You Can Dog Sled in Utah, and It's One of the Coolest Things We've Ever Done

When most people think of Utah, they picture red rock, sand, and heat. And to be fair, most of the state really is desert. But head a couple hours north of Salt Lake City in the winter and you're in an entirely different world: deep snow, frozen aspen groves, gray skies, and the kind of quiet you can only get in the mountains. It is one of our favorite little secrets about this state.

And tucked into that quiet, you can go dog sledding. Real, full-team, mushing-down-the-trail dog sledding. We had no idea this was even an option in the lower 48 until we found Bear Ridge Adventures.

About Bear Ridge Adventures

Bear Ridge Adventures runs guided dog sled tours in the mountains of northern Utah and has been operating in the area for years, with a working kennel of Alaskan huskies bred and trained specifically for distance running. These aren't show dogs, they're athletes. You can do a half-day tour or a full-day tour; we did the half-day and honestly, it was the perfect amount of time for our family.

We booked through their site directly. If you're considering it, look up bearridgeadventures.com for current pricing, dates, and what's included, they sometimes adjust the meeting location based on snow conditions, so always confirm the details before you drive out.

The day didn't start where we thought it would

When we went, Utah was having a dry season and there wasn't enough snow at the original meeting point. So the team had us drive up quite a bit further in the van to meet the dogs where the snow actually was. A little adventure before the adventure. Once we got up there it was absolutely beautiful, and as if on cue, it started snowing the moment we were getting ready to ride. Storybook stuff.

On the sled

Here's something I had to look up after the fact: the thing you stand on behind the dogs is called the sled (the runners are what your boots grip). The person actually driving the team is the musher. Our mushers were incredible, calm, confident, clearly bonded with their dogs, and full of stories. While you're riding you get a steady stream of information about the dogs' personalities, how the team is structured (leaders up front, swing dogs, team dogs, wheel dogs closest to the sled), how they're trained, fed, and rested. It's genuinely educational, not just a ride.

And the dogs. The dogs are the whole thing. They are SO excited to run. Before the sled even moves they're barking, jumping, pulling, and the second you release the brake, it's dead silent except for paws on snow. It's one of the most peaceful, fast, surreal things I've ever experienced.

A word on ethics

As our family does more of these adventures, one thing we feel really strongly about is only working with, and only sharing about, places that treat their animals well. We've made mistakes in the past with animal encounters that we now wouldn't repeat, and we'll probably talk more about that in a future post. So I want to say plainly: the dogs at Bear Ridge looked healthy, well-fed, well-loved, and genuinely thrilled to do their job. The mushers knew every dog by name and personality. That mattered to us, and it's the only reason we'd recommend it.

What to actually wear (and bring)

It is cold. Obviously. But the wind from the sled makes it colder than the thermometer says. A few things that made the day:

- Bring your own ski/snowboard goggles if you have them, the blowing snow off the trail and off the dogs is no joke. Sunglasses are not enough.

- Wear layers. Always layers. We tell the kids: you can always peel a layer off, you can't add one you didn't bring. Base layer, mid layer, waterproof shell, snow pants, thick socks, insulated waterproof boots, warm gloves, neck gaiter, beanie.

- One thing nobody warns you about: the dogs are going to poop. While running. At full speed. So… just be ready to catch a whiff at some point. It's part of the experience and honestly it became one of the things the kids laughed hardest about all day.

Would we do it again? In a heartbeat.

This was a huge highlight for our whole family. We always assumed dog sledding was something you had to fly to Alaska or Iceland or somewhere far north to experience, and instead we got to do it a couple hours from Salt Lake City. If you're planning a winter trip to Utah and you want something completely different from skiing, put this on your list.

And if you want to see the *other* side of Utah, the warm, red, sandboarding-into-a-sunset side, go read our recap of the sunset tour at Coral Pink Sand Dunes next. Same state, completely different planet.

Book or learn more at bearridgeadventures.com.

Follow along for more

Come hang out with us on Instagram @the.ventureseekers for more honest recaps, gear we actually use, and the next adventure on the list. See you out there.

-Brittany, The Venture Seekers