Soak in Grand County's Winter Wonderland on a Horse-Drawn Sleigh Ride
There's nothing like a horse-drawn sleigh ride complete with jingling bells to get you in the holiday spirit! It is a truly magical and festive experience - a unique way to take advantage of this winter wonderland we call home. Snuggle in under warm wool blankets as you tour through pristine alpine meadows and woodlands, drift through crisp pine-scented air, and soak in the beauty of the mountain scenery as snow blankets the ground. Most rides end with hot chocolate around the outdoor fire when you return to the stables, a quintessential way to wrap up the winter fun. We love this family-friendly option for enjoying the snow at a different pace!
And it isn't just a holiday activity! Horse-drawn sleigh rides are offered all winter long, typically from November or December through March or April (weather dependent). We're lucky enough to have several local outfits that offer sleigh rides: tours are available with Dashing Through the Snow in Fraser, Devil's Thumb Ranch in Tabernash, Rocky Mountain Stables in Granby, C Lazy U Ranch in Granby, and Winding River Resort in Grand Lake.
DASHING THROUGH THE SNOW
Dashing Through the Snow's property is just outside of the town of Fraser. Close to the Fraser ballfields off County Road 5, it's the closest sleigh ride operation to Winter Park Resort. They've been in the touring industry for almost three decades, so you're in good hands if you book a ride with them! Their old-fashioned sleighs and horses with jingle bells do their name justice as you "dash through the snow" through secluded woods and open meadows with breathtaking views. Dashing Through the Snow offers daily rides from 11am - 5pm, operating late enough to enjoy a sunset ride - it really doesn't get much more magical than riding through a forest as the sun goes down over the Continental Divide. You can book a private ride on their smaller sleighs that hold up to four people or reserve individual seats on the group ride on the 24-seat sleigh. Their 45-minute rides include time getting to know the horses, a campfire with hot chocolate and marshmallow roasting, and access to the small sledding hill the kids love. Their pricing is different for adults 18 and older and youth ages 5 - 17, with a small cost for children ages 4 and under. Check pricing and book online here.
ROCKY MOUNTAIN STABLES
Rocky Mountain Stables operates out of YMCA's Snow Mountain Ranch. Each ride is just shy of an hour long and tours through Snow Mountain Ranch's 5,100 acres of rolling meadows, aspens, and spruce forests with the sound of jingle bells filling the air. Stay warm you sip hot cocoa and cozy up under blankets on the ride. They offer daily rides from 10am to 4pm with prices for adults 18 and older and youth ages 5 - 17, with a small cost for children ages 4 and under. Check out their pricing and book your ride here.
DEVIL'S THUMB RANCH CABIN CREEK STABLES
Cabin Creek Stables at Devil's Thumb Ranch offers sleigh rides for lodging guests only, but their creative sleigh ride options might make it worth booking an overnight stay! Private and group rides are available, with sleighs that hold up to 12 people. Hot drinks and s'mores are served back at the stables after every ride. They offer the typical ride through meadows and pastures; a "feed the horses" ride that delivers the herd breakfast by sleigh (including time visiting with the horses); a "Holly Jolly" ride for ages 21+ complete with hot toddies, Irish coffee, and alcoholic seltzer to enjoy on the ride; a "story time" sleigh ride with a variety of Christmas and Yuletide tales performed by their talented wranglers (a perfect family outing!); and a "countryside caroling" ride with sing alongs of all the holiday favorites.
C LAZY U RANCH
Just off Highway 125 outside of Granby, C Lazy U Ranch is a world-class, all-inclusive dude ranch that offers sleigh rides for guests staying at the ranch.
Their sleighs hold up to 12 guests as they tour through fields on their 8,500-acre property. C Lazy U offers rides from 11am to 2:15pm, capitalizing on the warmer part of the day, but guests are welcome to grab a favorite toasty beverage from the lodge and cozy up under provided blankets to stay warm on the majestic ride. Rides are offered at no additional cost to ranch guests - just another perk of a stay at C Lazy U. Learn more about our county's dude and guest ranches here!
WINDING RIVER RESORT
Winding River Resort is a popular summertime destination as it sits just outside of the town of Grand Lake, minutes from Rocky Mountain National Park. But they also bring the winter fun! Their one-hour sleigh ride offers sweeping views of the Continental Divide as they tour around their 160-acre property. Rides are booked per sleigh (a small sleigh with a max of four people or a large sleigh that holds up to 10), and marshmallows and hot chocolate are served around the campfire after every ride. Note that their season is shorter than most: sleigh rides are offered from mid-December through mid-January. Learn more and book your reservation here.
READY TO CALL THIS WINTER WONDERLAND HOME?
Horse-drawn sleigh rides are just one way to take advantage of the Winter Park area every winter. Check out our favorite snow season activities to learn more about ways to embrace our winter wonderland!
If the magic of the snow has you hooked and you're considering putting down roots here in Grand County, we'd love to connect with and help you find the right mountain property for your goals and needs. Reach out to schedule a consultation to learn more about current listings and the real estate market in the area!
Posted by Angela McDonough (Sandstrom) on
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