Dog Sledding & Skijoring

A cousin to dog sledding, skijøring tethers a skier to one or more dogs wearing chest harnesses. It can be a simple winter walk with the family dog, or a competitive race with three dogs pulling the skier.

Long popular in Alaska and Scandinavia, the sport is growing in upstate New York. Cross-country ski areas have opened miles of trails to the sport-spawning skijøring clubs, such as the Seneca Siberian Husky Club.

Some specific equipment, an eager canine or two, and a pair of cross country skis puts you well on your way with this inexpensive sport. Check with individual ski areas to see if they have trails for skijoring and information on events across New York.

We guarantee you won’t have to walk the dog when you get home!

Ski resorts featuring dog sledding and skijøring can reopen with 50 percent indoor capacity and with strict health and safety protocols under state-issued guidance starting Friday, November 6. Please remember to keep six feet apart from others not in your party and wear a mask or face covering at all times when not skiing, eating, or drinking. Call ahead and check websites and social media to make sure attractions are open and available. Be advised that New York has a travel advisory in effect, which requires anyone traveling from certain states to quarantine for 14 days upon entering New York State. Travelers may undergo COVID testing to test out. For more details, see the guidelines for the travel advisory here.

Find ski areas below