Dine With The Dogs at Henry's Hut: Meet Vail Ski Patrol's Avalanche Dogs

Buffalo's, across from Henry's Hut at the top of Chair 4 · Photo: Raz via Google

• When: Sundays, December 20, 2026 - March 28, 2027, 10:30-11:30 am
• Where: Henry's Hut, top of Mountaintop Express (Chair 4), Vail Mountain, Top of Mountaintop Express (Chair 4), Vail Mountain, Vail, CO 81657
• Cost: No event fee published; you need a lift ticket or pass to reach Henry's Hut, and lunch is paid for on site.
• Organizer: Vail Mountain (Vail Resorts) with Vail Ski Patrol and Helly Hansen

Official Event Page

Every Sunday from December 20, 2026 to March 28, 2027, Vail Ski Patrol brings its avalanche dogs to Henry's Hut at the top of Mountaintop Express (Chair 4) on Vail Mountain between 10:30 and 11:30 am. Patrollers answer questions while you meet the dogs, and it lines up neatly with an early lunch. The 2026-27 winter is the program's sixth season, run with Vail Ski Patrol and Helly Hansen.

It works for children as well as adults: the dogs are working avalanche rescue dogs, and this is a chance to meet them and their handlers away from an emergency. Henry's Hut sits across from Buffalo's at the top of Chair 4, so you need to ski or ride there with a lift ticket or pass.

Dates

Sundays, 10:30-11:30 am: December 20, December 27, 2026; January 3, January 10, January 17, January 24, January 31, February 7, February 14, February 21, February 28, March 7, March 14, March 21, March 28, 2027.

Special Sundays

The resort plans one special session a month, with more patrol dogs, avalanche training drills, extra Helly Hansen giveaways and a bite to eat on the house. Those dates had not been announced when we checked, so look for them on the resort's signature events page before you pick a Sunday.

Good to know

• The meet-and-greet runs for one hour only, so time your morning laps to reach the top of Chair 4 by about 10:30.
• February 28, 2027 falls on Vail Legacy Weekend, when there is more going on around the mountain and in town.

Details checked against Vail Mountain's official signature events and event pages on September 28, 2026. Dates and times can change; confirm with the organizer before you go.