Mont-Tremblant: Dogsledding Valley Adventure

A dogsled team does not wait for you to admire the view. Once the harnesses are on, the huskies pull you through winding forest trails with surprising speed. You will help prepare the dogs, learn basic sled handling, and share the work with your team.

I like the close contact with the huskies, including time to pet them, feed them cookies, and visit the kennel. I also like the simple fire-shack break, where dessert and hot chocolate turn a cold-weather ride into a proper outing.

The main consideration is that this is not a passive sleigh ride for everyone. Adults in your group will likely need to drive, and children may ride with a parent or on a guide’s sled. Pregnant women should not book.

Key points

• More than 60 Siberian huskies: Meet the dogs at the kennel, help prepare them, and visit seasonal puppies.
• Adult participation is expected: One adult usually drives, with one or two passengers sharing the sled.
• 1 hour and 15 minutes on the trail: The route follows forest terrain with hills and winding sections.
• A real warm-up stop: Spend about 15 minutes in a shack beside a fire with homemade dessert and hot chocolate.
• A generous finish: Return to the kennel for dog treats, a visit with the pack, and hot tomato vegetable or chicken noodle soup.
• Small group format: The activity is limited to 10 participants and offered in English and French.

Meeting the huskies before the sled leaves

The best part of this outing begins before the sled moves. You arrive at the kennel and meet a pack of more than 60 Siberian huskies. That gives you time to see the dogs as working animals, not just as a blur of fur pulling past the trees.

Before departure, your guide explains how the teams are harnessed and gives basic safety instructions. You may help get the dogs ready, except on the 10:30 departure, when that preparation is handled differently. You will also learn the names of your dogs, a small detail that makes the ride feel more personal.

This introduction matters. Dogsledding can look effortless from the passenger seat, but the dogs, sled, trail, and driver all need to work together. The guide sets the sled assignments and explains how to handle the team on the forest route. The instruction is designed for beginners, so you do not need prior experience.

The guides are described as kind, encouraging, and well organized. That is useful here because first-time drivers need clear directions rather than a long technical lesson. The activity has earned especially strong marks for its friendly guides, smooth organization, and the chance to take part rather than simply sit and watch.

How the sled assignments work

The group is limited to 10 people, but the sled arrangement is still important. Adults are paired together, with one driver and one or two passengers per sled. Half of the adults in your group will probably be asked to drive a sled themselves.

The guide decides the positions for safety. If you have a particular seating request, mention it as soon as you arrive. Drivers and passengers on the same sled may switch places halfway through the outing, so you can usually share the driving and riding roles.

That setup makes this more active than a standard horse-drawn sleigh ride. Driving gives you a direct hand in the experience, but it also means standing or balancing as instructed and paying attention to the dogs and trail. One recent participant was allowed to co-drive, which made the ride especially thrilling. You should treat that as a possible part of the experience, not a guaranteed arrangement.

Children may ride as passengers on a parent’s sled or on a guide’s sled. The guide makes that decision. Families should be comfortable with some flexibility, since the safest seating plan depends on the group and the dogs.

Passengers receive a blanket, but the blanket is not a substitute for proper winter clothing. You are responsible for bringing warm, comfortable clothes. The activity is outdoors in winter, and your comfort will depend heavily on what you wear.

The 1-hour-15-minute forest run

Once the dogs are ready, the sleds head into the forest. The route includes winding trails and some hills, making the ride more active than a flat, slow loop. You get a view of the forest from a low position close to the snow, with the dogs setting the pace in front of you.

The ride can feel fast, especially if you are driving or co-driving. That is part of the appeal, but it also explains why the safety briefing and guide assignments matter. You will need to follow instructions and stay alert to the trail.

The forest setting gives the outing its sense of place. You are not simply circling a small display area. The dogs take you along a proper route through trees and gentle rises, with the quiet broken by the runners on snow and the sound of the team working ahead.

I like the balance here. The ride is long enough to feel like a real excursion, but not so long that a first-time participant is left cold, tired, or overwhelmed. The full activity lasts two hours, including the kennel visit and warm-up stops, while the time actually spent on the trail is about 1 hour and 15 minutes.

The exact feel of the route depends on the weather and conditions. You might find the ride brisk and energetic, especially on the hills, while the forest sections offer calmer stretches. Do not book this expecting a silent sightseeing trip from start to finish. The dogs are working, and the ride has motion and pace.

A fire, homemade dessert, and hot chocolate halfway through

About halfway along the route, the group stops at a shack to warm up beside a fire. This is a simple feature, but it makes a real difference. Winter activities are more enjoyable when you have a planned place to thaw your hands and settle back into the outing.

The break includes homemade traditional desserts and hot chocolate. It is not a restaurant stop, and that is part of its charm. The food is tied to the setting: a warm drink, something sweet, and a fire in the middle of a snowy forest outing.

Use the break to switch driving positions if you want to share the work with another adult on your sled. It is also a good time to ask the guide questions about the dogs or the route.

The 15-minute pause is brief, so do not expect a long meal or a full rest period. It is meant to warm you up before the final part of the ride. If you are sensitive to cold, bring clothing that lets you stay comfortable while standing outside and then sitting in the sled.

Returning to the kennel and meeting the pack

Back at the kennel, you get another chance to spend time with the dogs. You can pet them and reward them with cookies, which gives the outing a relaxed finish after the more active trail section.

You also visit the kennel and may see puppies, depending on the season. The puppy visit is not guaranteed year-round, but the kennel visit and dog treats are part of the experience. For many people, this close contact is as important as the sled ride itself.

The dogs are described as sweet and easy to be around, but you should still follow the guide’s instructions. Working dogs have their own energy and routines. The guides help you interact with them in a safe and respectful way.

This is where the activity works especially well for families. Young children may not be able to drive, but they can still take part in meeting the dogs, giving treats, and seeing the kennel. At the same time, adults get the more active role on the sled.

Soup by the fireplace

The final touch is a hot bowl of soup served as you warm up beside the fireplace. You choose between tomato and vegetable soup or chicken noodle soup.

This is practical rather than fancy, but it fits the day. After time outside, a hot bowl gives you a chance to warm up before leaving. It also means you do not need to plan a meal immediately after the activity.

Food options are limited to the two soups listed, so this is not suitable for anyone expecting a full menu or needing a specific meal that has not been confirmed. If you have dietary concerns, check before booking rather than assuming the soup can be changed.

What the $153 price includes

At $153 per person, this is not the cheapest winter activity around Mont-Tremblant. The value depends on what you want from dogsledding.

You are paying for more than a short ride. The price includes a guide, about 1 hour and 15 minutes on the trails, a blanket for passengers, the kennel visit, dog treats, homemade dessert, hot chocolate, and hot soup. It also includes the preparation and instruction that make it possible for beginners to help drive.

If you only want to sit in a sled for a few minutes and take pictures, the price may feel high. If you want a complete half-day-style outing packed into two hours, with time at the kennel and food before you leave, it is easier to justify.

The small group limit of 10 also matters. A large group can make a dogsledding operation feel rushed or impersonal. Here, the guide has fewer people to place on the sleds, brief, and supervise. That should make the driving instructions and kennel time easier to manage.

The highest praise has centered on the organization, the guides, and the dogs themselves. That combination is important. A dogsled ride can be memorable because of the scenery, but poor handling of the animals or confusing instructions would spoil it quickly. This experience puts the working dogs at the center while giving you a clear role.

Getting to Fort Ouest from Mont-Tremblant

The meeting point is at a lodge near Fort Ouest, not simply at the main resort village. Follow Highway 327 south. After about 7 kilometers, you will see a covered bridge on the right. At about 10 kilometers, continue toward Ranch Populaci.

About 1 kilometer after the large S turn, look on the right for a green sign marked Chemin de la Montagne. A few meters later, turn left onto Chemin de la Montagne. Continue for about 2 kilometers, then turn left where you see a Fort Ouest sign. The lodge is about one minute farther.

The directions include several landmarks, so allow enough time to find the kennel without rushing. Arrive ready for the guide to assign the sled positions and explain the activity. If you want a particular place on the sled, ask at arrival rather than waiting until the group is ready to leave.

The activity is usually offered in the morning and afternoon. The 10:30 departure has a different preparation arrangement, so keep that in mind if helping harness the dogs is a major reason for booking.

Who will enjoy this most

I would choose this for families, couples, and small groups who want more than a photo stop. You get animal contact, a real forest ride, a warm break, and a meal at the end. The mix keeps the outing moving and gives passengers several different ways to take part.

It is also a strong choice for first-time dogsledders. You receive instructions, drive only with the guide’s approval, and can switch positions halfway through the trip. The forest hills add interest without requiring a full-day expedition.

The activity may be less suitable if you want complete control over your schedule or seating. Guides assign the sleds, and children may be placed on a guide’s sled or with a parent. Pregnant women should not participate.

You should also think carefully about clothing. Comfortable winter clothing is not included, and the supplied blanket is intended for passengers, not as a replacement for warm layers. Bring clothes that let you stay outside for the trail, the kennel visit, and the time around the fire.

Booking, cancellation, and final advice

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund, and you can reserve now and pay later. That is useful for a winter plan, since weather and road conditions can affect your comfort even when the activity itself is running.

The tour is offered in English and French. Its two-hour length makes it easy to fit into a day of skiing or other Mont-Tremblant plans, though you should account for the drive to the meeting point.

Book this experience if you want an active, family-friendly introduction to dogsledding and care about meeting the dogs as much as riding behind them. The strongest reasons to choose it are the small group, the chance for adults to drive, the warm shack stop, and the unhurried kennel visit.

Skip it if you want a purely scenic ride with no participation, or if you are not prepared for cold weather and flexible seating. For everyone else, the combination of fast forest riding, friendly guides, husky time, dessert, hot chocolate, and soup gives the $153 price a fair amount of substance.

FAQ

How long does the dogsledding activity last?

The full activity lasts two hours. About 1 hour and 15 minutes is spent on the trails, including a 15-minute break in a shack.

Do adults have to drive the sled?

Adults in the group will probably be asked to drive. The guides assign the sleds, and each adult sled arrangement usually includes one driver and one or two passengers. Drivers and passengers may switch halfway through the excursion.

Can children drive a sled?

Children may be required to ride as passengers on a parent’s sled or on a guide’s sled. The guides decide the safest seating arrangement.

What food and drinks are included?

The midway break includes homemade traditional desserts and hot chocolate. At the end, you receive hot tomato and vegetable soup or chicken noodle soup.

What languages are available?

The live guides speak English and French.

What should I bring, and who should not participate?

Bring comfortable winter clothing. Winter clothing is not included, and the activity is not suitable for pregnant women.