Is dog sledding on your bucket list? You don’t need to book a flight to Alaska to experience it.
Anyone who grew up in Oregon can tell you that Spring Break here is usually a rainout. After a dreary Pacific Northwest winter, my family prefers to seek out the sun during our week off. Since a flight out of town wasn’t happening this year, we loaded up the car and headed to Central Oregon where the weather is generally better.
We packed our snow gear in anticipation for a day on Mt. Bachelor. It’s one of the largest ski areas in the U.S. and a popular winter playground here in Oregon. My adventure loving family enjoys winter activities, but we don’t ski or snowboard. We’ve gone tubing in the past at Mt. Bachelor, but wanted to try something different this time around. A dog sled ride sounded like a fun way to mix things up.
Where To Go
We were told to park in the lower lot at Mt. Bachelor’s Sunrise Lodge. We immediately knew we were in the right place thanks to the loud, barking dogs. It was a clear and sunny day, but only 28 degrees when we pulled into the parking lot. We layered up in our winter gear, then followed our ears. We found about a dozen excited dogs lined up next to a trailer bearing an Oregon Trail of Dreams logo.
Next, we checked in with Rachael Scdoris. Her family runs the business. When it comes to dog sledding, Rachael knows a thing or two. She’s a former Iditarod competitor and dog racing runs in her family. Rachael’s now retired from the racing scene, raising a family and a bunch of dogs in the Bend-area. Even the youngest family members help with the business. 6-year-old Julian was one of the first to greet us upon arrival. Julian introduced my kids to each of the dogs by name, including a puppy.
What To Expect
Rachael gave us a safety briefing before we boarded our sleds. Rachael told us to be prepared to quickly hop into the sleds once the dogs were ready. Sled dogs, we learned, like to be on the go. She wasn’t kidding. The second they were harnessed up, the dogs excitedly started yelping and jumping. Our musher was given a 3…2…1 countdown and we were off.
The sleds hold up to three people (two adults and one child) for a maximum weight of 450 pounds. Our family split into groups of two. Father and son went in one sled, and mother and daughter went in another.
The journey is about 5 miles long. The dogs will lead you through a picturesque and snow-covered forest. There’s some downhill and uphill parts. The musher will have the dogs take some breaks along the way, especially during the uphill portion of the journey. The dogs quickly grow impatient at each stop and are eager to get going.
The ride was about 45-minutes long. In spite of all the barking at the start, the dogs were pretty quiet during our ride. They were focused on the trail ahead. We sat comfy and warm in our sleds taking in the gorgeous scenery. During our journey, our musher told us about each dog and talked about the history of dog sledding starting with its origins in Alaska.
Upon our return, we had a chance to thank the hard-working pups who pulled our sled. My kids were quite taken with the dogs. The dogs were really friendly with the kids. They didn’t mind being petted and hugged. The kids served the dogs a tasty treat of nutrient filled water. As our dogs took a break, another group got harnessed up for the next outing.
Cost and Details
Oregon Trail of Dreams operates three sessions per day, Thursdays through Mondays. The typical season runs December to May, but it’s weather dependent. You’ll need to make reservations in advance. It costs $100 for a child (under 80 pounds) and $200 for an adult. Weekends and holiday are more expensive. There’s also a much longer ride, called a “Marathon Trip” that runs, you guessed it, 26 miles and includes lunch.
There’s a lot to do when visiting Mt. Bachelor. This article will tell you everything you need to know.
Mt. Bachelor provided the author and her family a complimentary dog sled ride. All opinions are her own.
