wilderness adventures
Wilderness Adventures are our most thorough horseback riding adventures into the Canadian Rockies, where you will reach elevations above 7000 feet and enjoy magnificent views in every direction.
This pack trip will have you riding up to the West Range Cabins on your first day to spend the evening in our backcountry cabin accommodations. The next day you will be horseback riding the high country on Paradise Ridge. We will pack up the next morning and head for our back country tent camp at Moose Horn Lake nestled beneath the stunning Canadian Rocky Mountains. You will be horseback riding the high mountain passes and view spectacular sights on Jasper National Parks north boundary.
West Range Cabins have three comfortable bunkhouse style sleeping cabins with a central dining lodge, where all home cooked meals are enjoyed together. These cabins are equipped with propane lights, heaters and there is a shower house for guests to enjoy a hot shower. The tent camp at Moose Horn Lake consists of large, dry sleeping tents, as well as a cook tent with a wood-burning stove. Horseback Adventures provides the horses for both packing and riding. Tom personally guides every trip and, along with our staff of guides, wranglers and cook, we strive to make your horseback adventure a pleasant, fun and enjoyable vacation experience.
The Wilderness Adventure is a horseback vacation for those who love the adventure of the outdoors and want the best of both worlds with both cabin and tent accommodations.
6 Day Trip Details
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July 19-24/2021
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July 24-29/2021
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Aug.3-8/2021
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*See Itinerary Below
We require a non-refundable deposit of 1/2 of the total cost per person to secure your space on any trip. Final payment is due 3 weeks prior to trip date.
6 day - wilderness adventure itinerary
Day 1:
Arrive at the staging area at Rock Lake 10am. Pack all our gear on the horses, we then get you mounted on your horses. Leave approx. 11:30am and ride the North Fork of the Wildhay River where we will stop for lunch. Continuing up the Wildhay, crossing Seep Creek to camp on the banks of Carson Creek. You will have time to get your tent set up and your belongings arranged prior to supper at 6pm. Enjoy an evening campfire.
Day 2:
Breakfast at 8:30am. On the horses around 9:30am. Heading up the Wildhay turning on to Eagles Nest Creek and up to the summit of Eagles Nest Pass. Views into the Rock Creek Valley and Cathedral Peak. Descend back down to camp approx. 5pm. Dinner at 6pm.
Day 3:
We ride up the Wildhay again but turn and go up a seldom used trail climbing to the summit of a ridge off the back of Cathedral Peak. Views up and down the Wildhay all the way to the headwaters. We ride down the back side of the ridge to a high mountain lake to enjoy our lunch. A good place to use your binoculars looking for Big Horn Sheep and Mountain Goats.
Day 4:
Today we ride up Carson Creek valley to the steep high pass and the headwaters of Carson Creek and Moon Creek. High above timber line on the summit gives you amazing views and possible wildlife sightings. We will have lunch on top. This is a great place to take a short hike up the ridge to a higher peak, with even more amazing views.
Day 5:
Today we ride through some Willmore History on Thorou Creek. In the 1930’s the Blue Diamond Coal Company were exploring for coal leaving a log cabin and steam engine that was pulled in with horses. We will explore the ruins as we ride up the summit of Thorou and Pope Creeks. Great place for lunch, beautiful views, lots of opportunity for a short hike in this mountain paradise.
Day 6:
After breakfast we take our camp down and load everything on the pack horses for the return trip down the Wildhay River. We should arrive back at Rock Lake about 3pm. You have seen a very small part of Willmore Wilderness Park, which is a large mountain park. Thank you for joining us and we hope to take you to a different area next year.
- It will take you about 1.5 hours to drive from Hinton to the Rock Lake staging area.
- We will have a tarp over the campfire for eating and relaxing.
- This trip will have tents only in the backcountry. There will be 2 people per tent available for sleeping.
- You will be required to bring your sleeping bag and air or foam mattress for this Willmore trip.
- Your duffle bag for personal belongings including sleeping bag and pad should not exceed 30 pounds.
We require a non-refundable deposit of 1/2 of the total cost per person to secure your space on any trip. Final payment is due 3 weeks prior to trip date.
8 day - wilderness adventure itinerary
Day 1:
After arriving at the ranch in Brule around 9 AM, introductions are made, necessary paper work is completed, and it is time to go. We pack up all the gear and food on the pack horses, you are set up on your saddle horse and we head north to West Range Cabins. We follow the Athabasca valley to Solomon Creek, then up Solomon Creek to the cabins. Arriving approx. 4:30 PM. You can move into your cabin, before dinner at 6 PM.
Day 2:
We ride to the headwaters of the south fork of Solomon Creek, have our lunch viewing the waterfalls that cascade high on a rock outcropping. Return to the cabins at approx. 4 PM.
Day 3:
We pack up all of the gear and head out following the main Solomon creek, then over the pass (elevation is approx. 6500 feet) on a small drainage that leads us to the tent camp and south fork of the Wild Hay River. Approx. 8 hours
Day 4 & 5:
We have several options for riding including a ride to the upper end of Moosehorn Lakes on Jasper’s north boundary. Up to the headwaters of Solomon Creek, or through the Keyhole to Park Basin, Laura and Grindstone Passes. All of these trips take you above timberline and Jasper’s north boundary.
Day 6:
Pack our gear and say goodbye to the Moosehorn tent camp and begin our ascent to the top of the pass. Follow the rugged trail back down to Solomon creek and return to the cabins, arriving at approx. 5 PM.
Day 7:
After breakfast we start our ride to the top of Paradise Ridge. In 2 hours we gain 1200 vertical feet, reaching the ridge line and the fantastic views. We ride the ridge line for 5 km, the views changing along the way. Lunch on top gives you a dining room with a view. It’s very steep on the way down so we must dismount and lead our horses a short distance. Return to the cabins at approx. 4 PM.
Day 8:
After breakfast we pack everything up and begin our ride back to civilization. We break for lunch on the way and arrive back at the ranch in Brule approx. 3 PM. Say goodbye to new friends and your trusty horse, and we hope to see you again on another Horseback Adventure.