info about where we were and what we might see.
I know there is a chance you may not see wild animals on these tours and we saw none, its luck of the draw.
When we arrived at the building for breakfast it was cold. The space heater had not been turned on. The family we met on the wagon
had 4 young children and they quickly sat in front of the heaters as any cold child would and I don't blame them at all for doing so. They were great kids and our grandparenting kicked in, they were fun and bright and talkative, in a good way.
Food, we all were hungry. they offered us coffee, tea and hot chocolate. The meal was disappointing. What was expected didn't happen. family style should have come out all together with large platters of eggs, bacon, bread, muffins, fruit and pancakes. What we got was piece meal, when the food arrived we let the kids eat first. Fruit, coffee, wait 10 min, scrambled eggs. Bacon took awhile to arrive and we all got 2 pieces, reindeer sausage a piece each. Pancakes 5 inchs round we got one, it was a sad excuse for a hearty breakfast meal.
We got to meet the horses after and take a picture with them, the kids loved it and we rode back hungry.
I would suggest not spending the money on this tour and staying in the hotel for a well planned breakfast where you will be warm, fed and you can talk to people around you. Viator shame on you.
Maggie_F, Aug 2025
It was a lot of fun but took a long time to get to dinner. Our guide and driver were great! The kids loved the horses!
Toby_S, Aug 2025
Fun ride! Guides Thatcher and Eric were informative. Included lunch was great, with chicken, ribs and some of the best chili ever! Very bumpy ride, not recommended for persons prone to motion sickness.
Cherie_Z, Aug 2025
Wonderful guides, food and overall experience. Great thing to do, especially on a rainy day. Would absolutely recommend.
Meryl_S, Aug 2025
Love meeting the horses and everything was excellent. From greetings with warm cookies to a breakfast that was amazing this was a tour. Zoe and Kiara with the team of Blizzard and Bill were informative and entertaining
Randall_C, Aug 2025
Very knowledgeable staff, lunch exceeded expectations, and beautiful scenery. Staff didn't rush and made extra stops for photo opportunities.
Mary_F, Aug 2025
It was a great ride in a horse-drawn covered wagon. Half way through we arrived at a dry cabin for a delicious hot lunch.
Thatcher, our guide for our trip was awesome. He mentioned this was his first year doing this job. He is a very personable young man. We enjoyed his knowledge of the Denali area.
Willard_C, Jul 2025
If you like horses and animals, this is a good tour to see scenery, and enjoy the outdoors. Will and Thatcher were informative, and entertaining.
ELIZABETH_W, Jul 2025
Road is quite bumpy. Guides were friendly.
Pickup and drop off went as planned.
Food was good. Wine was boxed :(
Tara_B, Jul 2025
Everyone was super friendly and very knowledgeable. The horses were very well trained. My 15 month old niece even had a great time.
Donna_B, Jul 2025
Our group of 6 were treated to warm cookies when we arrived and rode on a covered wagon through the countryside pulled by two magnificent horses. The young people working were friendly, patient, and kind to guests. It was interesting to learn of their backgrounds. The luncheon was so tasty and plentiful. We were served three salads, cornbread, ribs, chicken, salmon, and desert. Frosenia and the other chefs out did themselves. Our guide, Jackie and Zoe, our driver, were knowledgeable with amusing stories. We even saw a 🫎 moose grazing in the field. It was an enjoyable excursion.
kim_c, Jul 2025
Great time from start to finish! Food was excellent. Lots of cool stories. And we even saw a moose!!
Wanda_G, Jul 2025
Such a fun time! Chad the driver and Jackie the guide were excellent . The food was good and you can’t go away hungry! Highly recommend this adventure.
charles_q, Jul 2025
That it is a fun experience with laughs, jokes, amazing scenery, and food. Had a great time talking with Jackie and Chad, meeting chief and a joker and see the amazing beauty of the area.
David_N, Jul 2025
We had a wonderful experience. The food was good. The ride was even better. Jay & Turbo were our draft horses. So sweet and gentle. Amazing animals. Eric our driver was excellent and Malachy was a fantastic guide. Wife loved his Irish accent!! So did all the other college grads on our wagon. They picked us up and drove us back to the Grand Lodge. Check in was super easy. My wife left her cell phone on the shuttle: we told them. They brought it to her on the trail. Great service. The views absolutely stunning. My wife and I highly recommend.
David_R, Jul 2025
Great food and more than enough for everyone in our group. Horses were tame and allowed us to take pictures with them. Driver and guide were friendly, professional and provided great insight into their world. We saw a moose on the trip back to the main grounds, which was an extra. Only reason for four stars was lack of air conditioning at the eating venue and it was a hot evening.
If you need a meal in Denali why not pay a little more and get an unique experience as well
Louise_P, Jul 2025
Wonderful trip and food was amazing! We saw a moose on the ride and their farm animals were adorable.
Maya_N, Jul 2025
We enjoyed the ride and people who work with the horses and dedicate their passion and experience with people on the tour. The food was very homey and delicious.
Brandy_M, Jul 2025
Warm chocolate chip cookies welcome you home on the range. The horse drawn wagon ride to a chuck wagon style dinner is a great way to spend a night in the land of the midnight sun. Jackie our guide and Will our driver were a great team full of funny stories. King and Duke our horses were real work horses pulling our group. The good food and fellowship was a great way to spend the night. The complimentary shuttle picked us up and dropped us off at the door of our hotel. First class service and experience. Pictured is not our horses that is Joker the true star!!
Danica_C, Jul 2025
Excellent choice! Zoey and Ian were amazing!
Dinner was great. Wildlife, Rainbow, great information.
Kimberly_A, Jun 2025
Fun time on the wagon ride. Loved our wagon tour guide. The horses were beautiful! The food was so so but as expected for the type of activity. The bus driver getting there drove a little crazy but we made it. I mean we got there fast. That school bus had turbo.
Kristen_S, Jun 2025
We arrived at the beautiful property, checked in, browsed through the store and then waited outside on the deck for the others to arrive. Upon the groups arrival, we were greeted with warm chocolate chip cookies and broken up into two groups. Our three generation family group was placed with Elias, "Cowboy" Chad, and these slightly ornery, hands-down amazing draft horses Chief and Joker. On the ride in to dinner in the back country, we were treated to introductions and some fun stories from Elias, beautiful scenery, and great horse discussions with Chad. The horses were fun to watch too. The BBQ dinner came in removes and there was definitely more food than I expected. My only suggestion would be for the courses to be written down somewhere so I could better decide how much to eat and how much room to save. I think the potato salad or the ribs were my favorite. Oh! And definitely the cornbread. They tried hard to work around my brother's and my food allergies as well. The pictures with the horses and covered wagon were so cool, climbing up into the back of a covered wagon was all I'd hoped for, and Elias and Chad made us all feel very comfortable and part of the conversation. With views like this and guides this friendly, I will definitely recommend this to friends and hopefully I'll be back. Thanks so much Elias, Chad, Chief, and Joker! This was a relaxing highlight.
John_W, Jun 2025
Great experience with Eric and Phoenix. Phoenix was a good chap, looked after us well and served us lunch. He was very knowledgeable as was Eric. Lunch was very tasty, lots of choice including different drinks. Enjoyed learning about the horses. Really nice spot with the Black Diamond. Nice slow pace to meander around the backcountry with Jay and Turbo (horses). The horses have quite distinct personalities! Bring mosquito repellent if you are susceptible to being bitten!
Richard_B, Jun 2025
Our tour narrator Elias was very good and knowledgeable. Our driver Will was assume with the horses which where spooked and went off the course. Food was good but could have been presented at closer time increments. We had ribs & chicken first and when everyone cleaned up and thought we were done eating, they came out with the salmon 5-10 minutes after everything else. We needed to get picked up on the trail because horses got wagon down wrong trail. Motor Van for 15 had to pick us up on trail and driver of Van was driving fast that we were bouncing all over in the back. Could have offered something for the shorten trip and rough ride.
Joel_A, May 2025
The horse ride was the best. Shannan was very awesome guide and had amazing personality. Our driver was Cory and he was very informative driver. The food was amazing and there is definitely enough so come hungry. The pasta side dish was supper yummy. If in area a must do and for the price way better then going out to a dinner.
From $112.25
per personup to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)
Customers Who Bought This Tour Also Bought
Attractions in Denali National Park, USA
More attractions near Denali National Park, USA