Banff Border Ride

Day 1: Arrival

Today you’ll fly into Calgary International Airport in time for pick-up at 12pm. The first stop is Irvine’s Western Store, Canada’s largest western outfitter. A fun cultural stop whether or not you plan to shop, it’s quite a sight to behold! From there, it’s a scenic drive west (about 2.5 hours) to the ranch, looking out for wild horses, elk, big horn sheep, moose, and bears, and stopping for a bite of lunch (at your own expense) in the town of Sundre on the way.

At the ranch, you’ll meet your hosts and take a quick orientation tour, then settle into your cozy cabin. In the late afternoon, you’ll head to the barn for a safety briefing, then meet your horse and mount up for a sunset ride along the aptly-named Skyline Trail. Ascending the nearest mountain, you’ll get a good perspective of the ranch and campground, the Red Deer River and the wilderness beyond, including well-known Warden Rock. There will be opportunities for trots and canters as you continue on along an alpine plain. Then out of nowhere, a crevasse appears in the plain, and the trail meets a sheer cliff glittering with spray from the Bighorn Falls. Undaunted, your horse will carry you right across this dramatic section of Bighorn Creek while you gawp at the clear water tumbling off the edge of the mountain. Following the creek, you will wind down to the base of the waterfall to see it from a spectacular new angle as the sun slips below the mountaintops. You can also see just how steep the cliff is, creating a real sense of wonder as you ride downhill!

Finally, the Red Deer River leads you back to the ranch, where the fire will be lit in your cabin and the first of many simple, hearty dinners will be served at the ranch restaurant.

Ride time: ~2 hours.

Day 2: Wolf Creek Falls

After a cowboy-style cooked breakfast (think bacon, eggs and hash browns), it’s time to head to the barn and saddle up for a full day’s ride to Wolf Creek Falls. Crossing the Red Deer River opposite the ranch, you will ride through thick lodgepole pine forest as the trail curves around Labyrinth Mountain, so named for the convoluted rock formations leading to the summit. Through breaks in the trees, you’ll see Wolf Creek in the open valley below, and majestic peaks, plateaus and ridge lines to the south and west. Then the trail opens into a long, grassy valley where you can trot, canter, and perhaps even spot elk or deer in the distance. At the spectacular Wolf Creek Falls, you’ll dismount for a picnic while the horses graze in the lush forest. Then it’s back to the ranch via more forests, creek crossings and riverside trails.

After dinner at the restaurant, a campfire will be lit and your guides will share their best backcountry stories beneath the stars.

Day 3: Ya Ha Tinda

Today you’re riding the legendary Ya Ha Tinda Ranch lands right next door. This is Canada’s only federally-owned horse ranch, where all the National Parks service horses are raised, trained and wintered. Ya Ha Tinda means ‘mountain prairie’ in the language of the Stoney people, and the area is rich in Indigenous history, archaeology and living culture. Bison have recently been reintroduced to allow traditional hunting practices to be revived, and ceremonies are still held on sacred sites. You will follow the Red Deer River for a while, then cross into the wide, open valleys beneath Warden Rock, where you can stretch out with some long trots and canters. Warden Rock is the most immense, iconic mountain in these parts, and like its namesake, it stands watch over all who pass by.

You will dismount for lunch at ‘The Slides’, a shallow part of the river where the flow has eroded the bedrock, forming natural water slides! If you’re brave enough to jump into the freezing water, it’s great fun sliding all the way down!

On the way home, the trail winds along the border of Banff National Park, in and out of the forest towards Warden Rock, back onto the prairie, and right through Parks Canada’s herd of horses. After a long day, it’s still very tempting to canter across the open meadows.

This evening, you’ll have dinner, then return to Ya Ha Tinda Ranch, where the museum doors will be swung open so you can learn more about the region’s rich history. On return, you can head straight to bed, or stay awhile by the campfire.

Day 4: Sheep Cliff Summit

Today, the more advanced riders will venture to the breathtaking Sheep Cliff Summit, while those wanting a gentler ride will explore some of the endless trails surrounding the ranch, perhaps looking for elk on the prairie.

The ride to Sheep Cliff Summit begins along the river, crosses at Bighorn Falls, and continues climbing into the high country. It’s an intensive trek and you’ll pause frequently to rest the horses and snap photos of the incredible views. Sheep Cliff is named after the bighorn sheep that are often seen in the area, so keep an eye out for them as you climb. Reaching the summit, you’ll be rewarded with a spectacular 360° view spanning nearby Warden Rock and the entire valley from east to west, all the way across Ya Ha Tinda land to the mountains far beyond. To the west, your guide will point out the Banff border where the valley starts to narrow, creating the pass that has been the main passage into the park for centuries. Around Warden Rock, you can see the road to the wardens’ outpost, which is just around the corner from the mountain itself.

The journey back home can be as short or long as you like. You will pass old trapping and hunting campsites, and cross beautiful forests covered in yellow moss underfoot, with tufts of pale green grandfather’s beard lichen hanging like lace from the branches.

The fun continues after dinner with an evening rafting adventure along the Red Deer River. It’s a totally different perspective of the land!

Day 5: Departure

Make sure you fill up at breakfast, globetrotters – you’re going to squeeze every last drop of goodness from your last day in the Albertan backcountry. Mounting your faithful steed, you will set out for Eagle Lake and James Falls. Beginning in gentle terrain and a wide valley, you’ll trot up to wide, tranquil Eagle Lake, where you can even swim the horses if it’s warm enough!

Circling the lake, the track brings you to James Falls, where ice-blue, glacial water tumbles down a rugged rock wall from a series of natural pools. There will be plenty of photo opportunities here, and another chance to swim in the crystal-clear mountain pools.

Back at the ranch, it’s time to pack your bags and say goodbye to the wonderful team who have made your adventure possible. Then you’ll load up for the drive back to Calgary, looking out for wild horses as you savour these last magnificent views, and tucking into a packed lunch on the way. You will reach Calgary International Airport at around 3:30pm, so please ensure your flight departs after 6:30pm.

Non-Riders

Non-riders are wonderfully catered for on the Banff Border Ride, with a range of optional adventures available alongside plenty of included activities at the ranch. Guided river fishing from the shore or lake fishing by boat is available for 4 hours at 139 CAD per person (prices are subject to change), including ongoing use of fishing gear for independent fishing, while a full-day guided river fishing trip by boat with a local outfitter can be arranged for 600 CAD (prices are subject to change). A guided 4-hour e-bike ride out to the Banff National Park boundary (passing the bison reintroduction area) is available for 188 CAD per person (prices are subject to change).

Included in the stay are a rafting trip with the group, stand-up paddle boarding on Eagle Lake, hiking trails straight from the ranch (with maps and bear spray), and relaxed ranch activities like games and roping practice.

A car isn’t essential if you’re happy soaking up ranch life, but having one does make it possible to explore nearby attractions and natural wonders at your own pace, such as Banff (3 hours drive away) and Lake Louise (3.5 hours drive away).