It isn’t often that you get to check an item off your bucket list. During our vacation in Park City, Utah, my family had an incredible experience dog sledding with some Alaskan and Siberian huskies.
The day was perfect for our winter adventure. We had about a foot of new snow overnight and there were still flurries as we drove to the site. When we arrived, we found a vast expanse of untouched snow, several excited dogs, and two very friendly guides for our journey.
The dog sled rides are about an hour in length and the trip takes you through some picturesque backwoods. My guide told me that the area is also used as a summer camp, but you would never know it when the place is covered in a few feet of snow. I rode in the one person sled and my wife and son rode in the sled built for two. Each sled had a spot where you could get zipped up into a cozy sleeping bag kind of thing. It kept me really warm and dry even though the snow was falling steadily.
One of the best parts of the whole experience is watching the dogs as they get hitched up to the sled. I have never seen dogs this excited to go for a run. They were barking, pacing, eating snow, and kept looking back at the musher in eager anticipation. And when they finally got the signal to go, it was like a rocket taking off. I was really surprised by how strong those dogs were and how fast it felt like we were traveling.
As we made a path through the woods, my guide told me that many of the dogs were rescue animals from local shelters. The Gibson family, who run the dog sledding trips, care for the rescued dogs at their home and train the rescued dogs to be part of the pack. It was obvious loking at the dogs that they are well cared for and happy. I have never seen such an energetic and friendly bunch of canines.
There were also a few fun surprises during the trip. As the dogs were hitched to the sled, the guide introduced each one by name, let me give them a pat on the head, and then brought the dog to the appropriate place in the lineup. Most of the dogs had names based on Bob Dylan songs, but my favorite dog was named demon (after the dog from the movie Snow Dogs). We stopped a few times during the trip to take photos (so bring your camera). And at the end of the trip, we got to give the dogs treats to reward them for a job well done. It was really neat!
The dog sledding adventure is a great option for children (over age 3) and adults. Your child stays pretty secure in the zippered part of the sled, so you don’t have to worry about them falling out or getting cold. Each sled usually fits two adults or one adult and two children. You can book your own dog sledding experience through All Seasons Adventures.
We had a lot of fun in Park City, Utah and the dog sledding experience was one of the best things we did during our trip. It is an amazing experience for families and is something you won’t forget. I highly recommend adding this experience to your “must do” list.
