Canadian Rockies, Canada
Programmes
Horses
Type of horses:
Quarter horse, appaloosa, paints, draft crosses
Nature of horses:
Calm & surefooted
Height of horses:
Weight limit:
250 lbs (please contact the office is heavier)
Tack type:
Western
Weather
Current Conditions:
Unknown, 0 C
Forecast:
Thu - Snow Showers. High: 4 Low: -5
Fri - Rain/Snow. High: 7 Low: -3
Full Forecast at Yahoo! Weather
(provided by The Weather Channel)
Pricing
Back Country Lodge Trail
2010 Prices:
Six day trail
June/September: £911
July/August: £1038
Five day trail
June/September £768
July/August: £874
Camping in the Rockies
2010 Prices:
Six Day Trail
July/August: £937
September: £806
Five day trail
July/August £789
Wilderness Bear Trail
2010 Price: £1002
Rockies Photography Trail
2010 Prices:
£1002 Camping Trip - August 18-23
£1102 Lodge Trip - August 25-30
Wolves in the Wilderness
2010 Price: £743
Availability/Booking Form
Ride Description
This ride allows you to explore Banff National Park, Canada's oldest national park. It comprises part the Canadian Rocky Mountain range and is packed full with numerous glaciers and ice fields, dense coniferous forest, and alpine landscapes. This horse riding holiday teaches you about life in the west, whilst bringing you close to the flora and fauna of this incredibly diverse and outstandingly beautiful area.
You will be led along trails that take you to one spectacular view after another, and to spots that allow you to view the wildlife of the area in it's natural habitat. Banff national park is home to 56 mammal species including grizzly and black bears, wolves, lynx and cougar.
You can choose to embark upon a five or six day trail, staying in warm homely lodges along your way, or explore the real back country on a wilderness tenting trip. Speciality educational trips are also offered for those with a particular interest. You can learn about Grizzly bears and their habitats, mountain photography, or take a trip into the world of wolves. You will be accompanied on your trip by leading authorities in the area. For the really adventurous there are a limited number of Wildlife monitoring trips.
See Programmes.
Food & Accommodation
Depending on your chosen itinerary there is a choice between sleeping in a mountain lodge or in one of the established campsites during your trail through the Canadian Rockies.
Sundance and Halfway lodges provide a bit of homeliness whilst on your trip into the back country. Sundance lodge is a remote lodge situated on the curve of the Brewster Creek with a backdrop of the Sundance mountain range. The cosy mountain lodge has some home comforts with a large country kitchen, a living room warmed by a wood stove, and even hot showers. Halfway lodge was used in 1920's by mountain guide Erling Strom. Now a two storey lodge, Halfway remains pretty much the same as it was 80 years ago. The accommodation is simple and maintains the rustic feel. Light is supplied by propane lamps and candles and you are kept warm and cosy by the wood burning stoves.
If you choose to take one of the camping trips, you will be treated to the experience of camping in the deepest back country without the hassle of putting up tents or cooking your own meals. There are three camps, each with their own individual charm. The Stoney Creek Camp is situated on the intersection of Stoney Creek and the Cascade river. You will be spoilt by views of the sculptured peaks of the Palliser range. Nestled at the bottom of the massive Flints peak is Flints park camp, offering wide open vistas and wonderful starry skies. The third campsite is called Mystic and is surrounded by huge, old pine and spruce trees and open grassy slides. The camps have simple luxuries which include a large kitchen tents where the meals are cooked and served by the full time chef, treated drinking water, fire pit for evening campfires, and the 'A' frame camping tents have wooden floors. The camps are surrounded by electric fences so there is no need to worry about any wandering wildlife during the night.
Meals here are homecooked ranch style meals. Hearty and tasty meals are served on the trail. Breakfasts consist of steak, western style eggs, Danish pastries, English muffins, cheese, fresh fruit, coffee, tea and hot
chocolate.Lunches are served on the trail, dinners and breakfast at camp.
Dinner could be BBQ Steak, home-made baked beans, baked potatoes, Caesar salad, bread rolls, dessert, coffee, juice or roast beef, french onion soup, gravy, mashed potates, corn, beans and garlic bread with a tasty dessert. Here they pride themselves on serving plenty of delicious food.
Activities
Sundance lodge can be used as a base for cross country skiing and hiking trips. Food and bedding is provided by the lodge leaving guests free to enjoy the many trails around Banff national park.
Further Details
Languages: English, French
Health requirements: Fit and healthy
Age limit: 8 years
Tuition: No
Included: All riding, accommodation, full board, an experienced guide
Not included: Flights, insurance,
Travel Information
There is a shuttle service which runs between the airport and the town of Banff.
Most guests book a hotel in Banff for a few days before or after the trip.
Airport: Calgary International Airport
Alternative Airport:
Programmes
Back Country Lodge Trail
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Day 1: After meeting at the office at 9:30 am you will be transported to the stables where you will meet the guides, horses and other riders. You will be matched up with a suitable horse for your trip and be briefed on the itinerary. You will then set out on the 10 mile trip up to the Sundance lodge. This is a beautiful trail into the Banff national park and you will pass by the glacier-fed waters of the Bow river, Healey and Brewster Creeks. Day 2: After a ranch breakfast in the morning you will pack up and head south towards Halfway lodge. The eastern horizon is dominated by the Sundance range as you work your way up to the lodge via the historic Storm Pack trail. You will settle in for your first of two nights at the rustic Halfway lodge. Day 3: Have a hearty breakfast because the third day is quite an adventure. Today you will be taking a day trip up the Allenby Pass, reaching elevations of 8100 feet! For many this is the highlight of the trip. After a long days ride you will enjoy a last night at the Halfway lodge. Day 4: Saying farewell to Halfway lodge, today you will wind your way along the Brewster creek back to Sundance Lodge. Day 5: You begin the day with a hot, ranch style breakfast, preparing yourself for the climb up Fatigue Creek. You reach the Fatigue Valley at lunch time and both riders and horses will have a well earned break. Coffee will be brewed, and lunch served whilst you enjoy the superb views of both Alberta and Columbia. Day 6: The last day will be spent ambling the 'soft' ten miles from the Sundance Lodge back to the stables. The ride comes to a close at around 4:30 pm. Hopefully you will be left with many photographs and memories to relive the adventure. This trail can either be five or six days long. If you are on the five day trail, day 5 will be omitted. |
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| Minimum group size: | 2 |
| Maximum group size: | 14 |
| Ability description: | All abilities welcome |
| Type of ride: | Trail |
| Total riding time: | 6 days, 5 nights |
| Departure dates: | 6 Day Trail: June 23-28, June 30-July 5, July 7-12, July 14-19, July 21-26, July 28- August 2, August 4-9, 11-16,18-23, 25-30, September 1-6, 8-13, 15-20. Five Day Trail: June 28-July 2, July 5-9, 12-16, 19-23, 26-30, August 2-6, 9-13, 16-20, 23-27, August 30-September 3, 6-10, 13-17, 20-24 |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |
Camping in the Rockies
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Day 1: After meeting at the office at 8:30 am you will be transported to the trailhead corral at Mount Norquay. Here you will meet your guides and horses. You will be matched with a suitable horse, and set out on your adventure. You will be riding over Elk Lake Summit between Brewster Mountain and Cascade Mountain, a stunning 11 mile ride. The destination for your first night is the Stoney Creek Camp. Day 2: The second day will be spent exploring the area on a round trip from Stoney Creek Camp. You will be taken towards the headwaters of Stoney Creek. The area is often visited by the Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep who are often found grazing in the meadows. You will find many opportunities for photographs. Day 3: In the morning you will be packing up your belongings, mounting up and riding the ten miles to Flints camp. Nestled at the base of Flints Peak, this campsite is often a favorite with riders. Many wildlife species can be spotted in the area so don't forget your camera! Day 4: The fourth day will be spent exploring the area of Flint camp. You will either be led out to the Block Mountain or to Cuthead Viewpoint. Day 5: After breakfast riders will pack up their bed roll and head off toward the final campsite - Mystic Valley Camp. If you choose, your guides will demonstrate to you the historic art of horse packing using the famous diamond hitch. The final night is traditionally enjoyed with a real western dinner. This is a good chance to say a farewell to your guides and fellow riders on the trip. Day 6: The last day is spent on a scenic nine mile ride from Mystic Valley to the Mount Norquay Corral. You will return to Banff at around 5 pm. This trip is also offered as a five day itinerary, for the five day trail, day 2 will be omitted. |
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| Minimum group size: | 1 |
| Maximum group size: | 20 |
| Ability description: | All abilities welcome |
| Type of ride: | Trail |
| Total riding time: | 6 days, 5 nights or 5 days, 4 nights |
| Departure dates: | Six Day Trail: July 21-26, July 28-August 2, August 4-9, 11-16, Five Day Trail: July 17-21, August 21-25. August 28- September 1 |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |
Wilderness Bear Trail
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The Wilderness Bear Trail offers the rare opportunity to spot grizzly bears in their prime habitat with the insight and interpretation from a grizzly bear expert. It is a common phenomenon that grizzly bears take little notice of a passing horse party. This allows riders a unique, closer look at grizzly bears in their natural habitat. On this six day trail you will be accompanied by one of Canada's leading authorities of grizzlies and their habitats - Dr. Mike Gibeau. Mike has 30 years experience of working with bears in the Rocky mountains, initially as a park warden and now as a biologist. During the six day camping trip, Mike will take you to visit the bears whilst giving you a professional interpretation of what you find. You will be following the six day trail through Stoney Creek, Flints Park and Mystic Valley You will be staying in campsites, but will be free of the hassle of putting up your tents and cooking your own food. The campsite has a large kitchen/dining area, 'A' frame tents with wooden floors and a communal area relaxing in the evening. The horses are corralled and there is even a shower at Flints Park. |
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| Minimum group size: | 2 |
| Maximum group size: | 10 |
| Ability description: | All abilities welcome |
| Type of ride: | Speciality trail |
| Total riding time: | Six days, five nights |
| Departure dates: | Dates for 2010: 25-30 August |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |
Rockies Photography Trail
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For those wishing to learn how to capture the true beauty of the Rockies during their horse riding trip will delight in this specialist photography trip. Raymond Gehman the world renowned National Geographic photographer, will be joining you on the trail. He will teach you how to envision and then capture timeless images, get the most of your artistic eye and your cameras potential. You will be spoilt by an abundance of stunning scenery and wildlife giving you many opportunity to capture that perfect landscape, portrait or action shot. This year due to popular demand we are offering two photography trips For one trail you will be following the six day Camping in the Rockies trail (see itinerary for more specific details of the trail). You will be staying in campsites, but will be free of the hassle of putting up your tents and cooking your own food. The campsite has a large kitchen/dining area, 'A' frame tents with wooden floors and a communal area relaxing in the evening. For the second trip you will follow the Lodge trip itinerary. |
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| Minimum group size: | 2 |
| Maximum group size: | 10 |
| Ability description: | All abilities welcome |
| Type of ride: | Speciality Trail |
| Total riding time: | Six days, five nights |
| Departure dates: | Dates for 2010: August 18-24 (Camping), August 25-30 (Lodge) |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |
Wolves in the Wilderness
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Wolves are very important for the ecology of the Rockies, yet they remain mysterious and elusive to humans. This five day trail allows you to learn about the life and habitat of these intriguing animals. Your guide will be Melanie Percy, an accredited wolf researcher. She has been taking guests into the world of these amazing animals for the past five years. The 'wolf' trip which was originally held in conjunction with the World Wolf Congress held in Banff in 2003 has become a popular ride Melanies's time spent studying these animals and their interaction with other wildlife has given her a wide spectrum of knowledge regarding grizzly & black bears, cougars, elk and other wildlife in the area. She will teach you about pup productions, denning habits, high wolf use areas and the general wolf presence in the park. You will be following the five day Camping in the Rockies Trail (please see the itinerary for specific details of the ride). You will be staying in campsites, but will be free of the hassle of putting up your tents and cooking your own food. The campsite has a large kitchen/dining area, 'A' frame tents with wooden floors and a communal area relaxing in the evening. |
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| Minimum group size: | 2 |
| Maximum group size: | 10 |
| Ability description: | All abilities welcome |
| Type of ride: | Speciality trail |
| Total riding time: | Four days, five nights |
| Departure dates: | Dates for 2010: 4-8 September |
| Pricing: | See Pricing |