Where Huskies Lead the Way: Idarado Sled Dog Adventures
By Kathryn Sparacino
When most of us picture dog sledding, we imagine huskies racing across a vast Arctic snowfield, a musher bundled in a frost-crusted parka urging them on. And while that scene may be accurate, you don’t need to travel to the Yukon to experience the thrill. Idarado Sled Dog Adventures, right here in the San Juans, offers the chance to glide through snowy mountain trails on a winter outing that’s as memorable as it is exhilarating.
Indigenous peoples of the far north have relied on sled dogs for more than 4,000 years — using them to hunt, transport supplies and travel across vast, snow-covered terrain. Bred for both endurance and speed, huskies proved to be the perfect partners for life in harsh conditions.
Idarado Sled Dog Adventures (formerly Wintermoon Sled Dog Adventures), currently has 27 Alaskan huskies on staff. While they sometimes purchase new pups for new bloodlines, Idarado does most of their own breeding, raising puppies almost annually. This winter, there are six yearlings on the team, who are learning the ropes and taking guests out on the trails. They won’t go out every day like the older, more experienced dogs — that will come in their second year.
“We do all our own training,” Teale Cook explains. She is the daughter of the original Wintermoon owners, Chantal and Mark Wood, who passed the family business on to Teale and her husband, Amos, in 2022. “I learned everything through my parents,” she says.
Chantal, who is originally from Canada, and Mark, who is from Wisconsin, met in Telluride through a mutual friend. Mark hired Chantal to work for him “and the rest is history.”
In addition to learning from her parents, Cook trained in Alaska under veteran Iditarod mushers — athletes known for tackling the legendary 1,000-mile race across some of the harshest terrain on earth.
The Cooks are committed to keeping the business in the family, with the goal of passing it on to their children: Kemmer, age five, and Ivory, a newborn. Cook shares that ever since he could walk, Kemmer has helped with chores, including tending to the dogs.
“It's a unique, different experience,” Cook says. “It’s what my parents loved doing, and also what I truly love doing now with my own family. But sharing it with guests, sharing it with people, getting outdoors — that's what this is really all about. Everyone loves the outdoors and there are so many ways to get out. It's just another way to experience something unique with your family.”
Cook speaks passionately about their team of huskies. “Working dogs in general are just absolutely amazing to watch. You give them a job and they do it 110 percent, and they don't complain. They just want to go. I always say that they're the best coworkers because they're just eager to go. The colder it is, the louder they get — it always puts you in a good mood. Even if you're having a rough morning, you watch them and you're just like, ‘Wow, this is what life is about.’ Their enthusiasm and their eagerness is contagious.”
Guests can usually expect a petting session at the end of the tour. “All of our dogs are very friendly. … This past winter we had a lot of guests who were surprised we let them pet every dog. And I thought, well, why wouldn't we — they all deserve a pet.”
Book a Tour
Idarado Sled Dog Adventures offers one trip each day — a four-hour experience with two sleds and two teams of Alaskan huskies. The trips take place on snow-covered trails in the national forest.
Details:
- Schedule: Meet at 8 a.m., return to town by noon
- Group Size: 4–5 people (typically 2 adults per sled with guide; 350-lb. max)
- Kids Welcome: All ages, even babies
- On the Trail: 1–2 hours of sledding with plenty of time for photos
Every outing is unique, with the day’s pace and route tailored to conditions — ensuring no two adventures are ever quite the same.