Banff Horseback Riding: A 2-Hour Adventure in Canada's Oldest National Park

Experience the beauty of Banff National Park on a 2-hour horseback riding adventure. Saddle up and explore the trails with a cowboy guide, reliving the pioneer days in Canada’s oldest national park.

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Banff Trail Riders - Stables - You’ll explore stunning sections of wilderness on this two-hour trip, providing a chance to spot wildlife that you might not get to see while on foot. Plus, our friendly, experienced guides will teach you a few cowboy tricks along the way.

Pass by natural sulphur hot springs as you make your way to one of Banff’s national historic sites: the Cave and Basin. Trek along the tranquil Bow River and take in magnificent views of the Bow Valley before pressing through thick marshes as you climb Sulphur Mountain.

You’ll then continue up to Windy Knoll where you can take striking photos of the sweeping landscape.

What's Included
  • Basic horseback riding instruction
  • Use of horse
  • Helmet (mandatory)
  • Lead and tail guides
What's Not Included
  • Gratuities
  • Food and drink
  • Hotel pickup and drop-off
Additional Information

Banff National Park is Canada’s first and most cherished national park - an experience best relished by stepping out of your vehicle and embarking on a hike. Travel to a bygone era with a two-hour equine journey and take in the park’s serene landscape. Accompanied by your cowhand guide, mount a horse and gain an understanding of the early settler’s experiences in what used to be untamed territory.

  • All riders must arrive 30 minutes prior to their ride time.
  • Guests participating in horseback riding will need to be 8 years or over and a maximum of 230lbs. Banff Trail Riders is committed to the health of our horses and the safety of our guests, which means that the minimum age and maximum weight requirements are strictly enforced. As part of the check-in process, guests may be required to confirm their current weight on a scale and provide proof of the child’s age. In the event that these requirements are not met, the booking will be forfeited without a refund.
  • Please note that children will not be paired with an adult – they must ride their own horse.
  • For our foreign visitors we require an understanding of basic English for our horseback rides, so that you can understand simple instructions from our guides.
  • Children aged 17 years and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
  • For safety purposes helmets are mandatory to be worn by all riders.
  • Riders must wear long pants and sturdy closed toed shoes enclosed to the ankle - no open toe shoes or shoes with big heels.
  • Adults must sign a waiver for all activities, and a waiver must also be completed by the parent or legal guardian of any person under the age of 18 (documentation may be required to confirm the signatory’s authority).
  • Riders must be physically capable of controlling the horse during the ride without assistance and for the health and safety of all riders we regrettably cannot accommodate any disabilities or special needs riders. We recognize that disabled riding is a unique and respected skill set that we at the barns do not have the appropriate equipment or skills to safely execute.
Location
Banff Trail Riders - Stables
Sundance Road
Find us at the end of Sundance Road in Banff. Check-in at the east barn, marked ' Banff Trail Riders Stables' & 'office.' 5 min drive or 20 min walk from downtown with free parking. **ALL GUESTS MUST CHECK IN 30 MIN PRIOR TO THEIR RIDE START TIME. LATE ARRIVALS WILL NOT BE ACCOMMODATED**
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.1
(98 Ratings)
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Carole_t
Aug 26, 2024
Amazing experience - Riding in the Rockies is a definite bucket list moment. The guides are excellent and very informative during ride. A huge shoutout to Jess. Can’t recommend them enough
Review provided by Viator
Rebeccadl5517mr
Aug 16, 2024
A definite must if you’re in the area. - This was the best start to our family holiday. We were in a group of 8 with 2 leaders - one at the front, one at the back. We chose the 2 hour ride which takes you through woods and follows along the river, before heading uphill and through the woods again. For us - it was the perfect length of time, giving us time to settle and relax into it. We were under the care of Charlotte and Alex, our brilliant leaders. Charlotte led the way and was impressive in her knowledge of the area, and great fun with it, connecting brilliantly with all of us - including our teenage boys. We were impressed how she even got our youngest out of his shell, feeling happy and confident and into conversation. They have so many horses! Our horses were fantastic- they know what they’re doing. Even my husband who hasn’t been on a horse for a very long time was loving it. I now consider my holiday romance to be with Trooper - what a dude. Solid, strong and dependable - my perfect match. It was definitely the perfect start to a family adventure. We would all strongly recommend it if you’re in the area.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
333shankard
Aug 16, 2024
Great Horses and Gudies - Our horses and guides were all super friendly. It was hard to leave our horse at the end of the ride. He was so nice and careful. I wold certainly recommend this tour
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gail_m
Aug 11, 2024
Excellent trail guides - Excellent trail guides. Knowledgeable, entertaining and safety focused. Definitely recommend if you want to see things from horseback.
Review provided by Viator
Jake_j
Aug 11, 2024
it was a good trip for my... - it was a good trip for my family, we could enjoy the horseback riding and scenary. but 2 hours felt little bit too long because most of time we walked slowly.
Review provided by Viator
Laura_y
Aug 28, 2024
Mediocre experience - The young lady giving riding directions was a sourpuss-she acted like she hated her job and the guests. Maybe she’s been dealing with tourists for too long, but hey, it’s her job, and it tinged the whole experience. Some advice: smile once in a while and fake it, you’re in the hospitality industry. Our two ride guides were more personable, but we were too far back in line to hear any of the lead guide’s commentary for most of the ride. The horses were beautiful, well trained animals.
Review provided by Viator
Y4098qpnataliaf
Aug 18, 2024
Choose a shorter ride - The horses were great but the trail was HORRIBLE. It was about 2 feet of mud to go through for the entire ride. We couldn’t hear the guides at all and they force the horses to stay so close together that they are butt to face and constantly nipping. Choose a shorter ride!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ellenpm28my
Aug 11, 2024
Skippable - It's not easy to complain about any activity that has the backdrop of the Canadian Rockies, but unfortunately that was about the only selling point of our trail ride. The guides were meh (couldn't really call them "guides", they were basically just monitoring that everyone was following the rules at every moment), the horses not all in peak shape from what we could tell, and the two hours went by at a snail's pace. Wouldn't recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Andyej2380xo
Aug 26, 2024
Terrible company - We recently booked an event with Banff TrailRiders and it turned out to be a very negative and traumatizing event. I am extremely disappointed and unhappy with the lack of service, dismissive and rude attitude and overall lack of consideration by their staff during our recent experience at the Banff facility. We were originally booked into the Jasper stables...but had to scramble for a last minute change due to the fires. I booked their 2 hour Sundance Loop for Monday August 12. My 17 year old nephew was visiting from Ontario for the first time ever. We arrived on time to a fairly wet rainy day..but we were dressed for the day. As we walked up it was obvious that something was amiss as a family was leaving saying that they were told "it was too wet for them to ride". They did not have a booking...so we thought we would be ok. We checked in with plenty of time and our experience quickly went bad. My nephew was the first to step on their "scale". He is a 17 year old Gr. 12 athlete...plays basketball and some volleyball. He just had his physical to return to school and weighs 183 lbs. Their staff declared that he was 232 lbs and that he would not be allowed do ride today. I am 66 years old...and not a high school athlete so I didn't even bother to step on their "scale". I questioned the accuracy of the scale and was rudely dismissed with a 'our scale is accurate" response. I then requested a refund and was told that as we were cancelling less than 24 hours ahead of time..we would not get a refund. They were very quick to offer us the steak cookout for the evening. Having no other options available we reluctantly agreed. We returned at the appropriate time where we quickly saw a large group of people getting ready to ride for the cookout...many of whom were much heavier than me...and none of which were being weighed. I went in and questioned as to whether or not my nephew at least could ride for the cookout. I was yelled at...yes..yelled at. A staff member carrying a clip board declared that my nephew was in fact 238.5 lbs and that we had "MADE OUR DECISION". My nephew was so offended and upset that we simply left the property. It took me several hours to put him back together. I am seeking a full refund and an explanation from this business.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Anke
Aug 15, 2024
Rip-off! Very unfriendly! Poor horses! - This riding stable is the worst I have ever experienced. The ladies there are not only unfriendly, they are also totally cheeky and nasty. You are treated like a small Child. If they don't want someone to ride with them, they simply make them ten kilos heavier. That is a cheek. The money is not refunded either. In this riding stable you are totally ripped off. There are many riding stables around Banff but this is definitely the wrong one!!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 12 guests
1 Adult
September 2024
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