HORSEBACK

Canadian Rockies Horseback Riding

In the Canadian Rockies, horseback riding is a traditional form of transportation used in the mountains by the earliest explorers. Even after the completion of the railway, horses remained the most practical way to get deep into the backcountry because crossing unbridged rivers and carrying large amounts of supplies were impossible on foot. The names of early outfitters—Tom Wilson, Jim and Bill Brewster, Bill Peyto, Jimmy Simpson, and Curly Phillips were the best known—crop up again and again through the mountains. Another legacy of their trade is that many of the main hiking trails began as horse trails.

The tradition of travel by horseback continues today in the Canadian Rockies; some companies have been operating since before the parks were established. Trail riding is available in Banff, Jasper, Waterton Lakes, and Yoho National Parks, as well as in Canmore and Kananaskis Country. Expect to pay around $50-70 for a one-hour ride (usually covering around 3 km/1.9 miles), $80-110 for a two-hour ride, and $100-150 for a ride that includes a meal.

See these pages of this website for Canadian Rockies horseback riding:

Banff National Park Horseback Riding
Jasper National Park Horseback Riding

Canadian Rockies Pack Trips and Guest Ranches

BANFF TRAIL RIDERS runs a variety of overnight rides that include lodgings in backcountry lodges or tent camps. The main accommodation is Sundance Lodge, an easy 18-kilometre (10-mile) ride, which has 10 rooms, a large living area, and even hot showers. The shortest option is an overnight trip departing Saturday through summer. Four-day and five-day trips split their time between Sundance Lodge and Halfway Lodge, which is farther up the Brewster Creek Valley. Rates include horse rental, all meals, and accommodation.