Nothing says “winter wonderland” better than a good old-fashioned sleigh ride with bell-laden horses, lap robes and starry nights.
In the Colorado high country, where there’s snow, most likely there’s a sleigh ride. What an ideal holiday gift for the whole family. Here are some of the many available.
Keystone Resort: Beyond the Keystone Ranch Golf Course, deep in the Snake River Valley in a place frequented only by elk, fox and coyote, your sleigh interrupts a pristine setting. But that’s OK. The sleigh quietly makes its way to a warm cabin for a Western-style dinner with all the trimmings and entertainment. During the holidays, prices are $72 for adults and $37 for kids 12 and under. Otherwise, the evening is $68 and $35.
Travel the same route in the afternoon, when you’re apt to catch a glimpse of the elk herd. Sign up for this scenic tour offered Thursdays through Mondays, for $20.
Breckenridge Sleigh Rides: About halfway between Frisco and Breckenridge, in the vicinity of the high-country golf course, a bright red sleigh pulled by two draft horses makes its way across the meadow to give you panoramic views of the majestic Ten Mile Mountain Range. The afternoon scenic ride makes a stop for a special treat of cheese fondue. This afternoon ride costs $40 for adults and $30 for children 4-12 .
Evening rides take you to the Gold Run Mountain Lodge for live entertainment and a dinner of beef tenderloin, herb-crusted salmon or a vegetarian medley. This special evening costs $75 for adults, $50 for children 4-12 .
When only the most intimate carriage sleigh will do, you can choose a private ride with champagne for $270.
Grand Adventures: High in the Fraser valley in an open meadow, Belgian or Percheron draft horses take you and your sleigh on one-hour rides that stop at Cowboy Camp, where you can roast marshmallows and enjoy a cup of cocoa. This Jack Frost nose-nipping ride costs $20 for adults, $15 for kids 6-12, and $5 for the younger set.
Dinner sleigh rides to Snow Mountain Ranch at YMCA of the Rockies are offered Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. After an invigorating ride, you have your dinner choice of steak, chicken or trout. Adults pay $60, the kids’ ride and meal costs $45, and little ones are charged $5.
If you’re looking for a very romantic sleigh ride, choose the small sleigh pulled by a single draft horse on a half-hour ride across a starlit meadow. This private ride costs $100.
Devil’s Thumb Outfitters: Also in the Fraser Valley, one-hour rides, with hot chocolate, are offered during the afternoon. The cost is $20 for adults and $17 for kids 4-12.
A Santa dinner show and sleigh ride happens through New Year’s Day. Enjoy a brisk sleigh ride, holiday entertainment and a barbecue dinner.The cost is $115 for adults, $80 for kids 4-12.
Saddleback Ranch, Steamboat Springs: Here’s a ride that will appeal to animal lovers. Watch how ranchers feed their cattle in winter using sleighs to pull hay. You’ll have the chance to feed young calves from your hand. This two-hour cattle-feeding sleigh ride is offered Monday through Saturday at 10 a.m. and costs $35.
Elk River Guest Ranch, Steamboat Springs: Enjoy a ride to a tepee in an old-fashioned sleigh, then settle in the comfortable, warm structure for a dinner with your choice of New York strip steak, Chilean sea bass, salmon, duck or chicken. The tab is $85 for adults and $45 for children under 12.
Dining in the Woods, Copper Mountain: Rendezvous with your horse-drawn sleigh at the Camp Hale Coffee Shop in the center of Copper Mountain Village. Climb aboard the sleigh for a half-hour ride to a miner’s tent partway up the mountain, where entertainment awaits.
You’ll be served an appetizer plate, corn chowder with fresh-baked bread, and your choice of a grilled sirloin steak or chicken entree. Bread pudding is your final course before your return ride to the village.
The charge is $73 for adults and $45 for those 4-12. No charge for those 3 and under if they share their parents’ meals.
Nordic Sleigh Rides, Breckenridge: By far, the most unusual of the mountain sleigh rides, here is a full-blown live show with dinner, in addition to your ride. Three shows are presented; make reservations for the one that strikes your fancy – a Mountain Man program, a Dance Hall Girl show and the Unsinkable Molly Brown.
Your sleigh ride begins near the Breckenridge Nordic Center and travels to a re-creation of an 1860 miners’ camp. Enjoy a dinner of steaks, barbecue chicken or salmon, all cooked on an 1865 wood stove. Dessert is fresh apple pie. The cost of the evening is $73 for adults, $48 for children 4-12.
Lillian Ross is a freelance writer who lives in Howard.
The details
Keystone Resort is 6 miles east of Silverthorne. For sleigh ride reservations, call 800-354-
4386 or visit
Breckenridge Sleigh Rides is 6 miles south of Frisco, off Tiger Road. For reservations, call 970-453-4405 or go to
Grand Adventures, near Fraser and Granby, can be reached at 800-726-9247, or visit
Devil’s Thumb Outfitters, near Winter Park in the Fraser Valley, takes reservations at 800-933-4339.
Saddleback Ranch in Steamboat Springs can be reached at 970-879-3711 to reserve your cattle feed ride.
Elk River Guest Ranch can be reached at 970-879-6220 to reserve your tepee dinner.
Copper Mountain’s Dining in the Woods takes reservations at 970-968-2232.
Breckenridge’s Nordic Sleigh Rides takes reservations at 970-453-2005, or visit
