Horseback trail ride in CANADA : BANFF NATIONAL PARK

HORSEBACK TRAIL RIDE IN CANADA
INDICATIVE ITINERARY *

Day 1: Backcountry ride to Sundance Lodge
Riders meet at 9:30 a.m. at Warner Stables. Make your way to our backcountry check in area in the large barn. For those with a vehicle, free parking is available at the stables for the duration of the trip. Here you will meet your fellow riders and your guides for your trip. Slickers and saddlebags will be handed out if required and you will have time to organize your gear and ask any questions you may have.
Your guides will then introduce you to your horse, which has been specifically picked for you. Once you are comfortable you will mount up for the 10-mile ride to Sundance Lodge via the glacier-fed waters of the Bow River, Healy and Brewster Creeks. Half-way to the lodge, you will stop and enjoy a hot lunch by the Bow River. After lunch, we will continue along the trail into Sundance Lodge. You will saunter into Sundance Lodge at around 4:30pm, where you will be greeted by the friendly lodge host and shown to your room where you can freshen up with a warm shower and settle in. Your lodge host will cater to your every need and make you feel welcome at the lodge, like you are a guest in their home. This is no simple, basic lodge – you will be pampered in backcountry luxury, sleeping in a comfortable bed and dining on gourmet cuisine whipped up by your talented host in the professional kitchen. You will be surrounded by the beautiful backcountry of Banff, yet you will still enjoy the luxuries of life.
Riding approx. 10 miles (5-6 hours)
Meals included: Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Sundance lodge

Day 2: Ride the Erling Strom Trail to Halfway Lodge
The adventure continues as you journey 9 miles southward to Halfway Lodge. The rugged peaks of the Sundance Range loom over the eastern horizon as you follow the winding historic Erling Strom Trail. You will be following in the footsteps that the early explorers of the Canadian Rockies took nearly a century ago. We will stop along the way for a picnic in the fresh air of an open mountain meadow. Tonight we will stay at Halfway Lodge. Located at the midway point between Banff and Assiniboine Mountain where weary riders have been stopping to rest since the 1920s. As you approach you will notice the trees start to thin out and the mountains peeking up above the tree line all around you. It is tucked into a postcard-perfect setting, with a striking cauldron of mountains all around it. This lodge was constructed by Erling Strom in the 1920s as a stopover spot for the guests he lead on trips from Banff to Mount Assiniboine. With propane lanterns and candles providing lighting and a woodstove providing warmth, it has not changed much in the last 80 years.
Riding approx. 9 miles (5-6 hours)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Halfway lodge.

Day 3: Climb Allenby Pass on horseback to 8,100 feet
After a hearty breakfast you can leave your belongings at the lodge and set off on another adventure. Today you will make the thrilling climb up Allenby Pass on horseback, an elevation of 8,100 feet. For many this is the highlight of the trip, as you will get a breathtaking view of the jagged rock formations, the enormous amphitheater of mountains stretching out all around you. It is mind-boggling to imagine that Allenby Pass was a seafloor millions of years ago. If you look closely, you can still spot fossils of sea creatures visible among the rocks. At the end of the day, you will return to your familiar room at Halfway Lodge, where you already feel comfortable and at home. As the sun sets behind the mountains, you can sit back and relax, drink wine and share stories and photos with your fellow adventurers.
Riding approx. 3-5 miles depending on time of year and trail conditions (4-6 hours)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Halfway lodge.

Day 4: Rest time to enjoy the backcountry
Today is a rest day at the Lodge. An optional hike to a shimmering glacial fed lake at the end of the valley, where you can enjoy views of the valley below, can be organized. However, if you would rather relax, there is no pressure. This lodge is a lovely place to find some quiet time, far away from the pinging of notifications and the pressure of your endless to-do list. It is a chance to relax, perhaps by sitting on the deck while getting lost in the pages of a good book.  You may even take some time to groom your horse, who has no doubt become your best friend by this point.
No riding
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Halfway lodge

Day 5: Follow Brewster Creek to Sundance Lodge
Say goodbye to the lovely staff at Halfway Lodge. It is time to hit the winding trail along Brewster Creek back to Sundance Lodge. Be warned: you will not want to leave Halfway Lodge once you have experienced this gorgeous retreat in the Rockies. Your guide will lead you through the backcountry on a scenic and exciting trail, crisscrossing the valley in the historic footsteps of the early pioneers and stopping for lunch along the way. You will arrive back at Sundance Lodge again, a luxurious retreat you will have fallen deeply in love with. Pamper yourself after your ride with a warm shower and a glass of wine, then enjoy another delicious meal prepared by your professional chef lodge host.
Riding approx. 9 miles (5-6 hours)
Meals included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Overnight at Sundance lodge

Day 6: Return to Warner Stables
It is your last morning at Sundance Lodge, which by now will feel like home due to the warm hospitality of your host. Wake up in your comfortable bed one last time, gather around for a delicious breakfast and wave goodbye as you begin the journey back to Banff. It is your final day on the trail – a gentle 9 mile ride from Sundance back to Warner Stables. Your guide will lead you through the backcountry along winding river trails and through the thick pine forests, with the jagged peaks of the Rockies always standing proudly on the horizon. You will stop along the banks of Healy Creek for a lunch of fresh sandwiches, baked goods and fruit. You will return at approximately 4:30 pm, with plenty of great tales from the backcountry to tell your family and friends.
Riding approx. 10 miles (5-6 hours)
Meals included: Breakfast & Lunch.

* Indicative itinerary, subject to modifications if necessary.