It’s time for the Calgary Stampede. While this is a great time for our neighbours in the city to cowboy up this summer, there are ways to connect to the western lifestyle here in the Canadian Rockies. So take in The Greatest Outdoor Show on Earth and then head to the mountains to live out your own cowboy dreams. It’s all waiting for you right here in the Canadian Rockies.

Ride the Trails

Banff Trail Riders has been showing folks around the mountains since 1962. With a large herd of horses, you’re sure to find one suited to your confidence and abilities. Choose from 15 unique trips, including easy sightseeing rides and multi-day backcountry adventures. Take a carriage ride in town or a wagon ride to a Cowboy Cookout and enjoy western hospitality, a great meal, and an evening you’ll never forget!

Image provided by Banff Trail Riders

Get the Look: The Trail Rider has everything you need to look the part. More than just a fashion statement, proper attire will help you feel comfortable in the saddle.

Mountain Traditions

The Brewster family has been sharing the majesty of the mountains for 125 years. Saddle up in stunning Lake Louise with Brewster Adventures and discover the untapped beauty on a summer trail ride. Visit natural attractions – such as Lake Louise, Lake Agnes Tea House, and Plain of Six Glaciers – in style on the back of a horse. Or, take a custom backcountry adventure in the eastern slopes of the Canadian Rockies to some unique locations not typically visited by tourists. It’s an exciting experience that blends mountain tradition with cowboy ways in an extraordinary vacation.

Image provided by Brewster Adventures

Personal Connections

For trips organized on a much smaller scale, allowing for personalized interaction, try a trail ride with Timberline Tours. From rides in Lake Louise to personalized backcountry pack trips, don’t let this outfitter slip your radar. The folks at Timberline Tours trace their roots all the way back to Bill Peyto, one of the original mountain guides and park wardens in Banff National Park! With a history of cowboy spirit and plenty of western hospitality, a trail ride with this outfitter will have you connecting with your rural roots in no time.

Image provided by Timberline Tours

Giddy Up

Located halfway between Banff and Calgary, Cowley’s Rafter 6 Ranch has a horseback tour that combines the jaw-dropping beauty of the mountains with the wide-open spirit of the plains. Their wide variety of horseback adventures include gentle trails, pony rides, and all-day rides to really get in the cowboy spirit. They also offer intermediate and advanced rides for those who really want to giddy up! With rustic on-site camping available, you’ll never want to leave this piece of paradise.

So don't leave your cowboy spirit in the city! Get out to the mountains and get ready for the ride of a lifetime. After all, this is where cowboy dreams come true!

Kate Barker