When Fido sees snow, he can’t help but wag his tail. Catching snowballs and playing in a winter wonderland is exciting, but did you know there’s even more fun to be found when the weather outside is delightful? Don’t let the cold season pass this year without taking up a winter sport with your pooch. Check in to a pet-friendly ski resort and check out these snow-filled adventures you can enjoy with your best friend.
Snow Paws: Winter Sports With Fido
Posted by Billy Francis
Skijoring
Skijoring is a sport where a dog or several dogs pull a cross-country skier. Active pups of all breeds can participate, and most animals over 35 lbs can tow an average-sized human. If you’d like to try it, Louisa Morrissey of High Country Dogs offers private lessons in the snow-covered Colorado Rockies. She also hosts workshops at Devil’s Thumb Ranch, one of the best spots where Fido can try his paw at skijor. The season generally runs from December through March.
Stay where you play at Devil’s Thumb Ranch, a luxury resort with some of the best Nordic trails in North America. Each four-legged guest receives a dog bed, homemade treat, and leash to use while exploring the 6,000-acre property.
Tubing and Sledding
Tubing and sledding with your dog can be a thrilling and bonding experience, but it’s important to choose a safe and dog-friendly location. Look for wide, open hills with gentle slopes that are free of obstacles like trees, rocks or fences. Many parks and recreation areas allow sledding and welcome dogs, like Wanoga Snow Play Area Sno-Park in Bend, OR, or Foxtail Picnic & Winter Snowplay Area in Las Vegas, NV. Other popular spots include dog-friendly trails in national forests or community parks with designated sledding areas. Bring plenty of water, ensure your dog is wearing a harness for safety, and keep him warm with a coat and boots if necessary.
After riding the hills in Bend, cozy up by the fire at Tetherow Hotel.
Cross-Country Skiing
If Fido prefers to run free rather than pulling his weight and yours, cross-country skiing is the sport for him. While dogs may not be allowed to tumble down most black-diamond slopes by your side, they can join you off leash while you glide along on a cross-country (or Nordic) trail. Before you strap on your skis, however, make sure that your pup has good recall skills and is physically up to the challenge. Just as cross-country skiing is an endurance exercise for humans, it can be quite a workout for your best friend.
Fortunately, there's no shortage of idyllic destinations where your furry powder enthusiast can try this timeless winter sport. The Breckenridge Nordic Center in Breckenridge, CO, is one of our favorite destinations to cross-country ski with your dog. Canines are welcome for no extra charge on the 1.2-kilometer Nordic World trail, and they even offer a skijoring basics clinic if you want to take your winter sport to the next level.
After conquering the trails, enjoy a well-deserved rest at The Lodge at Breckenridge. Four-legged guests are welcomed with a treat at check-in.
Snowshoeing
For a slower pace, trek through a winter wonderland on a snowshoeing adventure. Your cold-weather canine might need a jacket, shoes and warm clothing to enjoy a hike through the snowy landscape comfortably. Once you’re both wrapped up, stride out on one of the many pet-friendly snowshoe trails across the United States.
Bear Notch Ski Touring Center in New Hampshire offers visitors the chance to enjoy riverside romps with pristine waterfalls along the way, leisurely hikes through pretty meadows, and challenging uphill ascents. Dogs and their owners in the Southwest can head to Arizona Nordic Village from mid-December through mid-April and stomp along the varied pathways.
Alternatively, you can reserve a pet-friendly winter cabin and carve out your own path through the woods with your best friend by your side.
Kicksledding
You don’t need a team of Huskies to pull you through the snow on a sleigh. Dogs over 35 lbs provide around 50 percent of the power you need to embark on a kicksled adventure. Considered a more accessible version of regular dog sledding, this “pawsome” activity requires human and canine power to make it where you’re heading. Get out on the sled by yourself first and get a feel for it before inviting your pup to join in the fun. He'll need a kicksled harness that evenly distributes weight so he can pull the sled with ease.
The best conditions for kicksledding are on trails of packed ice and snow. You’ll find conditions like this in Alaska for almost half the year. Winner Creek Trail in Girdwood is an awesome location for kicksledding. Take flight along the sidewalks or head farther off the beaten path to Moose Meadow to practice.
When you and Fido can kick no more, spend the night at this cozy Girdwood chalet.
Truffle Hunting
While many nose work activities for canines take place in warmer months, truffle hunting is the perfect winter activity for pups who love to track! Truffles grow underground, which makes them impossible for human noses to detect. But with proper training, dogs of all breeds can use their sniffers to forage for this fungal treat. Truffle season in the U.S. typically runs from November through early March, depending on the year and where you are foraging. There are a few privately owned truffieres in California, Oregon, North Carolina and Virginia, but they can also be found on public lands in the Pacific Northwest.
If you want to try out truffle hunting with Fido on a trip to Washington, sign up for a class with Truffle Dog Co. The Seattle-based company offers virtual classes, small group and private lessons, or a private Guided Truffle Hunting Experience. Afterward, book a dog-friendly room at Hotel Sorrento.
Winter Hiking
If you and your four-legged friend enjoy snowy vistas, powdery trails and fresh air, a winter hike may be just the exercise you need to get active this season. Make sure Fido is equipped with cold-weather gear to stay toasty and safe, then hit the paths for a beautiful trek in places like the Jud Wiebe Memorial Trail in Telluride, CO, or Witch Hole Pond Loop in Acadia National Park in Maine.
Continue exploring snow-covered landscapes with your pup on the 14 acres of land at Wonder View Inn in Bar Harbor, ME.