3-Day Mystic Valley Backcountry Tent Trip by Horseback

3-Day Mystic Valley Backcountry Tent Trip by Horseback

It's a rare experience these days to be able to completely disconnect from all of the distractions of life and get lost in the backcountry. You’ve never camped in a place like this before.
On this trip, you’ll venture deep into the secluded Banff backcountry and through the wilderness on horseback - walking in the steps of the First Nations and the founders of Banff National Park. At the end of a full day of riding and exploring, you’ll bed down in well-equipped tents with plenty of rustic Old West charm. Your camp will be fully catered and you’ll dine in the big kitchen tent on delicious, hearty meals. At night, you’ll gather around the glow of the campfire with your new friends and share songs and stories before falling asleep listening to the sounds of the forest from your classic canvas wall tent – similar to those used by the trail riders of Banff’s past.
Please note that this trip departs on Wednesdays from late June to early September.

Itinerary

Day 1: Backcountry Ride to Mystic Valley Campsite

Stop At: Banff National Park, Alberta Canada
The adventure begins at Warner Stables at 8:30am (please do not arrive any earlier than 8:30am). There’s free parking at the stables and it’s fine to leave your vehicle for the duration of the tour. We’ll hand out the slickers and saddle bags and you will leave all of your gear with our guides. Your sleeping bag and pillow should be packed in a soft sided bag (the traditional “duffel” style of cowboy packing).

A separate string of mules will deliver your belongings to the camp for you so that you can ride unencumbered. When you arrive, your “duffel” will be waiting for you so that you can grab it and settle into your tent.

Once you’re all checked in, we will take you by van to the very fringe of the front country, the trailhead corral at Mount Norquay to meet your friendly guide and the trusty horse we’ve specially chosen for you. Then you’ll mount up for the ride to Mystic Valley Camp where you will spend the night. Along the way there will be a stop for lunch along 40 Mile Creek. It’s only day one and you’re already more deeply immersed in the backcountry than most Banff visitors will ever get.

One of the aspects of these tours that guests often rave about is the connection they forge with their hooved companions. At the end of the trip, you’ll have a new four legged best friend. You’ll learn to “trust your horse” (a Banff Trail Rider’s catchphrase) as these sure-footed beasts carry you safely down even the most difficult backcountry trails.

Life at camp is simple, yet comfortable. We will cook up a feast of hearty, homemade cowboy cuisine and gather around in the main kitchen tent, which acts as the communal hub of the camp. In the evening, we will gather around a crackling fire to watch the stars and share stories. Then, it’s time to curl up in your sleeping bag in your canvas tent with cot, heater and thermarest and get some sleep – the adventure has only just begun.
Duration: 15 hours

Meals included:
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Mystic Valley Campsite, equipped with canvas tents on raised platforms, outhouses, shower and a wash stand.

Day 2: Day Ride from Mystic Valley Campsite

Stop At: Banff National Park, Alberta Canada
After a hearty ranch style breakfast, mount up for a stunning day ride to Mystic Pass or Mystic Lake. You will spend another full day of the trail and a cowboy trail lunch will be served along the way at one of these spectacular vistas, so you can sit and enjoy while admiring the mountain views.

There’s no feeling quite like being deep in the Canadian wilderness like this. No matter which direction you headed in, you could wander for miles in pristine, unspoiled wilderness without seeing another building, person or trace of human civilisation. It gives you a sense of the immense scale and power of nature in the Rocky Mountains.

After a full day of exploring, you’ll arrive back at Mystic Valley Camp to settle back into your comfortable, familiar heated tent for the night – after another tasty camp dinner.
Duration: 1 day

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
• Dinner
Accommodation included: Overnight at Mystic Valley Campsite, equipped with canvas tents on raised platforms, outhouses, shower and a wash stand.

Day 3: Return to Banff

Stop At: Banff National Park, Alberta Canada
Arise early and say goodbye to your pristine backcountry surroundings – it’s time to head back into Banff and rejoin civilisation. Most of our guests are reluctant to leave the isolated, tranquil beauty of this off-the-beaten-track spot.

Unfortunately, every adventure has to come to an end. We’ll top off this trip with a leisurely 9 mile ride along 40 Mile Creek back to the Mt Norquay Corral, stopping for lunch along the way.

It’s time to say goodbye to your guide, your new friends and your horse. (Many guests say that the bond they formed with these gentle animal companions was something they will never forget!)

You’ll have plenty of wild Banff backcountry stories to tell and you will have earned the bragging rights to say that you spent 3 days deep in the Canadian Rockies. The shuttle will be waiting to take you back to Warner Stables for approximately 5pm, where you’ll say goodbye to the new friends with whom you shared this unforgettable adventure into the wild.
Duration: 17 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
• Lunch
No accommodation included on this day.

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