Official board of directors’ Statement
April 1, 2026

It is with a heavy heart that the Board of Directors of the Lake Minnetonka Klondike Dog Derby announces the de‑commissioning of the Klondike Dog Derby.

After three consecutive years without being able to run the race for safety reasons—and only three successful races in the past seven years—we have concluded that it is no longer sustainable for our volunteer‑run organization to continue. The race requires two weather conditions that have become increasingly unreliable: solid lake ice and adequate snow cover. In recent years, achieving both has been, at best, a fifty‑fifty chance, leaving us with an unsafe course on which to run a sled dog race.

Our board and volunteers dedicate countless hours each year to permitting, preparing, fundraising, organizing and recruiting to make the Klondike possible. It is a tremendous lift for a 100 percent volunteer‑run organization and deeply disheartening when months of work must be set aside due to conditions beyond our control.

What keeps us grateful is knowing the joy the Klondike brought to this community. Whether you were a sponsor, volunteer, musher or spectator, your smiles and enthusiasm drove us forward each year. We all have so many incredible memories from the Klondike that we will carry in our hearts forever.

We are grateful to the communities of Excelsior and Lake Minnetonka for embracing this event and helping make it one of Minnesota’s winter highlights in the years it did run. The Klondike quickly earned a reputation in the mushing world as “world‑class,” “one of the best of the best,” and a true “must‑do.” We are also especially proud of our education team, which introduced thousands of local students to the sport of sled dog racing and the remarkable athleticism, trust and bond between mushers and their dogs. Through Klondike, we also supported organizations such as Can Do Canines, Adopt a Husky, ICA Food Shelf and Cast Outdoors.

While this decision saddens us, we know it is the right one. Winters are no longer producing the consistent snow and cold needed for a safe, successful race. In the best interest of our volunteers—and given the significant effort required each year with no guarantee of race‑ready conditions—the Board has unanimously decided to retire the event.

We are planning a farewell event to gather with our Klondike family and honor everything this race has meant. We’ll also host a Klondike merchandise giveaway and raise a toast to what truly was the “coolest thing that happened in winter” in the Twin Cities. Please stay tuned for more details.

Thank you for all your support,
The Lake Minnetonka Klondike Dog Derby Board of Directors