Horse Riding in Banff, Alberta, Canada

By: Pablo Imberti Posted: 11/10/2019

This time, we travel to Alberta, Canadá. To be more precise, Banff National Park, where you will enjoy riding around the spectacular landscapes of the Rocky Mountains.

Located in the heart of the “Rocky Mountain” Banff is Canada’s oldest national park. A true natural wonder where you can find various glaciers, ice fields, impressive landscapes and stunning forested areas.

The first people that explored Alberta on horseback noticed something that was worth staying for in this beautiful place.

Remember that being a first-timer doesn’t mean that you cannot enjoy the same experiences as a seasoned rider. Many ranches around here offer riding lessons combined with day rides, multi-day trail riding and week-long expeditions for experienced riders.

How nice it is to share an enjoyable chat at night with your new cowpoke buddies, around a campfire and, then, go to sleep in a cosy tent!

And if you have the time, don’t miss the opportunity to put your riding skills to the test by joining in a cattle drive on one of the many working ranches. To do all these activities and see the best of Alberta on horseback, in this article we’ll talk about Banff Trail Riders, who offer outstanding horseback adventures and different lodging options.

Banff Trail Riders

They define themselves as just a bunch of cowboys and cowgirls, who live where they work – their Ranch. Their commitment to give you the best Banff horseback riding vacation possible and the quality of their services are remarkable.

The team at Banff Trail Riders is driven by a single goal: ensuring you get a comfortable Banff adventure that takes you to places you wouldn’t otherwise get to see.

It is why they spend so much time hiring and training the best guides, preparing tasty meals for their cookouts and overnight stays. They plan trips that make you feel like you’re right in an old western movie.

Experience makes the difference

Banff Trail Riders has been helping travellers since 1962, it’s a tradition that they are proud of.

They follow the same historic routes that the original explorers of the Canadian Rocky Mountains carved through the bush back in the 1920s. They have been guiding along these trails for a long time. Therefore, with them you’ll get to see amazing places others would miss if they made the trek on their own.

With more than 300 horses at their stables, they are able to pinpoint the absolute perfect horse for any rider that comes their way. That also means that if you have never been riding before, they will be sure to pair you with the most mild-mannered horse to enjoy a nice and safe ride.

Horseback riding has deep roots out here

When pioneers first began to explore Western Canada, horses offered the most efficient way to navigate the craggy, steep terrain of the Rockies. With their help, pioneers were able to open up new trading routes during the 1800s.

Around the turn of the century, the Canadian Pacific Railway began promoting thrilling places like Banff National Park as Alpine-like destinations for the world’s most elite travellers. Everyone was eager to explore the farthest reaches of this untouched wilderness.

Horseback rides that cross rivers in Banff National Park

By far and large, some of the best horseback rides in Banff are the ones that cross the cool, glacial and spring-fed waters that flow through the Bow Valley.

Accessible, historical, and tranquil, these rides are sure to impress. Starting at the Banff Springs Corrals near the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel, Banff Trail Riders offers two river crossing rides that take guests through one of the most beautiful parts of Banff National Park. These ride are unique in their own right, with a river crossing as it has been done for centuries.

A horseback ride in Banff with crystal-clear waters passing under your feet, around your horse’s hooves, and probably into your horse’s mouth, seizes a moment of multiple natural elements coming together in the unbelievably beautiful Canadian Rockies that is truly unforgettable.

Hourly rides with Banff Trail Riders

Both the 1 hour Spray River, Banff Horseback Ride and the 3 hour Sulphur Mountain, Banff Horseback Ride give guests the unique experience of crossing the Spray River, while also viewing the jaw-dropping force of the Bow River as it cascades over Bow Falls.

On a hot summer day, expect to stop in the river a little bit longer and relax as your horse gets a drink, and allow yourself the opportunity to enjoy this view with the company of your horse. River crossings in the Bow Valley is certainly a treat. Take photos! This Rocky Mountain experience is one to treasure.

We definitely recommend the 3 hour horseback ride to capture a birds-eye view of Banff as you ride along the base of Mount Rundle.

But the 1 hour Spray River Banff horseback riding trail is equally beautiful and takes you along the Fairmont Banff Springs’ golf course while giving guests an unforgettable perspective of the “Castle in the Rockies”.

The Fairmont Banff Springs is an historical icon to the start of tourism in Banff, and definitely worth a visit. River crossing trail rides in Banff are found with Banff Trail Riders and both the one-hour and three-hour half-day tours give an unforgettable Rocky Mountain experience in Banff National Park.

Lodgin with Banff Trail Riders

Sundance Lodge

Warm, cosy and just the right amount of rustic. But what really makes the Sundance Lodge a special place to stay is the quintessential Old West history that surrounds this place.

The 10-room log cabin was built in 1991 with locally harvested timber. It is near the original Ten-Mile Cabin, constructed in 1923, that was used as a rest shelter for trail riders heading to Mount Assiniboine.

Set against the looming Sundance Mountain Range and surrounded by thick woods, Sundance Lodge feels remote and secluded despite being just 16 kilometres (10 miles) from the Town of Banff.

Watch for wildlife on the porch or settle into a comfortable chair near the crackling fireplace and kick up your feet. You’ll know when it’s getting close to supper time: the smell of baking bread or sizzling steak wafts through the entire lodge.

Halfway Lodge – A cabin with its legends

Set at the base of Allenby Pass, weary riders have been resting their heads at Halfway Lodge since the 1920s. It’s been the setting for countless tales of wilderness adventures and one unbelievable story about a bear that literally dropped in for a visit.

Over the past 80 years, the aspect of this rustic cabin hasn’t changed all that much. Things are kept simple: propane lanterns and candles provide the lighting while a woodstove provides the heat and keeps the coffee warm.

Campsites for the most adventurous ones

Well-equipped camps in the old West tradition. They are simple, secluded and incredibly pristine. Staying at one of these campsites is the ultimate way to re-live the days of Banff’s original trail riders. But they also offer far more than just a spot to pitch a tent.

The camps are fully catered and include live-in cooks, who all love to show off their backcountry culinary skills.

There’s plenty of table space inside too, including room for card games when the sun goes down.

You’ll sleep in classic canvas wall tents, similar to the type used by Banff’s Old West trail riders. The A-frame canvas tents are all warmed before bed and are set on raised wooden platforms with comfortable cots for camping.

Each campsite has heated tarp tent showers, wash stations and meticulously cleaned outhouses.

Campsites each have large kitchen tents and are surrounded by an electric fence that keeps curious critters out.

Crystal clear water is supplied by nearby glacial streams, which is filtered for drinking.

Food at Banff Trail Riders

Some folks say that everything tastes better when it’s cooked out in the backcountry and we tend to agree.

From juicy steaks grilled over a campfire to grilled salmon served with freshly roasted vegetables – all the food served during a Banff Trail Riders’ trip is prepared by talented cooks who are masters of backcountry cuisine.

Cowboy Cookouts

The taste of the authentic “Old West”, a juicy “AAA Alberta Steak” paired with homemade baked beans, baked potatoes and other fixings. Somehow, the mountain vistas make this meal taste even more delicious.

Food at the lodges

Even at their Sundance and Halfway Lodges, miles away from civilization, their backcountry cooks are able to prepare some surprisingly sophisticated meals. Large, well-equipped kitchens and talented cooks are key to the great food at both the Sundance Lodge and Halfway Lodge.

You can savour everything from braised beef short ribs to Crème Brulee Cheesecake. In the winter, they add new items to the menu at Sundance Lodge, designed to keep you warm and toasty, like fondue or butternut squash ravioli. It’s rustic comfort food taken to a whole new level.

Food at their Campsites

These expeditions take you deep into the backcountry, where you’ll stay at well-equipped campsites featuring an on-site cook and other basic facilities. That way you can experience Banff National Park like a pioneer – without having to “rough it”.

If you wish to contact Banff Trail Riders and obtain more information, go to the website: https://horseback.com/

/ The photos in this article were obtained from Banff Trail Riders’ website: https://horseback.com /

Are you also passionate about the idea of travelling the world on horseback?

Argentina is a country with a long-standing tradition of horses. Exploring the country on horseback is something unique – a highly recommended experience. In our eBook "Discover Argentina, the Land of the Gaucho, on Horseback" you will find our options to enjoy Argentina on horseback.

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