Winter is coming and the time to plan your winter vacation is now. Winter in Colorado is all about outdoor activities, obvious is skiing and snowboarding, but there is so much more.

Dog sledding in Vail, Colorado is a unique and adventurous sport.  One of the most popular and growing winter sports is the thrill of Dog Sledding Vail, Colorado and it is an adventure the whole family from children to adults will enjoy.. You will learn about the dogs as well as the art of how to handle the team. Most outfitters will give you the choice of either just being a passenger to sit back and enjoy the ride and take in the beautiful panoramic views or be in the moment and actually mush the team of beautiful Siberian Huskies. The rides normally last an hour in duration and normally take up to six people at a time. The dog sled outfitters in Vail, Colorado primarily use either Siberian or Alaskan Huskies.

Before your adventure begins your guides will explain how to mush your team of huskies and how to handle and guide your sleigh. Most tours include a snowmobile that will accompany the dog sled and will pull a sled with the balance of the group since in the dog sled there will be the driver and in some cases 1 passenger. During the tour the group will be able to take turns mushing the dogs. Before you book your tour ask about private rides and the difference in rates and the duration of the ride.

Typical questions people ask about dog sledding:

How long does the season last?

Dependent on snow dogsledding in Vail is open from mid-November through mid-April.

How cold will it be?

You should plan on dressing for a chilly winter day. We run our tours snow or shine, so come prepared for fun! Dress in layers; you can always take a layer off. If you dress like you are going skiing, you will be well prepared.

What should I bring?

A warm coat, snow pants, hat, gloves, face masks, neck gators, sunglasses or goggles, sunscreen and a camera will cover all the bases.

Who can mush the dogs?

Usually anybody from ages 9 and up will have the opportunity to mush the dogs. Always check with the outfitter.

Children ages 3-8 can ride in the basket of the dogsled while another adult mushes the team. Some outfitters will pull a separate sled with a snowmobile for passengers.

Guides may have children less than 100 lbs. mush with a parent for extra support depending on the weight and awareness of the child.

The most important thing to us is your safety and the dogs’ safety.

Do the dogs get cold?

No, these dogs actually like  the cold weather and have a special dual layer coat specifically for this type of climate.

How big are the dogs?

Sled dogs can pull more weight pound-for-pound than draft horses or any other draft animal and do it at a pretty incredible pace!    Dogs vary in size from 35-65 pounds. The females are usually the smaller dogs, but are great leaders. The bigger males are the muscle of the dogsled team. People are most surprised just by how strong they are. The dogs can easily pull more than twice their own weight.

Dog sledding vail is an adventure not to miss reservations book up fast, so plan now.