General Info

Explore the high and rugged Canadian Rockies in authentic pioneer style and spirit while listening to the strum of a guitar beside a crackling evening campfire or winding your way along a crystal clear mountain stream through forested trails to wide open spaces, ideal for a good canter.

This Alberta outfitter has offered overnight horseback riding vacations and trail rides to guests for over 23 years. Located just an hour southwest of Calgary, there are 120 horses suitable for riders of all experience levels and trips suitable for beginners and experienced riders. Galloping through an alpine meadow on your surefooted mountain steed is an experience that you will surely remember.

Riding in the Alberta region allows for a diverse trail riding experience. The terrain varies from the rolling foothills of ranching country, to steep mountain passes and high valleys with stunning views. People are amazed and bewildered by the Canadian Rockies scenery, whether they ride out from the ranch, or head on an expedition into the mountains.

The 4-day Adventurer and 7-day Explorer trips are out of High Mountain Wilderness Camp, in the beautiful Sheep River Valley. The Lost Trail and North Rim to Ranch trips are moving trips, allowing you to travel above tree line to 9,000 feet, the highest ride. Tree line is around 7,200 feet, so as you may imagine, the views are spectacular! These riding holidays all use eco-friendly teams of wagons to carry the camping gear. While experiencing the Ranch Log Cabin Vacation, private luxury log cabins are available for rent right on the ranch, so you can take advantage of hot showers and comfortable beds, while still enjoying your horseback riding to amazing destinations during the day.

Awards & Accolades
Equitrekking Alberta episode features this ride in Kananaskis
Member of Alberta Outfitter’s Association
 

Packing

Packing for Horse Pack Trips in the Canadian Rockies

Weather in the Rockies is unpredictable, ranging from hot and sunny, to cool and wet. As with any mountain rides that you do, you’ll want to dress in layers and be prepared for changing weather. Please see Equitrekking Travel’s General Packing List along with the specific items below..

List of things to bring:
- bring your own helmets
- duffle bag for your gear
- warm sleeping bag and fleece liner (available for rent from this outfitter)
- warm coat
- rain gear or slicker (no ponchos, please) (available for rent from this outfitter)
- chaps (available for rent)
- jeans / long sleeved shirt
- riding boots with a heel
- fishing gear (optional)
- pillow (optional)
- your toiletries- toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, towel
- gloves
- hat with a brim and a wool hat
- long underwear
- camera
- flashlight
- sweater
- rubber boots
- insect repellant, sunscreen, lip balm
- sunglasses
- bring your own beer, wine, liquor and soft drinks

* Some equipment rentals are available but it is recommended that you reserve these ahead of time. Items available for rent include sleeping bags with polar fleece lining. Please inquire at the time of your booking. There are washers and dryers in the cabins and in the main house that the guests can use while on the Ranch Riding Vacation, but if you are doing a pack trip, obvsiously laundry is not available, as you are out in nature!
 

About the Horses

120 horses and mules for your holidays in Alberta

Many of these horses have been raised right on the ranch, having stood several studs and a band of broodmares for years. Taking this long term approach with so many horses, demonstrates this outfitters full commitment to the care of the horses. They are an important part the family. The horses are used from spring to the end of fall and a lesser amount during the winter. They travel to elevations from 4500 feet to 9000 feet above sea level in very rough terrain and are conditioned for this type of travel, taking you along for the ride. 

Activities/Events

Area Activities
Plan your riding holiday with the Calgary Stampede (July 6-15, 2012).

In the area around the Ranch (about an hour southwest of Calgary) there are an abundance of activities and attractions that can be visited including: Calgary Stampede, Calgary Zoo, Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo-Jump, Spruce Meadows (Olympic quality Show Jumping Venue), Glenbow Museum, Fort Calgary, Heritage Park, Remington Carriage Museum, Royal Tyrrell Museum, as well as the local towns of Turner Valley and Black Diamond.

Accommodations/Food

Accommodations
Accomodations during the mountain horseback adventure trips are walled canvas outfitting tents (for the 4-day Adventurer and 7-day Explorer) and comfortable army-type cots and thin foamies. For all other trips, accommodations are 6’ to 6’ 6” pop-up tents and comfortable army-type cots, with thin closed-cell foamies. All of the trips include tents, water jugs, cooks, saddlebags, wholesome meals, and solar showers.

Some equipment rentals are available but it is recommended that you reserve these ahead of time. Items available for rent include sleeping bags with polar fleece lining. Please inquire at the time of your booking.

Food
Three meals plus snacks are provided each day. A sample of a day’s menu might include: ham, cheese, buns, lettuce, apples, granola bars, and water bottles with lunch. Lasagna, garlic bread, bean salad, apple or fruit crisp with cream for dinner. Snacks might include salsa chips and on hot days, fresh melon (cantaloupe / honeydew / orange/ grapefruit), cheese, mixed crackers with oysters, shrimp with cocktail sauce, quesadillas, mixed fruit or veggies with dip. Vegetarian options are available with advance notice.

Drink
Alcohol and soft drinks are not included but everyone you welcome to bring your own.
 

The Ideal Traveler

Whether traveling with a group or on your own, the ideal traveler is interested in the exploring the Canadian Rockies on horseback and Alberta cowboy culture.

4 Day Explorer

Dates & Rates for 2013

4 days/ 3 nights
Departures available upon request. Please let us know when you would like to travel!

Cost: $1,244 USD* ($1244 CAD) + GST per person

*Prices subject to change based on currency conversions.

Riding Level: Beginner to Advanced

Saddle up and explore the Alberta Rockies! Ride to the High Mountain Wilderness Camp situated at 6500 feet elevation, and completely surrounded by mountains. It is most of a day's horseback ride to this camp, which offers canvas outfitter tents with cots and foam mattresses for guests, a bathroom tent and a large kitchen and dining tent. On this stationery camping ride, you’ll ride out in a different direction every day.

This outfitter supplies all meals, starting with lunch on the first day, and ending with lunch on the last day. They supply everything for your trip but your sleeping bag and personal gear. Sleeping bag rentals are available from this outfitter, but make these arrangements by contacting Equitrekking Travel’s preferred provider of travel services, in advance.

The High Mountain Wilderness Camp trips leave the ranch at 10 a.m. Monday mornings (please check dates above) from the first of June to the middle of September.  This outfitter trucks the horses up to the trailhead, loads the covered wagon, gets everyone on their horses, and hits the trail for the 12-mile ride through the mountains to their High Mountain Wilderness Camp.

There are several mountain lakes to ride to that are stocked with cutthroat trout. You can scout out a high mountain pass, riding up to 8500' elevation, where the Continental Divide opens up in front of you. Explore Burns Canyon and climb up beside Burns Falls, which are the highest waterfalls in Kananaskis Country. In this area, four different mountain ranges meet - there is no end to the possibilities and adventure! Riding through rivers, valleys, canyons and passes, travel through some incredibly rugged country where you’ll gain a new respect for your sure-footed mountain horse. During the lunch stop, you might like to try your hand at fishing do some hiking and exploring, or go to sleep in the sun! These horseback adventures will arrive back at the trailhead between 4 and 5 p.m. at the end of your trip (that's "cowboy time") on Thursday afternoon.

Day 1: The Wagons Head Out

The day starts at 9:30 AM.  After assigning everyone to a horse, and a basic horsemanship course, the horses and gear are trucked to the trailhead. The covered wagon is loaded, the horses are mounted and you will set off on the trail to camp.  There is a lunch break along the way. You will arrive in camp between 3 and 4 PM after 3 – 4 hours of riding.

Day 2 and 3: Mountain Lakes and the Continental Divide

Breakfast is served at 8:30 a.m. You leave the camp at approximately 10 a.m. and head out for a different destination for the next two days. You will ride out of this camp seeing mountain lakes full of cut-throat trout (bring a fishing rod and a license); high passes that will let you gaze across several mountain ranges to the Continental Divide and you will see miles of mountain valleys, rivers, and meadows.  There is new country to see and challenge you each day. (4 – 6 hours of riding each day)

Day 4: Scenic Canyon Ride

Breakfast is again at 8:30AM.  The horses are ready and the wagons are packed by 10:30AM, ready to head to the trailhead. The wagons go on ahead, while the riders go on a side trip to have lunch on a high pass or up a scenic canyon, and then head out for the trailhead.  Arrival time at the trailhead is between 4 and 5PM.

* All itineraries are subject to change if this outfitter feels it is in the best interest of the riders and horses due to weather, group size, or any other necessary reasons.

7 Day Adventurer

Dates & Rates for 2013

7 of riding the high Rockies in Canada

7-day Explorer
Cost: $1,763 USD* ($1763 CAD) + GST per person
Departures available upon request. Please let us know when you would like to travel!

*Prices subject to change based on currency conversions. 

Riding Level: Beginner to Advanced

This is the ultimate in spectacular riding in the Alberta Mountains. Saddle up and explore the Alberta Rockies as you are taken up to the High Mountain Wilderness Camp situated at 6500 feet elevation, and completely surrounded by mountains. It is most of a day's horseback ride into this camp, which is equipped with canvas outfitter tents with cots and foam mattresses for guests, a bathroom tent and a large kitchen and dining tent.

This outfitter supplies all meals, starting with lunch on the first day, and ending with lunch on the last day. They supply everything for your trip but your sleeping bag and personal gear. Sleeping bag and slicker rentals are available.

The High Mountain Wilderness Camp trips leave the ranch at 10AM. Monday mornings from June to the middle of September (see dates above). Your outfitter trucks the horses up to the trailhead, loads the covered wagon, gets everyone on their horses, and hits the trail for the 12 mile horseback ride through the mountains to the High Mountain Wilderness Camp.

There are easily seven days of riding out of this Camp, without seeing the same scenery twice. Heading out in a different direction every day, there are several mountain lakes to ride to that are stocked with cutthroat trout. You can scout out a high mountain pass, riding up to 8500' elevation, where the Continental Divide opens up in front of you. Explore Burns Canyon and climb up beside Burns Falls, which are the highest waterfalls in Kananaskis Country. In this area, four different mountain ranges meet - there is no end to the possibilities and adventure!

Riding through rivers, valleys, canyons and passes, you’ll travel through some incredibly rugged country where you will gain a new respect for your sure-footed mountain horse. During the lunch stop, you might like to try your hand at fishing do some hiking and exploring, or go to sleep in the sun! These trips will arrive back at the trailhead between 4 and 5PM (that's "cowboy time") on Sunday.

Sample 7 day riding vacation itinerary
Day 1: The Wagons Head Out!

The day starts at 9:30AM.  The horses and gear are trucked to the trailhead, where the wagons are loaded and you are given a basic horsemanship course. You will mount your horses and set off on the trail to camp.  There is a lunch break along the way.  You will arrive in camp between 3 and 4PM.

Day 2 to 6: Mountain Lakes and the Continental Divide

Breakfast is served at 8:30AM.  You will leave the camp at approximately 10AM and head out for a different destination every day.  You ride out of this camp seeing mountain lakes full of cut-throat trout (bring a fishing rod), high passes that will let you gaze across several mountain ranges to the Continental Divide, miles of mountains, valleys, rivers and meadows.  In a week of riding out of this camp, there is new country to see and challenge you every day.

Day 7: Scenic Canyon Ride

Breakfast is at 8:30AM.  The horses are ready and the wagons are packed by 10:30, ready to head to the trailhead.  The wagons go on ahead, while the riders go on a side trip, to have lunch on a high pass or up a scenic canyon, and then head out for the trailhead.  Arrival time at the trailhead is between 4 and 5PM. (that’s cowboy time!)

* All itineraries are subject to change if the outfitter feels it is in the best interest of the riders and horses due to weather, group size, or any other necessary reasons.

North Rim to Ranch Ride

Dates & Rates for 2013

Saddle up and explore the Alberta Rockies on a 7-day moving trip, into the highest country that you can get to on any of the rides

August 18-24

Cost: $1,971 USD* ($1970 CAD) + GST per person

*Prices subject to change based on currency conversions. 

Riding Level: Intermediate to Advanced

The North Rim to Ranch Ride was developed to offer new country and different riding opportunities to guests who return year after year. It has also become popular with new guests. This ride now has rave reviews from all over the world.

This 7-day horseback riding vacation starts at the North Rim of the mountain area on the Little Elbow and works its way south through three major river drainages and five different mountain ranges, ambling into the ranch on the last day. Riders stay in three different camps during the seven days. This ride incorporates two of the most breathtaking high mountain rides available. This outfitter has run this ride for four seasons now, and it has proven successful. Guests are awe-struck by the scenery, and it will be in high demand again for this year.

Day 1:    Little Elbow River Ride

Everyone meets at the ranch at 9:30AM.  The horses and gear are trucked to the Ford Creek trailhead, where the wagons are loaded and you mount your horses to set off on the trail to the first camp.  Riding along the Little Elbow River for most of the day, you will wind your way over to Romulus camp where you will stay for three nights.

Day 2:    Talus Lake and Fishing

After breakfast head out to Talus Lake, which is located up a tall headwall, and a good ride from the Mt. Romulus camp.  There is excellent cutthroat fishing in the lake and a great hike if you’re energetic.  

Day 3: Paradise Pass

You will go on a very high ride to Paradise Pass on this day.  Elevation is approximately 8500’, with incredible views from the top.  

Day 4: Tombstone Pass to Lake Ride

After packing up camp and loading the wagons, you will head out over Tombstone pass to Tombstone Lake, and then after lunch, on to your second camp on the Sheep River.

Day 5:    Skyline Ride

You will ride over the highest trail called Skyline Ride as you climb to a 9000’ elevation, for another spectacular view from the top.

Day 6:    Sheep River Valley

You will ride through the Sheep River Valley, crossing the Sheep River multiple times to get to the Indian Oils Campground, where the trucks and trailers will meet you to take us to the Ranch.  One night is spent at the Ranch, where a great dinner in the lodge will be served, and showers will be available.

Day 7: Indian Oils Trailhead

You will be trucked to the Indian Oils Trailhead, where you will ride the last day into the Ranch, to complete the ride.

* All itineraries are subject to change if this outfitter feels it is in the best interest of the riders and horses due to weather, group size, or any other necessary reasons.

Great Divide Riding Vacation

Dates & Rates for 2013

A 7-day moving trip in the Highwood Range, one of the most popular rides.

Jun 24-30, Jul 8-14, Aug 5-11, Sep 2-9

Cost: $1,971 USD* ($1970 CAD) + GST per person

*Prices subject to change based on currency conversions. 

Riding Level: Beginner to Advanced

The "Great Divide Ride" is the most popular trips offered. It's a 7-day moving trip, using two teams of draft horses and covered wagons to transport the food, camp and duffle to the three different camps where you’ll stay during the trip. While the wagons roll through the lower elevations, the horseback riders hit the high mountain trails that take you high above timberline, past tumbling mountain streams and through stands of virgin timber. By the time you get to the next camp, the mess tent is set up and a welcome cup of hot coffee is ready for you.

Please check in for your trip at 9:30AM on the first day. As in the other packages, this outfitter supplies all your meals, starting with lunch on the first day, and ending with lunch on the last day. This Alberta outfitter provides the horses, cooks, wranglers, guide, tents, cots with foam mattresses, all your meals and snacks - everything but your sleeping bag and personal gear.

Day 1: The Wagons Head Out!

Everyone meets at the ranch at 9:30AM. The horses and gear are transported to the Etherington trailhead, where the wagons are loaded. The rider is given a basic horsemanship course while the horses are mounted and you set off on the trail to camp. You will ride up Etherington Creek to the Great Divide Trail, up over Baril Peak and down to Baril Creek, to meet the wagon at the first campsite.

Day 2: Creeks, Canyons, and Mountains  

Breakfast is served at 8:30AM. You mount the horses and leave camp at approximately 10AM and head up to Baril Creek, drop over a canyon in B.C., around Mount Boulton, and back to camp. This is a longer day (approximately 6 ½ hours of riding), and very rugged and steep terrain is negotiated.

Day 3: Ridges and Creeks

The wagons are loaded and the riders head up over Fitzsimmons and Strawberry ridges and drop down onto Carnarvon Creek, where the second camp has been set up.

Day 4: Lakes and Fishing

You will ride as far as allowed up the mountain, tie off the horses, and climb up to Carnarvon Lake on foot. It’s a great day for fishing, if you choose to do that, or to hike over into British Columbia during the lunch break.

Day 5: Ridges and steep trails

The riders go into the high country overlooking Muir Creek. You will cross Muir Creek and ride over the McPhail Creek, where the camp is set up. You will experience lots of riding along high ridges and steep trails leading back to camp.

Day 6: Hills and Hiking

You will head up McPhail Creek, ride around the Hill of Flowers, through Bishop Pass to Lake of the Horns. Again, the horses are tied off, and you will be able to hike up to the lake for some incredible views from the top!

Day 7: A look back at the Continental Divide Range

Breakfast again is 8:30AM. The horses are ready and the wagons are packed by 10:30AM, ready to head to the trailhead. The wagons go on ahead to the trailhead, and the riders head down McPhail Creek, and cross to the west side of the Highwood Mountain Range. Lunch is on top of Baldy, where you can look to the west at the entire Continental Divide range, where you have spent the entire week riding.

The trip ends at the Cat Creek trailhead, where the Van is waiting for you, taking you back to civilization.

* All itineraries are subject to change if this outfitter feels it is in the best interest of the riders and horses due to weather, group size, or any other necessary reasons.

Lost Trail Riding Vacation

Dates & Rates for 2013

6-Day Lost Trail, for experienced riders only!

July 22 – 27

Cost: $1,971 USD* ($1970 CAD) + GST per person

*Prices subject to change based on currency conversions.

Riding Level: Strong Intermediate to Advanced

Deep in the heart of the Alberta Rockies, explore trails that don't see much more than elk and big horn sheep. This is not a ride for beginners.

Enjoy a fun-filled seven-day horseback vacation, with an explore-as-you-go attitude. They’ll use a team and wagon to haul camp in, then truck the horses and riders to different areas during the trip to expedite the jump from one mountain area to another. You’ll ride the highest and wildest areas that this longtime guide can find. That’s saying a lot, since he’s been riding these mountains for over 25 years.

All your meals are taken care of, from the first day's lunch to the last day's lunch. The meals are wholesome and there's plenty to eat, homemade by this outfitter’s professional backcountry cooks.

With good horses, food and company, this ride is sure to challenge and excite experienced riders.

* All itineraries are subject to change if this outfitter feels it is in the best interest of the riders and horses due to weather, group size, or any other necessary reasons.

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Traveler Reviews

Within minutes of leaving the ranch gate, the snow-covered surrounds are pristine. The horses are the heroes here, consummate professionals who know the game... There are stops along the way to scan the slopes for elk, to have a breathless look at a timeless landscape and for Dewy to point out where the Puma took down a deer before.

--Kevin Hepworth, Daily Telegraph (Australia)

For those who can tolerate the physical challenges, a hoofed trek through the Rockies is a fantastic way to spend a vacation.

--Peter Verburg, Los Angeles Times

When I arrived at the ranch two days ago, I was terrified – a tenderfoot in cowboy country, hoping merely to get into the saddle. Now I can't get enough of watching the herd, talking to modern-day cowboys and hanging around this working ranch 45 minutes southwest of Calgary. In a family atmosphere reminiscent of ranches long ago, I also break bread with wranglers from Scotland, Mexico and New Zealand. One night I meet Toronto lawyer Michael Panacci, in from the seven-day Base Camp Ride. His cheeks flush in happiness as he recounts seeing a bear, big-horned sheep, mountain lakes and playing cutthroat card games. "It's one of the best vacations of my life," he declares. For him and me both. The intimate, honest glimpse into ranching life will stay with me forever.

-- Shelley Cameron-McCarron, Canadian Living

We ride on through a shifting kaleidoscope of mountains and forest, meadows and streams. The weather flits between summer and spring. One moment I am in fleece and slicker, the next, short sleeves. We see no one, but we are far from alone. Each day brings new delights: a glimpse of a grizzly and her cubs, or wolves running on a high ridge. In the evening we collapse by the fire, Serena sating our growing appetites with robust country fare. Our education in all things Western continues, with Dewy on accordion and Serena on guitar.

-- Alexandra Ferguson, The Telegraph

Reading List

General Guidebooks

Frommer's Alberta (Frommer's Complete) (Paperback) by Murray Whyte
The lowdown on the best of Alberta, from the province's cosmopolitan cities, authentic western heritage, and wealth of outdoor adventures to the awe-inspiring scenery of the Rocky Mountains.

Moon Spotlight Banff National Park (Paperback) by Andrew Hempstead
Moon Spotlight Banff National Park is an 80-page compact guide covering the best of this scenic wilderness reserve, including Fairmont Banff Springs, Sunshine Meadows, Lake Louise, and Cascade Gardens. Travel writer and photographer Andrew Hempstead offers his firsthand advice on what sights are must-sees, and sightseeing highlight maps make planning your time easy. This lightweight guide is packed with recommendations on sights, entertainment, shopping, recreation, accommodations, food, and transportation. Helpful maps guide travelers through this vast, picturesque destination.

Biography/Memoir

Switchbacks: True Stories from the Canadian Rockies (Paperback) by Sid Marty
In "Switchbacks, Sid Marty draws on his own memories and those of friends and former colleagues in relating a series of true mountain tales. Among his subjects are: the old guide who built a staircase up a cliff; the stranded snowshoer who was rescued between rounds of beer in a Banff tavern; the man who catered to hungry grizzlies; an opinionated packrat with a gift for larceny; and a horse named Candy whose heart was as big as a stove.

Equitrekking Coffee Table Companion Book & DVD

Equitrekking Travel Adventures on Horseback by Darley Newman with Photographs by Chip Ward available at Amazon.com
This companion to the PBS TV series, Equitrekking, proves that the world's most beautiful views are often best seen from atop a horse. This gorgeous book features dozens of scenic rides in the U.S. and around the globe. Denver Post review: For horse folk and dreamers, as well as fans of the show, it's a beautiful trip through stunning equestrian-friendly possibilities.



Equitrekking DVD's featuring Emmy winning PBS episodes, available in the Shop section of Equitrekking.com 

Get off the beaten path to see some of the world's most beautiful horses and classic riding destinations with host and equestrian travel expert Darley Newman with Emmy Award-winning Equitrekking, the horseback riding travel series on PBS. 

Season One: Vermont, the Carolinas, Georgia Coast, Wyoming, Colorado and Spain.

Season Two: Iceland, Coastal Ireland, Hawaii's Big Island, Irish Countryside, Maui, Virginia Hunt Country and California Wine Country.

Season Three: Arizona, Belize, Costa Rica, Kentucky, Quebec, Texas and Utah.

Season Four: Southern Spain, Alaska, Central Turkey, Quebec City and Beyond, Scotland and Wales.

    

Good Books for Horse Lovers and Equestrians

Animals in Translation: Using the Mysteries of Autism to Decode Animal Behavior (Paperback) by Temple Grandin
Philosophers and scientists have long wondered what goes on in the minds of animals, and this fascinating study gives a wealth of illuminating insights into that mystery. ---Publishers Weekly

The Horse: A Miscellany of Equine Knowledge (Hardcover) by Julie Whitaker with Ian Whitelaw
The Horse is an informative gallop through everything to do with the horse:  evolution, history, biology, breeds, behavior, training, competition, health, and care—all gathered into an accessible gallery of solid information, essential facts, and fascinating trivia.                                                           

Hunter Seat Equitation (Hardcover) by George H. Morris
A classic by a world-renowned teacher and master equestrian--the definitive work on the art of teaching and riding the hunter seat, now updated to include refinements in Morris's insightful program of riding instruction.

The New Encyclopedia of the Horse (Hardcover) by Elwyn Hartley Edwards
Chronicling the history of the horse, this guide encompasses the early domestication of the horse, classical riding styles, as well as a survey of the great stud farms and current international sporting events.