In January while visiting Salida, CO, I went dog sledding for the first time. If you’ve never considered it, dog sledding in Colorado absolutely needs to be on your bucket list! My dog sledding experience was unforgettable and I’m sure yours will be too.
My family and I had packed up for a weekend getaway in Salida, CO and we were looking for some activities that were good for kids and adults. Dog sledding was suggested, but it was pretty expensive so at first I had some reservations. In retrospect, I am so glad I changed my mind and was able to be a part of this memorable adventure.
Monarch Dog Sled Rides
Monarch Dog Sled Rides is the place to go for dog sledding in Salida, just outside Monarch Ski Resort. Dog sled rides should be reserved in advance, especially if you’re going during peak times, such as Christmas or Spring Break. Prices will be more expensive during peak times, but usually it is $230 for a small sled that holds two people or $360 for a large sled that holds 2-4 people with 3 adults max.
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Tours are available everyday at 9:00 AM, 11:00 AM, 1:00 PM, and 3:00 PM (their hours vary slightly in March after Daylight Savings Time).
The tour lasts an hour and twenty-five minutes and includes meeting the dogs, learning about mushing, harnessing the dogs, and finally enjoying a 30-35 minute sled dog ride through National Forest.
Monarch Dog Sled Rides starts taking reservations on November 1st and is only open during the winter season.
How to Prepare for Dog Sledding
Make sure to buy your tickets in advance, especially if you’re planning to go over a weekend or holiday break.
Dress warmly and if you have little kids, bundle them up really well. I recommend wearing snow pants and a jacket over fleece leggings
Use the bathroom before you leave, unless you want to pee in their designated spot in the woods.
Dog Sledding Experience
Monarch Dog Sled Rides is about 30 minutes outside of Salida. We parked in front of the large sign that says “Dog Sled Rides.” The guide came to get us at 9 AM, our reserved time.
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Meeting the Dogs
The first thing we did was meet the dogs. They were all attached to a long chain in a row and the guide went one by one and introduced us. They were all so cute, with personalities of their own. Some were overly friendly and wanted all the attention, others were shy or disinterested in us. As he introduced each dog, we were allowed to give them a pet or scratch behind their ears.
History of Alaskan Sled Dogs
After we had met all the dogs, one of the guides ushered us around him to learn about the history of Alaskan sled dogs. Alaskan sled dogs were originally used to bring supplies and freight into Alaska because they handled the cold better than horses. They were involved in pulling freight, carrying mail, and even taking kids to school.
Between 1920 and 1930, they started using snow machines for transporting cargo, but they wanted to keep dog sledding as a part of their culture. Thus dog sled racing was created.
The guide then explained to us that an Alaskan Husky is actually a mixed breed dog bred for their good dog sledding qualities. Any dog that is a sled dog and breeds for 10 generations is considered a sled dog.
Harnessing the Dogs
After our history lesson, it was time to harness the dogs. The guide demonstrated and then each person had the opportunity to try putting a harness on a dog.
Dog Sledding
Finally, the moment we had been anticipating. The sleds had been prepared and the guides had harnessed the rest of the dogs, who barked and jumped in excitement.
For our group, we had two sleds, which is the max that can be taken out at a time. We had one small sled, for myself and my mom, and a larger sled for my brother, sister-in-law, and their two kids.
To fit in the sleds, the larger person sits first and the next largest person sits in between their legs and so on. Three people max can sit in the big sled and the other person must stand behind the guide. The smaller sled fits two people and no one is allowed to stand. Once inside the sled, the guides covered us up and then everyone was ready.
The ride itself covers about 4-5 miles through some of the most beautiful National Park landscape. It is such a magical experience, traveling through the valley by dog sled with views of snow capped mountain peaks. There were three stops so the dogs could rest and eat some snow. On the longer rest, we got out of the sleds to take some pictures together.
As they were driving, the guides were very good about answering any questions and giving us additional background on the area and the dogs.
It was such a cool experience, but it did get cold sitting in the sled so we warmed up with some hot chocolate afterwards.
Adopting a Retried Sled Dog
Monarch Dog Sled Rides puts their dogs up for adoption once they retire from dog sledding. We met this adorable guy who was up for adoption and he was so loving and friendly. I will definitely be keeping that in mind for when I have a backyard! If you are interested in adopting a sled dog, you can reach out via their website to learn more.
We had so much fun dog sledding with Monarch Dog Sled Rides and look forward to more dog sledding experiences in the future.
Have you ever been dog sledding? Tell me about your experience in the comments!
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