Here’s a whacky notion to brighten up some winter afternoon: make your way to northern Maine, New Hampshire, or Vermont and take a guided dog sled ride. Yes, you can. Dog sled owners welcome you to visit and pat the huskies and other breeds of sled dogs and then to climb aboard for a choice of a shorter or a longer ride. Some dog sled tours invite guests to take the reins! Talk about bachelor party fodder (or fun for anyone). See some guided dog sled businesses below:
New Hampshire
Muddy Paw Sled Dog Kennel & Raft NH in Jefferson, NH –Muddy Paw turns you, for an hour or a day, into Sgt. Preston of the Mounties! (a reference to a 1960s TV show, ok, boomer?). On these mini- or extended sled tours guests will meet the sled dogs, help harness the team, take a dog sled ride, and give the sled dogs their post-ride treats. Lots of places to take great photos. Your kids will call you a hero for taking them on this adventure! 603-545-4533. Map
Maine
Morning Crescent Sled Dogs, near Bethel, Maine, welcomes people of all ages and adventure levels to dog sledding. The half-day tour touches on the basics of dog sledding plus three hours of trail time. The full-day tour allows more hands-on teaching and about five or six hours of mushing. Map. . [photo: Caroline Blair-Smith]
New England Dogsledding is in Mason Township, Maine, welcomes you to slide on dog-powered sled runners over frozen ground and snowy mountain passes with help from powerful Siberian Huskies or Alaskan Malamutes. Dog sledding and mushing tours are offered in Bethel, the Sunday River Ski Area, North Conway, and on 15,000-acre Wilderness Trail System at the Balsams, New Hampshire. Talk about winter beauty! And … you get to pet and maybe hug the dogs. 207-731-6888. Map.
Maine Dogsledding Adventures in Millinocket, Maine, places you at the head of the pack (in terms of control of the dogs, we mean – not running down the trail). Come for a ride on a real dog sled. Tours meet at the kennel, where guests meet the Huskies. Then you board the sleds and mush 10-12 miles in the forest and lake wilderness near Baxter Park. Enjoy a camp fire during a stop on the trip and help feed the dogs. Guests may drive the sled or ride as a passenger. 207-731-8888. Map.
Vermont
Mush! You can do it! Eden Mountain Dogsledding in Eden Mills, Vermont, is a full-fledged dog touring center where mushers and racers from all over New England come to train. Twenty eight Alaskan Huskies will pull you on a ride that you will remember for a lifetime. You may even learn to drive your own team. Get your family or a group together and try it! 802-635-9070. Map
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