Featured in Equitrekking Alberta, the TV show on Public Television from the Emmy Equitrekking winning TV series.

Explore the high and rugged Canadian Rockies in authentic pioneer style and spirit while listening to the strum of a guitar beside a crackling evening campfire or winding your way along a crystal clear mountain stream through forested trails to wide open spaces, ideal for a good canter.

Located just an hour southwest of Calgary, take a horseback riding vacation to satisfy the cowboy in you, ensuring that you will never be just another city slicker. Choose from around 120 horses suitable for riders of all experience levels and trips suitable for beginners and experienced riders. Galloping through an alpine meadow on your surefooted mountain steed is an experience that you will surely remember.

Riding in the Alberta region allows for a diverse trail experience. The terrain varies from the rolling foothills of ranching country, to steep mountain passes and high valleys with stunning views. People are amazed and bewildered by the Canadian Rockies scenery, whether they ride out from the ranch, or head on an expedition into the mountains.

The 4-day Adventurer and 7-day Explorer trips are out of High Mountain Wilderness Camp, in the beautiful Sheep River Valley. The Lost Trail and North Rim to Ranch trips are moving trips, allowing you to travel above tree line to 9,000 feet, the highest ride. Tree line is around 7,200 feet, so as you may imagine, the views are spectacular! These trips all use eco-friendly teams of wagons to carry the camping gear. While experiencing the Ranch Log Cabin Vacation, private luxury log cabins are available for rent right on the ranch, so you can take advantage of hot showers and comfortable beds, while still enjoying your horseback riding to amazing destinations during the day.

Activities

Pack trip, fishing, trail riding, horse riding, campfires and more.

Accommodations

Accomodations during the mountain horseback adventure trips are walled canvas outfitting tents (for the 4-day Adventurer and 7-day Explorer) and comfortable army-type cots and thin foamies. For all other trips, accommodations are 6’ to 6’ 6” pop-up tents and comfortable army-type cots, with thin closed-cell foamies. All of the trips include tents, water jugs, cooks, saddlebags, wholesome meals, and solar showers.

Some equipment rentals are available but it is recommended that you reserve these ahead of time. Items available for rent include sleeping bags with polar fleece lining. Please inquire at the time of your booking.

Food

Three meals plus snacks are provided each day. A sample of a day’s menu might include: ham, cheese, buns, lettuce, apples, granola bars, and water bottles with lunch. Lasagna, garlic bread, bean salad, apple or fruit crisp with cream for dinner. Snacks might include salsa chips and on hot days, fresh melon (cantaloupe / honeydew / orange/ grapefruit), cheese, mixed crackers with oysters, shrimp with cocktail sauce, quesadillas, mixed fruit or veggies with dip. Vegetarian options are available with advance notice.

Area Attractions

Plan your riding holiday with the Calgary Stampede (July 9-18, 2010) with the 4-Day Explorer, which departs the day after the Calgary Stampede ends, July 19 – 22, or the 4-Day Explorer July 5 – 8.

In the area around the Ranch (about an hour southwest of Calgary) there are an abundance of activities and attractions that can be visited including: Calgary Stampede, Calgary Zoo, Head-Smashed-In-Buffalo-Jump, Spruce Meadows (Olympic quality Show Jumping Venue), Glenbow Museum, Fort Calgary, Heritage Park, Remington Carriage Museum, Royal Tyrrell Museum, as well as the local towns of Turner Valley and Black Diamond.