Running Reindeer Ranch

This was one of the most fun experiences in Fairbanks. Our guide was Tyrone and he did a fantastic job educating us about the reindeer and how to enjoy the walk with them safely. Don’t misunderstand, the reindeer are sweet and mild tempered animals, but they are large and have antlers, so you do need to stay aware - also, we went when there’s snow on the ground and you’re going up and down hill- so it can be slippery. With that said; make sure you have the right shoes for this tour! You get plenty of time to visit with the reindeer and take pictures, and at the end they give you hot chocolate and homemade cookies. This was just an all-around lovely experience and if we’re ever back in Fairbanks, we’re definitely going again!

Great and unique experience! Surprised how nice the reindeer were, I never felt frightened of them even with all those antlers. Great hosts, though we were sad to hear that Jane was vacationing in Phoenix--we LOVED her entertaining safety and clothing videos and were looking forward to meeting her. Oh well, still great! I did learn that my lower 48 snow boots and ski coat did not cut it in -5F !! Happily upgraded to a rented parka and boots upon returning to the lodge and was never cold again!

Visited Running Reindeer Ranch for my birthday this October and it was wonderful! The staff and reindeer are great and very friendly! Even Carl….hahaha he’s actually my favorite! I highly recommend visiting! It’s an educational and fun experience to walk through the Boreal Forest and end the tour with hot chocolate and cookies! ! :)

My mom, sister, and I visited Running Reindeer Ranch in October of 2023! We had the most lovely time. Tyrone, Katrina, and Jack introduced us to the herd and provided so much cool knowledge about reindeer and the dynamics of the herd. We had a lovely walk and the reindeer followed along and let us interact with them. It was truly a special experience and I would recommend it to anyone in the Fairbanks area.

Jane and her reindeer are an absolute delight! She is a wonderful storyteller - very informative and funny all in one. We loved being able to interact with the reindeer as we strolled through the woods. The walk itself is not strenuous. We stopped multiple times along the way to talk about the reindeer and there were benches about halfway through for those who needed a rest. If I ever find myself back in Fairbanks I'll be visiting Running Reindeer Ranch again.

We did the reindeer walk at Running Reindeer Ranch and it was truly a magical experience. Jane is very knowledgeable about reindeer and we learned a lot! The reindeer themselves are sweet, curious animals. They had no qualms being around people and walking side-by-side with us, unleashed. It was truly a unique experience. The walk began with a sit-down informative session where Jane told us about how her farm was started and demonstrated some differences between reindeer, caribou, and other types of deer. After a quick safety lesson, the reindeer were let loose. After they grazed for a few minutes, the walk began. It was at a leisurely pace through the forest. Jane and her team provided walking sticks for those who needed them and were very helpful in making sure everyone could complete the walk. Though the walk was supposed to last 2.5 hours, I would allot at least 3 hours. The team does not rush and makes sure to answer all questions in order to give guests the best experience. 10/10 would recommend.

We were in Alaska for a week in early December, and this was our favorite thing (outside of Aurora hunting) by far. We decided to try this last minute on a Sunday morning, and the online reservations said they were booked. When we called, though, they gladly made room for us on the 1:00 p.m. tour. I'm so thankful they could accommodate, because it was the highlight of our trip. We were sent a safety video immediately, which gave great history and tips on what to expect. The walk started promptly at 1:00 after a gear check to make sure we would all be warm enough (I think it was -18 F that day). There was extra gear/hand and feet warmers for people who needed them. The staff gave a little talk about the herd to start, before releasing the reindeer. It was such a magical, giddy experience to see them barreling toward you! We walked through the woods with the herd while learning all about them. We were able to get pictures and pet them, and generally have this incredible two hour experience. Definitely worth the price and the cold if you're there in winter!

Did yoga with the reindeer. It was a great experience to get up close and personal with the reindeer. We were able to rent a yoga mat for $5 for the session. Biggest piece of advice is BRING BUG SPRAY!! The Mosquitos will eat you alive if you don't have bug spray. We were told the official perfume of Alaska is Deet, they were not kidding. Yoga was not difficult and you were able to follow along and do what you could. The reindeer would lay on your mat at times and just walk right up to you. Definitely recommend.