Canadian Rockies Lodge Trail

6 Days | From £2006pp

Canada ( Best airport: Calgary)

Travel high into the wild mountains and valleys of the Canadian Rockies on this adventurous pack trip in the Banff National Park. This is a pack trip where you’ll travel from lodge to lodge with towering snow-capped mountains on three sides. Ideal for all levels of rider, however a good head for heights is necessary, the trail takes you up to over 8,000 ft for some truly spectacular views. A trail for adventurous riders who want to explore the wild-life filled mountains off the beaten track.

The Riding

You’ll be riding along a historic pack trail that winds through the craggy Sundance Range, venturing to places most visitors to Banff National Park never get to see.

You’ll pass by the shimmering waters of the Bow River and then ride up Allenby Pass, where jagged rock formations line the route.

Level of Riding and Fitness

No previous experience is necessary for this ride, guides are happy to teach beginners the basics that they will need for the trip. The riding is all done at a walk and the horses are well trained and used to the trails. A good level of general fitness however is required and riders should have an adventurous nature and be happy and fit enough to spend between 4-6 hours a day in the saddle. Children aged 9 and over are welcome on the trail if accompanied by an adult. The weight limit is 110kg.

Guides and Group Size

All the guides on this trail are friendly, warm and experienced. They know how to work with both new and experienced riders. The maximum number of riders in a group is 6.

Any questions?

The Horses

There are around 300 horses and mules available for riding and as pack horses. There is a large variety of sizes, breeds and temperaments within the herd, something suitable for any level of rider. Guides at this destination are highly skilled at matching horses and riders.

The tack used is mostly Western and all riders are provided with saddle bags to transport daily essentials while on the trail.

Accommodation and Dining

You will be staying in two different lodges while on the trail. Your first and last night will be spent at Sundance Lodge. Just 10 miles from Banff, this secluded, warm and cosy lodge is at the edge of the mountain range. Complete with solar power and a wood-burning stove for a crackling evening fire. Hot showers and electricity are available here, although neither of the lodges has internet or Wi-Fi. There is a porch where you can sit and watch for wildlife and a sitting room with a fireplace perfect for relaxing in the evening. The shared bathroom facilities are inside and there are 10 rooms available.

The middle three nights of the trip will be spent at Halfway Lodge set at the base of the Allenby Pass. It was built in the 1920s for riders on their way to Mount Assiniboine. This is a more basic lodge than Sundance. Propane lanterns and candles provide the lighting while a wood-burner provides the heat. There is a cosy kitchen, dining and sitting room inside, and two shared outhouses (outdoor basic toilet facilities) and an outdoor shower on site. There are 4 bedrooms that have space for up to 4 people each.

At both lodges meals are cooked on-site by professional chefs, breakfast and dinner are eaten at the lodge while lunch is packed into the saddle bags and enjoyed while out on the trail. A traditional cowboy barbecue is served on your first day, usually an Alberta steak paired with home-made baked beans, baked potatoes and other sides. Dinners at the lodges could be braised beef short ribs (vegetarian alternative available) matched with a side of fluffy mashed potatoes and cheesecake for dessert. Camps and lodges are licensed and offer a small selection of wine and beer.

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Gallery

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive at the stables for 9:30am to meet your guides, fellow guests, and the horses before setting out on the 10-mile ride to your first lodge. The path follows the rushing Bow River through the valley and lunch is a barbecue next to the river. Relax on the banks of the river as the food is cooked over an open fire. A gentle afternoon of riding brings you to the lodge at about 4:30pm where you can freshen up with a warm shower and relax for the rest of the day.

Day 2 After a hearty breakfast, mount up and follow the historical Erling Strom Trail with the rugged Sundance mountain range to the east as you follow in the footsteps of the early explorers of the Rocky Mountains. Enjoy a picnic lunch in an open mountain meadow where the plants start to indicate the change in altitude before continuing to ascend until reaching the lodge. With propane lanterns, candles and a wood-burning stove for warmth, this secluded lodge offers a real mountain retreat.

Days 3 Today you’ll ride along the Allenby Pass, climbing up to 8,100 ft. There are stunning panoramic views of the valleys and distant mountain ranges. Fossil remains can be spotted in the mountain rock over a picnic lunch before you make your way back down the mountain pass returning to the lodge for dinner. As the sun sets behind the mountains you can relax around the fire with a glass of wine and share stories with your fellow travelers.

Day 4 Today the horses take a break and you can either hike to a sparkling glacial-fed lake at the end of the valley or you can relax at the lodge which is situated in an incredibly peaceful spot and perfect for wildlife spotting. Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Day 5 Today you’ll be riding away from this idyllic spot but there is still more to see in this wild region. Follow the winding trail along Brewster Creek, criss-crossing the valley as the early pioneers did to find exciting new places and a different perspective of the mountains around you. Lunch is taken out on the trail and you arrive back to the original lodge in the afternoon complete with hot showers and electric lights! Dinner and overnight at the lodge.

Day 6 A final breakfast with your warm hosts before riding back to the stables. Follow the gently winding river trails through the thick pine forest with the Rockies as your backdrop. Stretch out on the riverbank one last time for lunch before making your way back to the stables, arriving back at approximately 4:30pm.