Overview
Available languages
1 hour
Mobile ticket
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.
Additional Info
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.
What To Expect
The 1 hour Spray River Ride takes you across the tranquil Spray River in Banff. Take in the beautiful views of the Bow Falls and the surrounding Mountains.
Options
1 Hr. Spray River Ride
1pm Spray River Ride: 1 hour horseback riding tour departing at 1pm. Please arrive at 12:30pm at Banff Springs Corrals, Spray Ave (behind the tennis courts, next to the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel) Banff.
What‘s Included
Basic horseback riding instruction
Use of horse
Helmet (mandatory)
Lead and tail guides
Hotel pickup and drop-off
Food and drink
Gratuities
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
216 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Thank you!
Solara N,Jul 5, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00The guides are so friendly, they have so much patience. The horses are well behaved. I would highly recommend!! Worth every penny!!!! The horse I was paired with was Tucker, such a sweetheart, well mannered, So gentle, and a great listener.
Fun activity, right...
Philip S,Jul 4, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Fun activity, right amount of time for first time riders. The guides were informative. Crossing the river was exciting!
Spray Lakes - 1hr
668alishap,Jun 29, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
2.00Good Day, This is my second year joining in on the 1hour “Spray River Ride”. Last year I enjoyed every minute of the tour and could not wait to return! So much so that I returned with 5 of my family members (Group of 6), where I was instructed that I needed to pre-book the ride with an automatic gratuity of 10%. Upon arriving we had to pay an addition 60$ for parking, and where greeted staff who appeared to be overwhelmed by the day. I am not disputing the importance of the weight limit, and unfortunately one of the members of my group had to sit the ride out (about 15- 20 pounds). We were understanding, and one of the employees offered the members a dinner voucher worth about $153.00. We had to decline, because this would mean we would have to pay for dinner for the additional family members (an additional $765). When calling to discuss a potential voucher, because I had paid for an unused ride (and gratuity) we were quickly declined. I am very saddened by our second experience, with the overwhelmed staff and customer service. The next plan was to book the “Sundance Lodge Explore -2 Nights” but unfortunately, I no longer trust the integrity of the company towards customers. Thank you, Alisha Pratt
Do Not Trust This Company
bliangy,Jun 28, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
1.00Be warned about this company's predatory practices. We booked a 4:00 PM ride via GetYourGuide on a completely rainy day. Due to road detours, we arrived at the desk at 3:40 PM. The company policy requires checking in 30 minutes early, so we were technically 10 minutes late for check-in, but the 4:00 PM group was still standing right there on-site receiving their safety briefing. The agent at the stable told us that we could not join the group because we were 10 minutes “late”and she said she would "try" to put us on a later tour and told us to wait. The moment the 4:00 PM group left the yard and we lost our chance to join them, her story completely changed. She suddenly claimed the day was fully booked, but then stated she could put us on another tour if we paid DOUBLE the price of our original booking. They saw how badly we wanted to do the ride despite the pouring rain and tried to exploit us for more money. This was a deliberate stalling tactic. When I called their office to speak to a supervisor, she was incredibly unreasonable, refused to let me finish explaining our situation and flatly stated we would not get a refund under any circumstances. Missing a check-in window is one thing, but using it to stall customers and aggressively price-gouge them for double the rate is deceptive and unethical. Avoid Banff Trail Riders!
Horseback riding in Banff
452EmilyL,Jun 27, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a really good time - the guides were great. We crossed the river twice on horseback which was really cool! The surroundings are beautiful because it is Banff, but I was a little surprised at how much we were in the middle of town, with cars, houses, people, construction, etc in sight for the majority of the ride. I still would recommend going - it was really fun!
Wonderful experience through the forest and river with professional friendly guides.
Carolyn A,Jun 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Really enjoyed the whole experience with the horses, scenery, crossing the river and forest environment. It was Sophie and I apologise I don’t remember other lady who led the party. Very professional, helpful, friendly and we had a great time. Horses clearly well cared for and fully understood their quirky features. Loved it all and would highly recommend.
Awesome ride
Rachel B,Jun 19, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00This was such a fun ride, and easy enough for our kids, 12 and 8. Two River crossings, beautiful scenery, really fun!
Nice out door activity...
kim p,Jun 3, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Nice out door activity with good instructions on riding a horse. Good commentary about some local history.
Horse ride
fiftytreat,May 31, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This experience was brilliant. We had never been on a horse before but the girls who led/followed were attentive informative and friendly. The horses were beautiful, gentle, and knew exactly what was expected of them. Riding across the river was of course the highlight! Safety was ensured with hats provided. All round first class.
Interesting/enjoyable...
Diane P,May 31, 2026
- Review from Viator
5.00Interesting/enjoyable ride in forest and across 2 rivers. Suitable for those who do not ride and the staff will provide good instruction to keep you safe and ensure the welfare of the horses. Do turn up in good time - the half an hour before hand is essential for helmet fitting and instruction. A mounting block is used which helps get on and off the horse.
Related Experiences
Operated by Banff Trail Riders