1 Hour Spray River Ride
Description
Banff National Park is Canada’s oldest and most celebrated national park - and one worth getting out of the car and onto a trail for. Go back to a simpler time with a 1-hour horseback ride and experience the park at a relaxed pace. Led by your cowboy guide, saddle up and cross through the tranquil Spray River, and get a feel for what it was like for pioneers first settling in this once-wild area.
Tour Options
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- All riders must arrive 30 minutes prior to their ride time.
- For our foreign visitors we require an understanding of basic English for our horseback rides, so that you can understand simple instructions from our guides.
- All riders must be under a maximum of 230lbs. Banff Trail Riders is committed to the health of our horses and the safety of our guests, which means that the maximum weight requirements are strictly enforced. As part of the check-in process, guests may be required to confirm their current weight on a scale. In the event that this requirement is not met, the booking will be forfeited without a refund.
- Guests participating in horseback riding will need to be 8 years or over and children aged 17 years and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Please note that children will not be paired with an adult – they must ride their own horse. Minimum age is strictly enforced and as part of the check-in process, guests may be required to provide proof of the child’s age. In the event that this requirement is not met, the booking will be forfeited without a refund.
- For safety purposes helmets are mandatory to be worn by all riders.
- Riders must wear long pants and sturdy closed toed shoes enclosed to the ankle - no open toe shoes or shoes with big heels.
- Adults must sign a waiver for all activities, and a waiver must also be completed by the parent or legal guardian of any person under the age of 18 (documentation may be required to confirm the signatory’s authority).
- Riders must be physically capable of controlling the horse during the ride without assistance and for the health and safety of all riders we regrettably cannot accommodate any disabilities or special needs riders. We recognize that disabled riding is a unique and respected skill set that we at the barns do not have the appropriate equipment or skills to safely execute.
Reviews(236)
Wonderful experience, also for non-riders. I made this walk with my 2 children and husband, who are not seasoned riders. The horses were super well trained, the walk itself was very varied and Stacey's information was interesting. I would definitely recommend this.
Such an amazing experience horseback riding in Banff! One of the things that stood out to me immediately was that this is a women-led operation, which I found so empowering and inspiring. You can really tell how much passion and care goes into what they do. It was also very clear that the horses are genuinely well cared for. I especially loved learning about their rescue horses and the fact that they continue to care for a retired herd. It made me feel really good about choosing to ride with a company that clearly prioritizes the well-being of their animals. The staff were incredible as well. One of the kids in our group became really scared and overwhelmed during the ride, and I was so impressed by how calmly and professionally the guides handled the situation. They were patient, reassuring, and made sure everyone felt safe without taking away from the experience for the rest of the group. I also want to recognize the person working at the front desk, although unfortunately I didn’t catch their name! They were extremely knowledgeable and so patient answering questions—not only from clients but even from people who were just passing by and curious about the rides. As for the actual excursion, it was SO much fun. We passed by two rivers and had absolutely beautiful views throughout the ride. It’s definitely important to listen to your guides and follow their instructions, but overall I found the ride relatively easy and really enjoyable. Beautiful scenery, wonderful horses, knowledgeable staff, and an organization you can tell genuinely cares about its animals. Such a memorable way to experience Banff, and I would absolutely recommend it! 🐴🏔️
Quarry handled well around the corners but struggled a little in the deeper waters of Bow River. She made up for it by liking neck scratches. 7.5/5 stars. Latte was very spunky, challenged her rider, and was full of energy. My daughter loved her though so 9/10 stars. The lovely Kiwi guide (sorry I forgot her name) would make her mom and dad proud. She was very informative and helped fill in the information that we couldn’t hear in the back of the pack. 10/5 stars.
This was AMAZING! This was such a fun experience and a great way to see the Spray and Bow river on horseback. The guides are friendly and knowledgeable. All the horses are very gentle and easy to ride! Definitely would recommend to anyone!
It was a great experience! The people who worked there were very nice and professional and took the time to explain everything clearly. They also told a lot during the ride. Horses were sweet and looked groomed. The trail was also doable with some younger children. Definitely recommended!
I got there before 2:50 pm, I was ignored and nobody offer to help or acknowledge me, the attendant then returned and was rude !
This was probably the highlight of our trip to Banff! It was my first time riding a horse, so I was a little nervous at first, but I ended up having the best experience. I was paired with Raptor, and my fiancé rode Loretto. They were both incredibly sweet, gentle, and well-behaved horses. The guides made us feel comfortable and safe the entire time, and the scenery was absolutely breathtaking. We enjoyed every second of the ride and were genuinely sad when it was over. If we had more time, we would absolutely do it again. Highly recommend this experience to anyone visiting Banff!
Experience started out great. Loved crossing the streams, but it ended terribly. We were almost back to the corral when my husband’s saddle slipped off to the side and he landed hard on the ground. He unfortunately broke 5 ribs. He was able to walk back to the hotel but a terrible end to our trip. I have ridden and owned horses all my life and I know things can happen. I’m sure they were aware of saddle slipping issues with this horse and saddle combination as they had a breast plate and crupper on the saddle and it still slipped. They need to further address the issue with possibly a non slip pad or a different saddle. It is their job to pursue every avenue to make things as safe as possible. There are also huge rocks on the trail that the horses have to pick their way around. They need to do trail maintenance. Thank goodness my husband didn’t land on one of those. He could have broken his back. And of course, we signed the release so they are not accountable for anything. Just buyer beware and ride safe.
I have traveled all over the world and never left a negative review, but I feel obligated to warn others about my experience. I arrived approximately 45 minutes early for my horseback riding tour near Banff. The GPS directions provided led me to a residential neighborhood rather than the actual meeting location. As soon as I realized something was wrong, I immediately messaged the tour contact through Viator. Unfortunately, no one answered or responded. I then spoke to the number for support several times but the only details they knew were to get help from the hotel they operate behind but are not affiliated with. By the time I was finally able to locate the stable, after running around for 45 minutes, I was too late for the tour. Despite arriving early and making every reasonable effort to contact the operator, I was told I had “missed” the tour and was not offered any refund or accommodation. What disappointed me most wasn’t just missing the experience—it was the complete lack of customer support and accountability. If the meeting instructions or GPS location had been accurate, or if someone in support had responded to me in a reasonable time, this situation could have been avoided entirely. I’ve used Viator for years and have recommended it to friends and family, and never had an issue like this, which makes this experience even more disappointing. I would strongly encourage anyone considering booking to read through all of the 1 star reviews and think carefully before supporting a company like this. I lost $180 dollars, but that’s nothing compared to a lot of other 1 star reviews. I hope this review helps someone else avoid the same frustrating and expensive mistake I made.
Overall, it was a good experience and we really enjoyed the horseback ride. However, it would have been nice to have an area where the horses could move more freely rather than mainly following a set route. Some of the horses also seemed a little tired. I also noticed that some of the helmets still had hair inside, so it would be great if they could be cleaned more thoroughly between guests. Finally, the group was a bit large, which made the experience feel slightly less personal. Overall, we enjoyed the experience, but there are a few areas that could be improved.It was good experience as it was my first time , but I don’t think I’ll be back again
