Rangeley Trails offer dog sled rides, snowshoeing and more

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RANGELEY – New offerings this year at the Rangeley Lakes Trails Center include dog sled rides every weekend and expanded single-track trails for some great snowshoe experiences.


The dog sled experience at the Rangeley Lakes Trails Center is offered by Rangeley local Anthony Colello and his Rangeley Region Sled Dog Adventures.

Rangeley has long been known for excellent Nordic skiing, but there’s more to experiencing winter up here in western Maine. It seemed a natural fit to expand and offer something a little different.

“The word is out about the Rangeley Lakes Trails Center being a great multi-use, mapped trail system. We’re always looking for new ideas for using these Trails to benefit our community and our visitors. Our collaboration with Anthony and his fabulous dog sledding team is just the beginning,” said Carol Sullivan, manager of the Trails Center.

The dog sled experience is offered by Rangeley local Anthony Colello and his Rangeley Region Sled Dog Adventures. Anthony has been running his sled dogs for over nine years and is delighted to be able to team up with the Trails Center on a regular basis. The past several years Anthony has sponsored a program with the K-4th grade children from the Rangeley Lakes Regional School. It has been so well-received that it was a natural progression to offer this on a regularly scheduled basis for the public.

Anthony’s dog team is a very people-friendly bunch. The enthusiasm they transmit when they are anticipating pulling the sled is contagious and everyone gets excited as that anticipation builds. The barking, yipping, and howling reach a crescendo and then…all you hear is a whoooosh as the sled speeds away. The dogs are working hard and there’s no breath left for barking. That is, until they have to stand still waiting for the next group of riders to get on board for the thrill of a lifetime.

If dog sledding doesn’t thrill you, how about a great snowshoe trek? With picnic tables scattered throughout the trail system there’s a chance to rest or relax and enjoy a snack or a picnic. You’ll have plenty of choice for length of trek from a quick few kilometers to a day-long outing. Enjoy the serenity of the Wilds of Rangeley, the views across Saddleback Lake to Canada and beyond, and unspoiled terrain that is especially beautiful in winter.

The Rangeley Lakes Trails Center is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. They have snowshoes and classic Nordic skis/poles/boots available for rent. Light refreshments and hot beverages are available at the distinctive round yurt that serves as their lodge. Easy to find, they are located at 524 Saddleback Mountain Road a few miles from the town of Rangeley proper. For more information and up-to-date trail conditions check our Web site at www.xcskirangeley.com. To reserve a time for your own sled dog adventure, call 207-864-4309. More information about Anthony Colello and Rangeley Region Sled Dog Adventures can be found on the Web at www.rangeleydogsled.com.

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