Lake Minnetonka Klondike Dog Derby

Home
United States
Excelsior, MN
Lake Minnetonka Klondike Dog Derby

8-dog, 40-mile sled dog race around Lake Minnetonka starting and finishing in Excelsior, Minnesota
(1)

04/18/2026

The Trail’s End Celebration: A Final Salute to the Lake Minnetonka Klondike Dog Derby 🐕🛷

After three magical races, it’s time for the Klondike Dog Derby community to gather at the finish line one last time. Whether you were a musher on the trail, a sponsor or donor who fueled our journey, a volunteer who braved the cold, or a fan cheering from the shoreline—you were the heart of this organization.

Join us Saturday, May 2nd from 2-6pm at Excelsior Brewing Company as we toast an amazing run and celebrate the memories that made the Klondike Dog Derby a local legend.

🍺👕 Beer & Gear: The first 100 fans through the door get a beer on the house, plus we’re giving away loads of free Klondike merch: hats, sweatshirts, tees, and so much more! Come snag a piece of history while it lasts!

Let’s raise a glass to our crazy dream that actually came true: bringing the sport of mushing to Lake Minnetonka—proving that some of the wildest ideas are worth chasing. Mush On!

04/06/2026

Behind every great race is a story worth telling. ❄️🐾

A huge thank you to the media organizations who have stood by the Klondike Dog Derby since day one. You’ve braved the cold right alongside us to share the grit, the grace, and the 'mush' with the Twin Cities.

From live broadcasts to front-page features, you’ve helped us bring the spirit of sled dog racing to the city. As our mission reaches its final trail, we look back with immense pride at the story we’ve written together. ❤️💙

Star Tribune
MPR News
WCCO & CBS News Minnesota
KARE 11
KSTP-TV
Bring Me The News
Sun Sailor
Lake Minnetonka Magazine
Social Indoor
Fox 9

A few recent stories:

WCCO-TV: https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/video/lake-minnetonka-klondike-dog-derby-ending-permanently-due-to-climate-change/?intcid=CNM-00-10abd1h
MPR: https://www.mprnews.org/story/2026/04/03/twin-cities-dogsled-race-canceled-due-to-unusually-warm-winters
Star Tribune: https://www.startribune.com/minnetonka-klondike-dog-derby-dogsled-race-canceled/601659959
KARE-11: https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/lake-minnetonka-klondike-dog-derby-to-close-after-three-canceled-races/89-8c5bdb27-24a9-469f-bf0e-9a38d1048781
KSTP-TV: https://kstp.com/kstp-news/local-news/after-just-3-successful-runs-in-7-years-the-lake-minnetonka-klondike-dog-derby-is-no-more/
Bring Me the News: https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-lifestyle/dogsled-race-on-lake-minnetonka-wont-happen-again-due-to-warming-winters
Sun Sailor: https://www.hometownsource.com/sun_sailor/news/local/lake-minnetonka-klondike-dog-derby-to-end-after-string-of-cancellations/article_6b11939a-5b4e-403d-ac5a-12ab4a46d0cd.html

04/03/2026

An update to our beloved Klondike Dog Derby Fans—
Official statement at klondikedogderby.com ❤️😢💙

02/19/2026

It is with such sadness that we announce the cancellation of this year’s race due to lack of adequate snow pack on Lake Minnetonka. 😢

Winter started strong but we didn’t have enough snow on the lake to build a safe trail for the February 14th race. Our postponement to March 7th was in hopes that more snow would fly this month, and that we could finally host our beloved race once again. Unfortunately, we saw record high temperatures and rain, leaving significant water pooled on the lake. This week’s snowfall was welcome, but forecasts show it still won’t provide the base needed for a usable trail by March 7th. Even with more snow, it would need to stay frozen and pack densely over re‑frozen ice to ensure safe racing conditions.

We’ve been dealt a difficult hand these last few years as the Twin Cities has seen both ice-less and snow-less winters. But Team Klondike never wavered. Our volunteer board logged thousands of hours, coordinated hundreds of logistical details and continued to raise funds to support the race. Together, with our incredible sponsors and volunteers, we’ve hosted numerous family‑friendly events and introduced tens of thousands of local students to the wonderful sport of sled dog racing. We’re proud of the impact we’ve had on our community and the standard we’ve set for sled dog racing.

The commitment of this team—and your continued support—is truly off the charts, and we couldn’t be prouder of what this organization continues to accomplish. What has carried this event isn’t snow—it’s the heart of everyone who has worked to make it happen. We’re deeply grateful for every person who has shown up, volunteered, sponsored, donated or cheered us on. ❤️ 💙

With endless gratitude,
The Lake Minnetonka Klondike Dog Derby Board of Directors

02/16/2026

Looking for a fun way to keep the kids busy? 🎨💙
Have them create their own Klondike masterpiece and send it in for a chance to be featured on our social media! (PDF link in Instagram bio)

02/13/2026

The poster design fans have spoken!
Congrats to Tori Troyer, our 2026 Race Poster Artist!👏🧑‍🎨🎨
Catch Tori’s poster IRL on race day, March 7th!

02/12/2026

Our team is unique and blessed… we benefit from the savvy and guidance of multiple lead dogs. Our 2025-2026 Lead Dog Sponsors are rock stars. Their tireless and unwavering commitment has made all the difference. Like any team, we’d be lost without them. 💙

Brightwater, Clothing and Gear
Ostrom Creative
Hewn & Forged
Social Indoor
Artful Living Magazine
Lake Minnetonka Magazine
Highmark Builders Inc.
Back Channel Brewing
Excelsior Brewing Company
Excelsior Insurance

02/10/2026

We’d be remiss not to shout out the ️⭐️ ABSOLUTE ALL STARS ️⭐️ on the Lake Minnetonka Klondike Dog Derby Board of Directors. These folks volunteer their time tirelessly year-round to bring the Klondike to life—partnering with the City, locking in sponsors, running fundraisers, wrangling mushers and volunteers, educating our community on the incredible sport of mushing, grooming trails, and spreading the word far and wide. The list truly goes on and on and on… and these fine faces do it all. 👏 👏 👏

Pictured:
Bill Damberg - President
Bethany Hway - Vice President & Race Director
Dr. Jackie Piepkorn - Chief Veterinarian
Mark Flakne - Trail Boss
Kathy Gullickson - Volunteers
Dr. Shane Smith - Education
Jason Rusinak - Operations
Leslie Johnson - Sponsorships
Tony Ferraro - Treasurer
Laura Weiglein - Secretary & Administrator
Cara Ostrom - Brand & Marketing

Not Pictured:
Amy Flakne - Musher Representative
Dale Kurschner - Communications & Media
Julia Bye - Fundraising Events
Samantha Hansen - Operations Lead
John Klinkenberg - Operations

02/07/2026

Counting down to making new memories ❄️
We’re officially one month away from the 2026 Lake Minnetonka Klondike Dog Derby—March 7th!
Details at klondikedogderby.com

02/04/2026

You barked, we listened... YOU get to pick the 2026 Lake Minnetonka Klondike Dog Derby race poster! 🐾

Check out the designs, follow your nose, and vote for your favorite poster at pollunit.com/polls/0fco9z1ruzkjyyr0pyp5oq
🗳️ Voting closes 2/11/26 at midnight!

Trail notes before you vote:
✅ Please ignore any incorrect dates on previous years’ posters—they’ll be corrected if selected
✅ Artists who submitted multiple designs have had their entries narrowed down

Address

Excelsior, MN
55331

Website

https://www.klondikedogderby.com/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Lake Minnetonka Klondike Dog Derby posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Lake Minnetonka Klondike Dog Derby:

Shortcuts

Want your organization to be the top-listed Non Profit Organization in Excelsior?