Horse holidays abroad · Canada
Horse Riding Holidays in Canada: the Rockies, British Columbia and the Yukon
Horse riding holidays in Canada run as pack trips and lodge rides in the Alberta Rockies, lodge weeks in British Columbia and wilderness rides in the Yukon, lasting five to nine nights.
- Best monthsJun to Sep
- Level
Novice to expert - Typical trip5 to 9 nights
- Price guide
Higher to premium
At a glance
What does a riding holiday in Canada involve?
- Best monthsJune to September; one British Columbia lodge runs into October
- Riding level
All abilities on the Banff lodge rides; intermediate or better elsewhere - Hours in the saddle4 to 6 hours a day
- Typical trip5 to 9 nights, riding most days
- Weight limit91kg to 104kg, depending on the trip
- Group size5 to 8 riders on most rides
- HorsesQuarter Horses, Appaloosas, Paints and draught crosses, about 14hh to 16.2hh
- TackWestern saddles
- AccommodationCanvas tents, backcountry lodges and log cabins
- Price guide
Higher to premium for this kind of holiday, per person, before flights
The riding
What is horse riding in Canada like?
Horse riding in Canada is mostly mountain trail riding, where you ride for several days into the backcountry and sleep in tents, lodges or cabins along the way.
In Banff National Park the rides are strictly at a walk, between two backcountry lodges, which suits a rider of any level.
In the Alberta Rockies a pack trip camps in canvas tents near the Continental Divide, with 4 to 6 hours riding a day and a long break for lunch.
In British Columbia a lodge week gives you a log cabin as a base and faster riding in open country. In the Yukon a wilderness ride mixes a base camp of log cabins with nights in two-person tents on the trail.
Banff National Park, Alberta
The Alberta Rockies
British Columbia
The Yukon
When to go
When is the best time to ride in Canada?
The best time to ride in Canada is June to September, when the mountain trails are open, and one British Columbia lodge runs into October.
- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec
The Banff lodge rides run from mid-June to early September. The Alberta Rockies high mountain ride has a single departure in late August, and the Yukon rides run from June to September.
Your level
What riding level do you need for Canada?
For a Banff lodge ride you need no experience, because the whole ride is at a walk; for the other Canadian trips you need to be a secure intermediate rider.
Novice
Intermediate
Experienced
It suits you if
- You are happy camping in a tent for several nights
- You want to spend days in the backcountry, far from roads
- You like riding at a steady pace for 4 to 6 hours
It is not for you if
- You want a hot shower and electric light every night
- You weigh more than 104kg in your riding clothes
- You want to ride in an English saddle
The Alberta pack trips are for intermediate riders or better. The British Columbia lodge asks for a strong intermediate or advanced rider, confident at walk, trot and canter in open spaces. The Yukon ride suits you if you are comfortable on uneven ground and fit for long hours in the saddle.
Weight limits run from 91kg in British Columbia to 95kg in the Alberta Rockies, 102kg in the Yukon and 104kg at Banff. Minimum ages run from 9 at Banff and 10 in the Alberta Rockies to 16 in British Columbia.
The horses
What are the horses and tack like in Canada?
Canadian trail horses are mostly Quarter Horses, Appaloosas, Paints and draught crosses, standing from about 14hh to 16.2hh, and some outfits also use mules.
Many of the Banff horses are rescues. The Yukon horses are hardy, sure-footed mountain horses, and the British Columbia herd adds Arabs and Thoroughbreds.
Tack is western throughout, with wide saddles for long days and simple leather headstalls, and you ride with the reins in one hand.
Where you stay
Where do you stay on a riding holiday in Canada?
You stay in canvas tents, backcountry lodges or log cabins, and on the trail rides you move between them as you go.
The Alberta pack trips use white canvas tents for two with a mattress, plus a night in a guest cabin. At Banff the two lodges are rustic: one has hot showers, and the other runs on propane lamps with no electricity.
The British Columbia lodge has log cabins with private bathrooms and a gas fire or wood-burning stove.
The cost
How much does a riding holiday in Canada cost?
A riding holiday in Canada is a higher price for an Alberta pack trip, rising to a premium price for a week at a British Columbia lodge, before flights.
Alberta Rockies mountain ride
Price guide
Higher
Banff National Park lodge ride
Price guide
Higher
Yukon backcountry ride
Price guide
Higher
British Columbia log cabin ride
Price guide
Premium
A shorter Banff trip of two or three nights is a moderate price. Canadian taxes are added to the British Columbia lodge price.
Rides we can arrange
Which rides do we recommend in Canada?
We know horses, and we know the people who run these rides. Tell us how you ride and where you want to go, and we will put you with the right one.
Alberta Rockies mountain ride
A week in the Rockies near the Continental Divide, camping in canvas tents, on Quarter Horses, Appaloosas, Paints and draught crosses.
Banff National Park lodge ride
Walking rides between two backcountry lodges in Banff National Park, in groups of up to eight riders.
British Columbia log cabin ride
A log cabin lodge in British Columbia, with 4 to 6 hours a day in open country and no more than six riders.
Yukon backcountry ride
Nine nights in the Yukon, from a base camp of log cabins and out on the trail in two-person tents, in groups of up to five.
Common questions
Canada riding questions
Can beginners ride in the Canadian Rockies?
Yes, on the Banff lodge rides, which stay at a walk throughout and take riders of all abilities.
What is the weight limit for riding holidays in Canada?
Between 91kg and 104kg in riding clothes, depending on the trip. Banff has the highest limit and British Columbia the lowest.
What is a pack trip?
A pack trip is a ride of several days into the backcountry, camping in tents along the way, with the gear carried by pack horses.
Do you ride western in Canada?
Yes. Every ride listed here uses western saddles, ridden with the reins in one hand.
When is the riding season in Canada?
June to September in the mountains, with one British Columbia lodge open into October.
What is the minimum age for a riding holiday in Canada?
It runs from 9 at Banff and 10 in the Alberta Rockies to 16 at the British Columbia lodge.
Where to go next
Nearby, and next
Tell us how you ride
Tell us your level, your dates and the country you have in mind, and we will point you to the ride that fits.