Banff Horseback Ride + Whitewater Rafting Deal

12+

Age

May-Sep

Season

Combo Package; raft through awesome whitewater and try a cliff jump, then ride your horse along the scenic Bow River.

Included: Horseshoe Canyon Whitewater Rafting (8:15am – 12:00pm)]

Experience the true thrill of rapids on this exciting morning whitewater tour on the Bow River, with cliff jumping available for the adventurous. The class 3-4 Horseshoe Canyon section offers spectacular scenery, big waves and a sense of remoteness while you raft your way through shale canyons and awesome whitewater. Conveniently located 45 minutes from Calgary and Banff in the front ranges of the Canadian Rocky Mountains.

Included: 1 hour Bow River Horseback Ride (various times available)

This popular Banff horseback ride takes you along the Bow River in Banff while watching for wildlife and enjoying the spectacular scenery. You’ll also ride past the natural sulphur hot springs flowing from the Cave & Basin – the original historic hot springs.

Tours in this package can be taken on the same day or on different days.

RAFTING INCLUDES	Light refreshments Professional river guide on each raft Safety instruction and practice paddle River fee Complimentary photos (online) River time 1.5-2hrs Wetsuits, lifejacket, helmet, rainjacket, wetsuit booties and gloves
HORSEBACK RIDE INCLUDES	A friendly horse for every rider Basic horseback riding instruction Helmet Lead and tail guides for your ride

The best parts of the Horseshoe Canyon Whitewater Rafting for most people include the following:

1.5 - 2 Hours on the Bow River

A ride you won’t forget. Surrounded by the magnificent Rocky Mountains.

Optional cliff jump and swim

A medium or BIG cliff jump for the adventurous during the float section.

Free photos

Professional photos of you whitewater rafting are posted for free on our website.

Everything is provided!

The tour includes professional guiding, instruction, equipment, practice and facilities.

The best parts of the Bow River Horseback Ride for most people include the following:

Bow River

Your horse will guide you along the tranquil Bow River – an area home to wildlife in amongst the thick marshes and grassy meadows, with unspoiled views of the magnificent Rocky Mountains.

Cave and Basin Hot Springs

Pass by the historic Cave and Basin – the birth place of Banff National Park. Here craggy rock walls surround pools of bubbling thermal water.

RAFTING INCLUDES	Light refreshments Professional river guide on each raft Safety instruction and practice paddle River fee Complimentary photos (online) River time 1.5-2hrs Wetsuits, lifejacket, helmet, rainjacket, wetsuit booties and gloves
HORSEBACK RIDE INCLUDES	A friendly horse for every rider Basic horseback riding instruction Helmet Lead and tail guides for your ride

How long is the Horseshoe Canyon Whitewater Rafting Tour?

The tour starts at the Nakoda Lakeside Lodge at 8:15am (meet time 8:10am) and finishes at 12pm, approximately 4 hours. This includes a short drive to the river and 1.5 to 2 hours on the water.

What does the Horseshoe Canyon Whitewater Rafting Tour include?

The tour includes 1.5 – 2 hours on the river (including a 20 minute float to finish up), a professional river guide with each boat, an optional cliff jump (with two heights to choose from), free professional photos, and light refreshment and snacks. All safety equipment including clean and dry wetsuits, wetsuit booties, fleece, spray jacket, life jacket and a helmet is provided. The tour winds through scenic views of the front range of the Rocky Mountain Ranges and occasionally we see wildlife such as osprey, bald eagles, deer and bears.

The Nakoda Lakeside Lodge has clean port-a-potties, male and female change tents and ample free parking.

Where is the meeting point for the rafting tour?

The meeting point is at the Nakoda Lakeside Lodge, located on Highway 1A approximately 25 minutes from Canmore and 45 minutes from Banff and Calgary. Detailed driving directions are included in your booking confirmation. There is ample free parking at the riverbase and you will brought back to your vehicle at the end of the tour.

What should I wear/bring for the rafting tour?

Please wear your swimsuit under your clothes and bring warm clothes, a face mask, hand sanitizer and a towel in a bag for after the tour. We also suggest bringing a toque or hat for colder days, to wear under the helmet. Your belongings can be stored in the bus or your own car while you are on the river.

You can wear sunglasses/glasses as long as these are secured with a strap or piece of string, and contact lenses are usually okay if you are comfortable swimming with them and tell your guide. Sunscreen is great on a hot day for any areas not covered by the wetsuit, but avoid putting it above or near your eyes. You can bring your own waterproof camera or GoPro which can be secured with your own chest harness or on a helmet with a GoPro mount, but we are not responsible for loss or damage of your equipment.

What shouldn't I bring for the rafting tour?

Anything else! It isn’t recommended to bring your camera and rafters aren’t permitted to wear their own wetsuit or to wear anything that could cause a hazard while on the tour.

I have some medical concerns for the rafting tour, what should I do?

When you are making your reservation please let the agent know and they will check with the rafting team. On the day please bring any medication you may need and inform your guide of any medical conditions.

Do you need any rafting/swimming experience?

No rafting experience is necessary, and we provide a Professional River Guide with each boat who will explain and demonstrate paddle, safety and emergency techniques. This includes dryland safety instructions and practicing paddling on the river before the waves.

Guests should be physically fit and have a reasonable swimming ability.

How big are the rapids on the rafting tour? Is it safe?

You will go through class 3 & 4 rapids during your tour, which is ideal for adventure lovers. This is a moderate trip, exciting but not difficult. Check out the Whitewater Rafting Rapid Classification Guide for more information: https://chinookrafting.com/plan-and-book/river-classifications/.

The tour is run by Chinook Rafting who have been operating whitewater rafting tours as a licensed company in the province of Alberta since 1983 and all of the rafting guides are trained in Swiftwater Rescue and First Aid & CPR. What this means for you is that they are confident that they can manage, not eliminate, the risks today to offer you an exciting and fun day on the river, creating as safe a framework as they can, given what we are doing. However, it is important to remember that we are not on a track, this isn’t Disneyland! The fact that we’re not on a track adds excitement to what we’re doing, but it also adds inherent risks.

How long is the Bow River Horseback Ride?

The tour is a one hour horseback ride. Please arrive 30 minutes prior to your tour start time.

What does the Horseback Ride include?

The tour is a one-hour horseback ride along the Bow River and past the historic Cave and Basin site. You will be provided with a brief riding instruction, a helmet, a friendly horse, and lead and tail guides riding at each end of the small group.

Where is the meeting point for the horseback ride?

Please meet at Warner Stables, the big red stables located at the end of Sundance Road in Banff. When you arrive, please check-in for your ride at the office in the east barn which has signs for ‘Warner Stables’ and ‘office’. There is plenty of free parking at the site. The stables are located approximately a five minute drive or a 20 minute walk from downtown Banff, and there is plenty of free parking at the site.

Please see the below map for the location of Warner Stables:

When should I arrive for the horseback ride?

Please ensure that you arrive 30 minutes before the ride is scheduled to depart.

What should I wear for the horseback ride?

You must wear sturdy, closed toed shoes enclosed to the ankle and long pants are best for riding. Please note that sandals of any kind are not permitted. Helmets are provided and are mandatory for all riders and mosquito repellent is highly recommended.

Is riding experience required?

No experience is necessary and if you’ve never been riding before then we’ll be sure to pair you with the perfect horse so you can enjoy a comfortable ride. Our guides will also provide a brief riding instruction prior to the ride.

Can I bring a backpack on the horseback ride?

Guests cannot bring a backpack on the horse.

What if it rains on the horseback ride?

Horseback rides run rain or shine, so please dress for the weather. Please do not wear a rain poncho, as they can flap in the wind and spook the horses.

What is the cancellation policy?

There is a 24 hour cancellation policy, which allows you to change/cancel or refund your booking up to 24 hours outside your booked tour (up to 7 days for group bookings).

Should I tip my guide?

Tips are not expected, but are certainly appreciated. If you think your guide did a wonderful job and would like to indicate that with a tip, it will be graciously accepted.

RAFTING INCLUDES	Light refreshments Professional river guide on each raft Safety instruction and practice paddle River fee Complimentary photos (online) River time 1.5-2hrs Wetsuits, lifejacket, helmet, rainjacket, wetsuit booties and gloves
HORSEBACK RIDE INCLUDES	A friendly horse for every rider Basic horseback riding instruction Helmet Lead and tail guides for your ride

Tours in this package can be taken on the same day or on different days.
The minimum age is 12 years and the minimum weight per person is 90 lbs. If the guest is unaccompanied by an adult then the minimum age is 16 years old for whitewater rafting, and all minors under 18 years old participating in a horse activity must have a legal guardian on the ride with them.
The maximum weight per person is 230 lbs / 104kg, fully dressed (your weight may need to be verified on our scales).
Riders must check in at least 30 minutes prior to departure.
Riders must wear fully enclosed shoes (no heels).
Each rider must be able to speak and understand fluent English.
Riders must be in good physical condition.
Helmets are mandatory and to be worn by all riders.
A waiver must be completed for both tours and is a condition of participation, this will be sent through upon booking. In addition, a Parental Consent form must be completed by the parent or legal guardian of any child under the age of 18 years prior to arrival. This is especially important if you are bringing someone else’s child (under 18 years old) rafting.
Photo ID may be required for identity verification.

Refunds are not issued if guests are disqualified from participating due to not meeting these requirements.

Please note that the Horseshoe Canyon Whitewater Rafting Tour requires a minimum of 8 participants, please call the day prior to confirm the tour.

RAFTING INCLUDES	Light refreshments Professional river guide on each raft Safety instruction and practice paddle River fee Complimentary photos (online) River time 1.5-2hrs Wetsuits, lifejacket, helmet, rainjacket, wetsuit booties and gloves
HORSEBACK RIDE INCLUDES	A friendly horse for every rider Basic horseback riding instruction Helmet Lead and tail guides for your ride