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.

Day 2: Into the Backcountry

A hearty ranch breakfast sets the tone for the day before a unique start – travelling by e-bike from the ranch to Banff Boundary Camp. It’s a scenic and invigorating approach, offering a fresh perspective on the landscape you’ll soon explore on horseback.

At camp, you’ll be reunited with your horses and ride deep into Banff National Park along the Cascade Trail. Towering peaks, wide alpine valleys, and the sheer scale of the Canadian Rockies unfold around you, with every turn offering a new and striking view.

Back at camp, a hearty meal prepared by your camp cook awaits before you settle into your tent for the night.

Day 3: Deception Pass

Crisp mountain air and a classic cowboy breakfast welcome you into another day in the saddle.

Today’s ride climbs higher into the alpine, heading towards Deception Pass. Mountain ridges, open high country, and vast, uninterrupted views define the day, with the landscape stretching endlessly in every direction. It’s a ride that captures the scale and quiet beauty of this remote region.

Returning to camp in the afternoon, the rhythm of the backcountry settles in – good food, good company, and the simple satisfaction of a full day on horseback.

Day 4: Panther Ridge

Your final full day on horseback explores the eastern trails of Panther Ridge, where the terrain feels wild and largely untouched. Wildlife is often spotted here, and there’s a strong sense of travelling through a landscape that has changed very little over time.

Following the Red Deer River downstream, you’ll ride your way back towards the ranch.

The evening is one to savour – barbeque steaks, homemade pie, music by the campfire, and the kind of stories that only come from days spent riding through big country.

Day 5: Departure

A final ranch breakfast is followed by a short farewell ride – a quiet moment to soak up this astonishing landscape one last time.

From here, you’ll depart for Calgary, leaving with the memories of three full days on horseback in the wild heart of the Canadian Rockies – vast, untamed, and deeply memorable.

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: 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 3: Sheep Cliff Summitt

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 4: Sundre Parade & Rodeo

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.