T
A good time !
It was great , beautiful horses and scenery. The Staff was awesome and very friendly. Nice simple walk with the horses.
1 Hour Bow River Ride
+3 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 1 hour
- Price from
- $76 / person
- Location
- Banff, Canada
- Rating
- 4.3 / 5 · 507 reviews
- Languages
- EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 12
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Instant
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- Banff Trail Riders
- Meeting point
- The meeting point for the Bow River Ride is at Banff Trail Riders Stables, the big red stables located on Sundance Road in Banff.ALL GUESTS MUST CHECK IN 30 MIN PRIOR TO THEIR RIDE START TIME. LATE ARRIVALS WILL NOT BE ACCOMMODATED
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 ride past natural sulphur springs along the gentle Bow River and get a feel for what it was like for pioneers first settling in this once-wild area.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Every day
- Start times
- 10 times a day, 9:00 AM–5:30 PM
- Next available
- Wed, Oct 7
- Adult (ages 12+)
- $76
- Child (ages 8–11)
- $76
Prices change with the date; the lowest is shown.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 6.
Tour Options
What's included
Included
Basic horseback riding instruction
Use of horse
Helmet (mandatory)
Lead and tail guides
Not included
Gratuities
Food and drink
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.3
507 reviews
How it compares in Banff
- No. 13 by number of reviews among 347 tours in Banff
- Starting price $76 is close to the typical $78 for tours of similar length in Banff
Excurgo comparison of 347 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- 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.
- Children aged 17 years and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
- For safety purposes helmets are mandatory to be worn by all riders.
- 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.
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does 1 Hour Bow River Ride take?
1 Hour Bow River Ride lasts about 1 hour.
How much does 1 Hour Bow River Ride cost?
Prices start at $76 per person for this Banff experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does 1 Hour Bow River Ride run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs every day, with 10 departures a day between 9:00 AM and 5:30 PM.
How much does 1 Hour Bow River Ride cost for children?
Children aged 8–11 pay from $76, adults from $76.
Can I cancel 1 Hour Bow River Ride for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is The meeting point for the Bow River Ride is at Banff Trail Riders Stables, the big red stables located on Sundance Road in Banff. ALL GUESTS MUST CHECK IN 30 MIN PRIOR TO THEIR RIDE START TIME. LATE ARRIVALS WILL NOT BE ACCOMMODATED. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is 1 Hour Bow River Ride offered in?
The experience is available in EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 12 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
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. Children aged 17 years and under must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Yes, bookings are confirmed instantly.
Is 1 Hour Bow River Ride worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.3 out of 5 across 507 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by Banff Trail Riders.
Reviews(507)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
E
We had an amazing ride...
We had an amazing ride with Cecilia and Bree along the beautiful Bow River. We were all given very clear instructions on how to handle out horses which put our minds at ease. Our horses were calm and easily managed. Along the ride Cecilia pointed and spoke what we were seeing and many other details of the area it was both interesting and fun! At the end of the ride, they took a photo of my husband and I as a memento of our trip! Highly recommend!
D
Highly recommend riding with this stable
It was the perfect ride with the nicest staff.
B
Spectacular experience
Hands down one of the best experiences. This was my first time seeing the mountains and I couldn’t think of a more magical way to experience it. Highly suggest this
7
Horses are fine, circumstances for them not very good…
Disappointed , first I was at the wrong location. With taxi to the other location, were the horses were in a very muddy paddock all day and when they come out they all have to pee. Never again. Not how we threat our horses in our country. The ride goes along paths with big stones. And yes we went through the river that was nice but all the rest was not.
A
Amazing experience
Was good, really enjoyed. Sophie our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. Good for someone with no horse riding ability. Convenient lockers for bags.
D
Amazing
Amazing experience, well organised. Great safety instructions and riding tips. Excellent guides and very friendly with great info. The horses, Roy was awesome and Smoothie was a character.
M
Lovely Trek
Nice experience to see scenery from a different perspective but missed out on the guides commentary as too far back to hear her shouting. Be better if group split and back guide shared details too.
G
This was an amazing...
This was an amazing experience. Our guides helped us feel comfortable with our horses and the ride was so fun. We learned a bit about the area and even saw some Elk. Highly recommend.
F
Meh 😕
An average experience for me, felt sorry for the horses just standing in a mucky cramped pen. I don't remember information for wearing wellies on my feet, but I advise wearing them as you have to get inside a dirty pen to mount the horse. The trail was slow and to be honest boring - with someone constantly yelling, telling you to stay in line. Felt very restrictive, but I do understand the risks involved and the utter stupidity of some tourists - so I can't really mark them down on being overly cautious. For me it would have been better in a large open space to roam and happier looking horses
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from$76
4.3(507) Free cancellation