Horseback Kananaskis Explorer

A short wilderness getaway into the breathtaking mountain wilderness of the Kananaskis range - in the foothills of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. This is a rugged, minimum impact wilderness adventure, in small groups where everyone can get personal attention and develop their abilities and confidence.We will typically cover 100-120 km of both foothill and mountain topography in Kananaskis Country. We may start from either the Ranch or Little Elbow Trailhead, and normally move camp twice during the week. Five days gives you lots of time to develop an affection and appreciation for both your horse and the Canadian wilderness, though almost everyone agrees that the time flies quickly and they are left with the urge to return and explore other untracked valleys and ridgelines.

This is not are not a big "corporate" ranch or pack outfitter. Indeed "big" is incompatible with our desire to leave as small as possible a footprint on the wilderness. We don't offer opulent luxury with simulated but tightly scripted "adventure". We don't stage mock gun-fights or hold-ups for the amusement of "tourists". This is a genuine, real-life adventure, breathtaking scenery, camaraderie of the trail, excellent camp-fire cooked food and the opportunity to learn as much as you can about horses, riding and living with nature.

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Itinerary / Highlights

While we have a route planned at the outset of every trip, changes are sometimes forced upon us by weather, bear activity or other environmental hazards. The guides reserve the option of changing the day's activity from the published schedule based on any concern they have for the safety of the party. In these cases, various alternatives will normally be presented to the group and a decision made in consultation with them.

Sample Itinerary :

Day 1: Transfer at 4:00 PM from the Calgary airport to Bragg Creek. Meet and greet at ranch. Review the week's schedule and issue kit. Transfer to B&B. Dinner (not included) and overnight in local B&B.

Day 2: After grooming and tacking the horses we leave the ranch and head out west through meadows, forests and creeks and reach our first camp in the afternoon.

Day 3: A long day in the saddle awaits the group. We pack up camp and ride further west, gradually climbing out of the foothills and into the Rocky Mountains. This is a very scenic and breathtaking ride with nice canters and trots as well as fantastic views. We get to the second camp in the valley of the Elbow River late in the afternoon.

Day 4 and 5: We don't have to pack up camp for the next two days. There are a variety of scenic trails in the area we can choose from. All of them have their own beauty and fascination.

Day 6: We pack up camp and leave the valley with the packhorses. By midday the packhorses will be picked-up, while the group continues the ride over Powderface Ridge, a steep climb up to alpine meadows with a great overview of the area you rode in for the last 5 days. Return to ranch in the afternoon and farewell dinner. Overnight in same B&B

Day 7 Transfer to Calgary after breakfast.

Other Details

Accommodation Details

The ranch lies in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, 13 km south of the picturesque hamlet of Bragg Creek and roughly 60 kilometers southwest of Calgary - a wilderness area stretching to the Continental Divide.

The trip includes all meals. You will stay 2 nights in local B&B in Bragg Creek, and camp 4 nights. We will either sleep in large tents (up to 7 per tent), or leantos to enjoy the night sky whenever practical. Sometimes we are treated to a display of the Northern lights by doing so. We have found that most people are happy to sleep in close proximity to each other when in the wilds.