6 places to take horse-drawn sleigh rides in New Hampshire

Saddle up to these six New Hampshire venues that offer horse-drawn sleigh rides.

In New Hampshire, you can go dashing through the snow at these six snowy spots that offer horse-drawn sleigh rides during the holidays and throughout the winter season. Dress warmly, bring an extra blanket, and get ready to enter a winter wonderland in an old-fashioned way.

1. Franconia Notch Stables

Where: The Franconia Inn, 1172 Easton Road, Franconia, (603) 823-5542 

When: Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holiday weeks leaving on the hour and half hour from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Cost: A private sleigh for up to four adults costs $160 per sleigh ($150 for Franconia Inn guests). A champagne toast ride costs $185 per sleigh ($175 for inn guests).

Details: Cozy up with our warm blankets and embark on a horse-drawn sleigh ride with awesome views of the White Mountains. Check in at the Franconia Inn front desk first, then cross the street to meet the carriages. Each sleigh carries up to four adults, and all rides offer a complimentary hot cocoa bar. All rides are weather-dependent, and cancellations must be made 24 hours in advance. Call (603) 823-5542 to reserve a spot.

2. Bretton Woods Stables

Where: Omni Mount Washington Resort, 310 Mount Washington Hotel Rd., Bretton Woods. Carriage rides leave from the side door on the ground level of the Omni Mount Washington Hotel.

When: Monday to Saturday from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Cost: Half-hour rides cost $115 per couple ($105 for Omni guests).

Details: If there’s snow on the ground, you can take a horse-drawn sleigh ride through the countryside with a stellar view of the Presidential Range in the White Mountains at the Omni Mount Washington Resort in Bretton Woods. Sit back and snuggle in as a professional guide talks you through this magical journey. For sleigh-ride reservations, call the Bretton Woods Stable at (603) 278-3388.

3. Nestlenook Farm

Where: 66 Dinsmore Road, Jackson

When: Rides are about half an hour long. Call (603) 383-7101 for times and same-day reservations, and arrive 15 minutes early for your ride.

Cost: Tickets are sold individually for group rides of up to 15 passengers for $25. Children two and under are free. The farm also offers small private group rides with champagne or hot cider, ranging from $295 to $375, depending on the number of passengers.

Details: Glide through the woods along the Ellis River in an Austrian-horse-drawn sleigh. You’ll travel through 1.5 miles of trails illuminated by lights and lanterns while a guide shares the property’s history. Then, warm up at a bonfire with a cup of hot cocoa. S’mores kits are also available to buy.

4. Charmingfare Farm

Where: 774 High St., Candia

When: 

Cost: Tickets cost $39 to $349 for Santa Rides and regular rides and $249 to $429 for special New Year’s Eve rides.

Details: Take a 45-minute, horse-drawn ride through this real working farm. From now until Dec. 24, take Santa’s Christmas Rides, which are decorated with jolly lights for the holiday and accompanied by the sound of sleigh bell jingling. Once at the farm’s “North Pole,” Santa can be found in the Reindeer Barn, where he tends to a team of real, living reindeer. No snow? No worries, the draft horses pull a wheeled vehicle through the trails when there isn’t enough of the white stuff. Regular sleigh rides, including special New Year’s Eve and Valentine’s Day rides, continue throughout the winter. Prices for Santa’s Rides range from $39 to $349 depending on the number of people in the party and the type of sleigh-ride package. Sleigh rides continue throughout the winter, including a special New Year’s Eve Ride, which travels down an illuminated path and stops at a sugar shack for hot soup, drinks, and dessert around a campfire.

5. Coppal House Farm

Where: 118 North River Rd (Rt 155), Lee 

When: Rides are offered on a pop-up basis in January and February.

Cost: Tickets cost $20 for ages 13 and under, $18 for ages 3 to 12, and free for children two and under who ride on an adult’s lap. 

Details: Enjoy an old-fashioned sleigh ride at a 78-acre, family-owned, working farm. Your horse-drawn sleigh glides over groomed trails for a 30-minute ride through pine-lined woods and open fields. At the end of the ride, guests can warm themselves at a bonfire. The farm also offers private sleigh rides for groups of 2 to 12 with a private bonfire (prices vary according to the number of passengers). The rides will continue regardless of snow conditions, with no cancellations due to lack of snow.

6. Silver Ranch Stables

Where: 183 Turnpike Rd., Jaffrey

Cost: Costs vary depending on the size of your party. Call (603) 532-7363 to get a quote and make a reservation. 

Details: Weather permitting, Silver Ranch Stables offers horse-drawn sleigh rides that take you on a 45-minute-to-hour trek through the woods near Mount Monadnock. Three generations of the Sawyer family have run Silver Ranch, which started as a dairy farm over a century ago. According to one Trip Advisor reviewer, this is a perfect adventure “if you just want to experience the peace of the woods … Couldn’t have asked for a more enjoyable, authentic sleigh ride. Will definitely be back for more!”

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.