Sun Peaks Dog Sledding Adventure

Skiing and snowboarding aren’t the only outdoor adventures at this renowned ski mountain. Sun Peaks dog sledding offers you the opportunity to experience mountain trails from the comfort of a dog sled. It is a peaceful, magical experience and if you love dogs, you will love the opportunities to meet all of the dogs, pet them, feed them, and give them lots of attention.

My youngest son had been asking for many months to go dog sledding, and luckily Mountain Man Dog Sled Adventures in Sun Peaks was local to us. The owners of Sun Peaks dog sledding moved to Sun Peaks in 2010 to raise their own family there while running their business. We were spending the Christmas holidays at Sun Peaks Grand Hotel, and we gave the Sun Peaks dog sledding adventure as a gift to our son, so it made the entire experience more festive.

Our Sun Peaks Dog Sledding Adventure

Shuttle Pickup

To start our Sun Peaks dog sledding adventure, we were picked up outside the entrance to the Sun Peaks Grand Residences, right in the village. There are three sleds per tour so it was the four of us and a couple from Vancouver in our group. The shuttle ride is a quick few minutes to the edge of the village.

Related: Top 25 Things To Do at Sun Peaks Resort in Winter

Meeting the Sled Dogs

At the beginning of every dog sledding tour, you are introduced to all of the dogs and see where they live. The dogs are tied up to the ropes and very excited to greet their guests! I wasn’t expecting the dogs to be so excited to get started, but they were all barking, and with so many dogs, it can get quite loud.

One dog in particular named Tetris caught my eye as she seemed a little timid and just downright adorable.

Getting into the Dog Sled

Once we had spent about ten minutes visiting with the dogs, our group was separated and sent to our dog sleds, where we met our individual guides. There are two people per sled, so Holter and I went together while Andrew and Heath were in the other dog sled.

Holter sat comfortably in between my legs, and then our guide bundled us up with two heavy blankets to keep us warm and cozy for our dog sledding tour.

The Beginning of our Dog Sled Tour at Sun Peaks

I will never forget the moment when the dogs were allowed to start running. They were beyond excited and impatient to get started, and the barking was very loud. And then, all of a sudden, it was total silence.

As soon as they started pulling our dog sled, they were absolutely quiet and peaceful. The sled dogs remained so quiet throughout our tour, another part of the experience I wasn’t expecting.

Types of Sun Peaks Dog Sledding Tours

There are two dog sledding tours available in Sun Peaks from Mountain Man Dog Sled Adventures. One is the Bucket List Dog Sledding Tour, and the other is the Into The Wild Dog Sledding Tour. We chose the Bucket List tour for our first dog sledding adventure.

Bucket List Dog Sledding Tour

The Bucket List Dog Sledding tour is 1 hour and takes you on trails through the trees. This tour includes an introduction to the sled dogs and the guides, 30 to 40 minutes of dog sledding, and then feeding the dogs after the tour. The cost is $225 for a single-passenger sled or $250 for a two-passenger sled. All of the dog sledding tours are guided, and currently, guests are not allowed to drive the dog sleds due to the current restrictions.

Into the Wild Dog Sledding Tour

The Into the Wild Dog Sledding tour is 1.5 hours and brings you to Little MacGillivray Lake at the halfway point of the tour after climbing almost 500 feet. This Sun Peaks dog sled tour includes an introduction to the sled dogs and the guides, 30 to 40 minutes of dog sledding, and then feeding the dogs after the tour.

The cost is $350 for a single-passenger sled or $350 for a two-passenger sled. All of the dog sledding tours are guided, and currently, guests are not allowed to drive the dog sleds due to the current restrictions.

If you would like to experience something magical, book the 4 pm dog sledding tour that is run mostly in the dark, and guests wear headlamps to light the way. It is an experience like no other!

Out on the Dog Sledding Trails in Sun Peaks

The dog sledding ride is both exhilarating and peaceful. It started snowing during our tour, which added to the whole experience. Going up and down hills was fun, and my son Holter had lots of questions for our guide. Unfortunately, due to the current restrictions, no guests are allowed to drive the dog sled, but I was more than happy to sit in the sled all comfy and cozy with my son.

Feeding the Dogs

The highlight of our Sun Peaks dog sledding tour for my sons was the opportunity to feed the dogs at the end of the tour. There were a couple of characters in the pack that was leading our dog sled that Holter adored, so he was thrilled to be able to thank them by feeding them. Our guide was with him during the feeding to make sure both my son and the dogs were safe, and everyone got what they wanted!

A Few Things to Know Before you Go Dog Sledding

• We did the Bucket List Tour which had 30-40 minutes of dog sledding time
• Cost of our tour was $500 for both two person sleds
• You must book online in advance as these tours sell out quickly
• You can drive or catch the shuttle from the village
• Wear appropriate winter clothing

Related: Family Friendly Restaurants at Sun Peaks Grand Hotel

What to Wear

It is imperative that you dress for the weather conditions for your Sun Peaks dog sledding tour. Depending on which tour you choose, you will be riding in the sled for 30 minutes to one hour. Your guide will bundle you up with heavy blankets in your dog sled, but here are some tips on what to wear in order to make your dog sledding tour more enjoyable:

• Wear warm boots and consider adding feet warmers. My feet were the first thing to get cold, even though I had my warm winter boots on.
• Wear a good pair of warm, fitted gloves, and add hand warmers if your hands tend to get cold.
• Bring a tuque and a pair of goggles! The goggles will save you from getting snow in your eyes and prevent your eyes from watering from the wind.
• Wear snow pants and a warm winter jacket.
• Bring a scarf or wear a neck warmer, as your shoulders and neck will be the only parts exposed to the wind.

FAQ Dog Sledding Sun Peaks

Final Thoughts on Sun Peaks Dog Sledding

Our dog sledding tour was definitely a bucket list experience and one that I would recommend for anyone to do. We did our tour over the Christmas holidays and it sure made our vacation so much more festive. It was definitely a trip to remember.