With warm weather around the corner it’s a great time to find out of the box outdoor activities to try out. Horseback riding is a great way to relax, reconnect with yourself and nature, and try something new and exciting. Many people find horseback riding therapeutic, which is a perfect change for most peoples hectic lives. We have put together a list of Tripadvisor’s Top 10 Trail Riding Tours in the Calgary Area. This list will show the company’s rank, location, as well as a blurb the company has written about themselves.
Moose Mountain Horseback Adventures
Location: Bragg Creek, Canada
About:“Located in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies between Calgary and Banff National Park, we offer trail rides, expedition adventures and ranch-stay vacations all year round. We are located 13 kms south of the picturesque hamlet of Bragg Creek, a short drive from Calgary, Alberta. The cozy and comfortable lodge can accommodate 8 guests in 5 rooms. M&M Ranch is the ideal place for adventurous horse lovers that want to explore the beautiful nature that surrounds us on a well-trained horse.”
Willow Creek Adventures
Location: Drumheller, Alberta Canada
About:*Closed at the time of writing this article*
Saddle Peak Trail Rides
Location: Cochrane, Alberta
About:“We offer horseback Vacations along the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rockies. 1 hour to 5 days, ranch stays, combination trips with whitewater rafting, lodge rides, pack trips, hourly and day rides.Family operated business for over 40 years. Access to over 8000 acres for hourly rides alone. Great family vacations destination and adventure travel packages – suitable for all levels of riding ability.”
Alpine Stables
Location: Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta
About:“See wildlife, alpine habitat and wildflowers galore, meander through wooded trails, or climb to the tops of the mountains on a good horse. Our guided rides provide western adventure for the whole family with hourly, half-day, full-day and overnight pack trips. We offer group rates as well as single hourly rates. Our friendly guides enjoy sharing stories of local history, and identifying wildflowers and wildlife habitat. Alpine Stables is a family operation established in Waterton since 1969. Dee and Lorna Barrus and their young family began with 25 to 30 good ranch horses and a desire to show visitors the splendors of the Alberta Rockies.”
Old Entrance Trail Rides
Location: Hinton, Alberta
About:“Guided horseback trail rides along the scenic Athabasca River valley near Jasper National Park. Ride gentle horse on trails over a variety of terrain; along river valley onto open foothill ridges with spectacular mountain views and through mature evergreen forests.”
McKenzie Trails West
Location: Abraham Lake, Nordegg, Alberta
About:“Explore the Canadian Rockies on horseback by the hour, day, or week. Our horses are well trained and gentle, our guides are friendly and knowledgeable, and our scenery is magnificent. Fun for the whole family. No experience necessary. We are a multigenerational family outfit with over 50 years in business. Come experience some genuine family hospitality as you explore the areas outside of the national parks. We are located just off of highway 11, minutes away from epic Lake Abraham.”
Waterton River Trail Rides Ltd.
Location: Waterton Lakes National Park, Alberta
About:“Nestled adjacent to the Waterton Lakes National Park, on the UNESCO Waterton Biosphere Reserve is Waterton River Trail Rides LTD. Here at Waterton River Trail Rides LTD we offer guided horseback adventures for the entire family. Whether you are riding for your first time or are an experienced rider, we have the right horse for you. From the refreshing Waterton river to the sensational panoramic views from the Elk Ridge summit, you can experience a unique & isolated vista that most visitors miss when traveling to the hidden gem of the world, Waterton Lakes National Park. We cannot emphasize enough to remember to bring your camera – trust us, you will want it. We love this beautiful part of the world and what we do, and we cannot wait to share the adventure with you. We are located right outside the park boundary – a 15 minute drive east of Waterton village on hwy 5. Our exact location can be found on Google Maps and Apple Maps. All rides are by reservation only.”
The Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies
Location: Banff, Banff National Park, Alberta
About:“The Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies is an experienced non-profit registered society celebrating 96 years of taking people from all over the world into the back country of Canada’s Rocky Mountains. Honouring our distinctive western cowboy culture, our six-day adventure trips include excellent tent accommodations, (with raised cots) four-star food, professional guides in our “rustic wilderness camp” which is complete with hot washing water. Over 50% of our guests are over the age of 50, and 75% of our guests are female, many returning for as many as ten, twenty, and a few over thirty years with us! Riding experience ranges from beginners to the experienced and we can accommodate everyone’s abilities. Families are common on our rides including grandparents with their grandkids! Talk about “bonding time!” Experience backcountry vistas rarely seen and wildlife only seen in the backcountry.”
Sources:
Stables in List Order:Boundary Ranch: http://boundaryranch.com
Moose Mountain Horseback Adventures: https://packtrips.ca
Saddle Peak Trail Rides: https://www.travelalberta.com/ca/listings/saddle-peak-trail-rides-3933/
Banff Trail Riders: https://horseback.com/home-2020/
Alpine Stables: https://www.alpinestables.com
Old Entrance Trail Rides: https://www.oldentrance.ab.ca/trail_rides/index.html
McKenzie Trails West: http://mctrails.com Waterton River Trail Rides Ltd.: https://www.watertonrivertrailrides.com
The Trail Riders of the Canadian Rockies: http://trailridevacations.com
