Dog Sled Adventures, Montana

One of the best things we did on our New Year's trip to Whitefish, Montana was go on a dog sled ride through the beautiful Stillwater National Forest. It was amazing!  I found Dog Sled Adventures, in Olney, Montana, after reading a few blogs and some TripAdvisor reviews of things to do in the Whitefish area.  I was also thrilled to find a dog sled ride outfit that was owned by a fellow animal lover.  The dogs at Dog Sled Adventures were mainly rescue dogs and were all treated well.  Even the dogs that could no longer work remained in the dog yard and were taken care of. 

When we arrived, the dogs were barking and jumping around very excitedly.  They each want to go out on the rides, but only between 8-12 dogs are chosen per sled.  Certain dogs partner together better, some dogs need more rest between rides-it seemed to be very much an art to get a team together and hooked up to the sled.  

The afternoon we went, four sleds went out.  We were bundled into the front of the sled while the musher (driver) stood on the skids at the back.  It is windy when you get going fast, so lots of layers and sunglasses or goggles are necessary.  The 12 mile loop takes about an hour and half, depending on how fast the dogs are running.  

They can't wait to start running!

I can't recommend Dog Sled Adventures highly enough.  The Lodge at Whitefish Lake helped us arrange a taxi to get out there-about 35-40 minutes from the Lodge.  I did not rent a car during our stay since I was nervous about potentially driving in heavy snow. The road was actually very clear highway until we reached the driveway.  A four wheel drive car would have handled it just fine.  If you are thinking of booking a ride, call very far in advance. He fills the three rides a day in no time!

www.dogsledadventuresmontana.com/