5. Sleigh Rides
There is no better way to take in the beauty of the snow-covered north than from the comfort of a horse-pulled sleigh. Gorranson Farm in Dresden offers romantic one-horse sleigh rides that fit up to four passengers, and team-pulled rides that seat up to a dozen adults. Fifty-minute rides include warm blankets, jingling bells, and songs led by the driver.
Winterberry Farm in Belgrade offers a two-hour «ultimate comfort» sleigh ride tour of their farm pulled by their working horses, and includes hot cocoa, tea, and soup; there is also ice-skating on-site. High View Farm in Harrison offers 40-minute private rides with hot chocolate and marshmallows, with an optional campfire stop, and Carousel Horse Farm in Casco offers both sleigh rides and winter horseback riding.
6. Skijoring
Outdoor enthusiasts can often have a hard time finding winter activities that include their four-footed friends, but in Maine, there’s a way to keep everyone happy. The unique sport of skijoring has added a great option for medium-sized and large dogs who love to get exercise and team up with their humans by combining dog harnesses with cross-country skiing. Thanks to its emerging popularity, many ski outfitters sell and rent skijoring equipment, and Skijor Skowhegan specializes in equipment and information for both dog and horse-pulled skiing.
Newbies can give it a try at New England Dogsledding in Bethel where they provide both equipment and trained dogs, but those who already have some experience have plenty of options for trails, as well as rental equipment. All the trails at Carter’s X-C Ski Center welcome skijoring, and the Harris Farm X-C Ski Center located in Dayton has 25 miles of skijoring trails. There are six miles of dog-friendly trails at Sugarloaf Outdoor Center in Carrabassett Valley, and additional skijoring trails at Five Fields Farm in Bridgton and at Waterville’s Quarry Road Recreation Area.
