Dog Sledding in Breckenridge is a Good Time!

Dog sledding in Breckenridge with Good Times Adventures is so much fun! It was the perfect family activity when we were ready to take a rest day from skiing.

Good Times Adventures offers dog sledding and snowmobiling tours in Breckenridge, Colorado. My family took a 6-mile dog sledding tour along trails in the beautiful Swan River Valley.

When we arrived, we were ushered in to the cozy registration area and met by friendly faces and offers of hot cocoa. After filling out a couple forms, it was time to get out to the sleds.

We came dressed as if it were a day on the slopes, but Good Times does offer snowsuits and boots if you don’t have them. Just be sure to bring your own hats, gloves, and goggles or sunglasses!

We headed out to the sledding trail. The dogs were barking excitedly, almost leaping – chomping at the bit to get a move on. They seemed like a bunch of little kids whose parents told them they have to wait 30 minutes after eating to swim. I could see these beautiful Siberian Huskies couldn’t wait to go.

But wait they did, as each group got the chance for a photo with them.

Learning how to mush

Our guide, Tim, was a fountain – no, a geyser – of energy and information, introducing us to each dog and giving us the facts about their age, personality, strengths, and rank in the pack. We were given simple instructions on mushing and controlling the sled, then we were off!

One person acted as the musher, one person rode in the sled, and the rest of us watched from a sled pulled by a snowmobile ahead of the dogs. Every five or 10 minutes, Tim would stop to switch mushers and riders so everyone had several opportunities to drive the sled.

Tim knew every twist and turn of the 6-mile route and advised us on what sections would be easiest for the kids. He even convinced my hesitant 8-yr old daughter to try mushing solo. And she loved it. 

The scenery was phenomenal as we rode through the trails and we all felt confident in our ability to drive the sled, thanks to our skilled guide.

Learning about the dogs and the dog sledding lifestyle

Tim drew us all in with his knowledge about how much the dogs eat (they actually require less food than other breeds of dog), how they train (only at night when it’s colder), and the temperature at which they are most comfortable (they train best when it’s below 20 degrees F).

After sledding, I talked a bit with Tim. He told me how he started as an instructor and loved it so much that he bought his own dogs. He’s raised them as a race team for seven years. And he lives in a cabin in the woods with no running water or electricity.

My mouth fell open in amazement.

He did admit to having a small generator for heat, but in the winter he hauls the water he needs for 4 miles. In the summer, there is a spring nearby his cabin. It’s him and the dogs and nature.

Tim inspired us and made our day a wonder-filled adventure! The entire experience lasted a couple of hours and was an ideal off-day during our ski week.

Tips for Dog Sledding in Breckenridge

Here’s what you need to know for your dog sledding adventure:

• There is ample parking at Good Times Adventures, but they also have a shuttle bus that will pick you up at a convenient location in Breckenridge.
• Wear warm clothing and dress in layers. It’s best to dress as if you were going skiing. Gloves, hats and goggles are highly recommended. They have adult-sized snowsuits and boots you can use free of charge if you don’t have your own. They do NOT have kids sizes.
• The tour runs about an hour and a half, but allow 2-2.5 hours. Arrive 30 minutes early to check in.
• You should call for a reservation well in advance. They are closed on Mondays.
• Cost is $140 per person (as of 2021).

Thanks to the Breckenridge Resort Chamber for arranging our dog sledding experience. Opinions expressed here are completely my own.