Banff National Park of Canada

Horse Users' Guide

We invite you to explore the timeless trails of Banff National Park by horseback. Horses have been used here for centuries, first by aboriginal peoples for trade and hunting and then extensively by Europeans as they explored routes through the mountains and then settled in the Banff area. Banff National Park is part of a World Heritage Site and is one of the greatest areas in the world to explore and protect. Please practice low impact travel to ensure that the wilderness experience you enjoy remains intact for the generations that follow.

This guide will assist you in planning your horse trip in Banff National Park.

• Fees and Permits
• Campsites and Grazing Areas
• Map of Campsites and Grazing Areas
• Areas Closed to Horse Travel
• Hazards and Wildlife
• Seasonal and Emergency Closures
• Trip Planning Checklist
• Trailhead Horse Facilities
• Guided Trips
• Staging Areas
• Parks Regulations
• Minimize Your Impact
• Ya-Ha-Tinda Ranch

How to Reserve Your Trip

Private horse groups may reserve trips up to three months in advance on a first come, first-served basis by contacting the Banff Warden Office at 403.762.1470. There is a fee for making a reservation. Space will be confirmed and a permit issued upon receipt of payment by cash, cheque or credit card (Visa or MasterCard). Permits may be mailed or faxed directly to your home or picked up at the Banff Warden Office. If you book and pick up your permit on the same travel day, you will not be charged the reservation fee. However, be aware that, without a reservation, your trip may not be available as planned.

The following information is required for your permit:

• Name, address, postal code and telephone number
• Number of horses and number of people
• Dates entering and leaving Banff National Park
• Route and how many days you wish to stay at each grazing site
• Vehicle description, licence plate number and location parked

Length Of Stay

Quotas on commercial and private horse use have been established to prevent overuse and protect wilderness areas. Opening dates of grazing areas are subject to seasonal conditions and may vary throughout the Park from June 15 to August 1st.

The maximum length of stay at any grazing site is three consecutive nights, with the exception of the Siffleur River special preservation area, where only one night's stay is permitted.

The maximum group size is ten people. Two animals per person are allowed as a maximum, however we encourage you to take fewer pack animals if possible.

Trip Cancellations

Please inform the Banff Warden Office of trip cancellations. This will enable another group to use the area. Trip cancellations received more than 7 days in advance will receive a full refund, minus the reservation fee.

Fees

A current fee schedule for:

• Reservation fee
• Grazing fees
• Wilderness Pass (which can be purchased on a daily or annual basis)

Permits

Before going on an overnight horse trip in the park, you must purchase a Wilderness Pass and a Grazing Permit . Permits are available from the:

All park users are also required to purchase a Park Pass which now replaces the former Park Vehicle Permit. The Pass can be purchased at the Park Gates or Park Visitor Centres. You can order these by phone using your Visa or Mastercard by calling the Calgary Service Centre at 1.403.292.4401 between 8 - 4 pm, Monday - Friday.

Areas Closed to Horse Travel

Horse travel is permitted throughout most of the park. There are a few trails and areas where horse use is prohibited to reduce impact on delicate resources and specially constructed walking trails:

• The Healy Pass trails from Healy Pass, Simpson Pass junctions to the Healy Pass, Pharaoh Creek trail junction
• The Sunshine Creek watershed including Sunshine Village Ski Area
• The upper watershed of Howard Douglas Creek above 7000 feet elevation from Brewster Rock to Citadel Pass

In addition, the following trails are NOT recommended for horse use:

• Lake Louise shoreline trail
• Bow Summit and Peyto viewpoint self guiding trail
• High passes along the Continental Divide before August 1st due to wet and fragile trails
• Fenland Trail
• Lake Minnewanka shoreline due to mountain bike traffic

Hazards

• Wildlife Hazards
• Bears and People: A Guide to Safety & Conservation on the Trail
• Current Conditions

Banff National Park is varied in terrain and conditions. High mountain passes and river crossings may be impassable in late spring or early summer. You may inquire about trail conditions at the Banff Warden Office.

The following rivers may be very high in the spring:

• Clearwater River
• Pipestone River
• Mistaya Rive
• Howse River
• Red Deer River

Seasonal and Emergency Closures

Seasonal and emergency trail closures and warnings may be implemented within Banff National Park for management of resources, prescribed burns, wildlife or public safety. Please inquire at the Park Information Centres or Banff Warden Office prior to your trip.

Backcountry Wardens

National Park Wardens conduct backcountry patrols throughout the year. They are there to assist you in case of emergency, provide information, and ensure that the park's natural and cultural resources are protected. Any Park Warden that you encounter will ask to see your Grazing Permit, Wilderness Pass and Fishing License.

Since their duties require them to travel long distances, you should not count on being able to find a Park Warden in case of emergency. Prepare to be self-reliant

Banff Backcountry Visitors Guide

Be sure to check the Banff Backcountry Visitors' Guide for other general information on backcountry use. This brochure identifies where other use is permitted. Be aware that designated campsites are multi-use campsites, and as such, you will be sharing facilities with hikers and mountain bikers.

Trip Planning Checklist

• Familiarize yourself with park facilities and National Park regulations.
• Before your trip, contact the Banff Warden Office or one of the Park Visitor Centres for current trail information and closures.
• Check to make sure that your chosen trail is in fact open to horse use.
• For overnight trips, Grazing Permits and Wilderness Passes are required. Contact the Warden Office at 1.403.762.1470
• Private horse groups can reserve a trip up to three months in advance on a first-come, first-served basis.
• Ensure that your horses are prepared for encounters with backpackers, cyclists, river crossings and are trained for hobbles.
• Obtain a 1:50,000 topographic map of the area.
• For any day or overnight use of the park trails obtain a Park Pass at Park entrance points, Information Centres or at 1.403.292.4401

Emergencies

For all emergencies (24 hours), call 911 immediately. If you are in the backcountry, let the 911 dispatcher know that you require Banff park warden assistance. Please note that cell phones do not work from many locations in the backcountry. Satellite phones are the most reliable means of communication.

(*If you are using a satellite phone, 911 may not be reliable in the backcountry. Instead, call 1.403.762.4506 which will connect you directly to the Banff Warden Office.)

You are responsible for your animals in the backcountry. If your horse dies in the backcountry, you must contact the Park Warden in the field or the Banff warden Office as soon as possible. Animals that die along or near trails and campsites must be removed as soon as possible to prevent conflicts with wildlife. Removal may involve helicopter use. Costs incurred for the removal of dead stock will be the responsibility of the permittee.

Wildlife

Report all bear and cougar sightings and encounters to either a Park Warden or the Warden Office as soon as possible. Information about bears and other wildlife in the park is found in the publication 'Keep the Wild in Wildlife' available at Information Centres and Warden Offices.

Trailhead Horse Facilities

Trailheads with loading ramps are:

• Sunset Pass
• Helen Creek
• Mt Shark
• Mosquito Creek
• Pipestone River
• Johnston Creek
• Redearth Creek
• Healy Creek
• Spray River
• Norquay
• Upper Bankhead

Guided Horse Trips

If you want to go riding in Banff National Park, but do not own a horse or have access to one, contact one of the following commercial horse operators in the park. They offer a range of guided trips in the park from one hour, one day or multi-day.

Staging Areas

If you wish to hold your horses in the park overnight at the start or end of a backcountry trip or if you are staying in the frontcountry area of the park, you may use one of the park horse staging areas with prior consent.

Corrals can be found at these sites:

• Pipestone River Trailhead off Slate Road in Lake Louise
• Mosquito Creek opposite trailhead, behind Youth Hostel
• Highway 11 north side, 2 km east of Saskatchewan Crossing Resort . Contact the Saskatchewan Crossing Resort for use at 1.403.761-7000
• Nigel Creek Trailhead (Camp Parker). Call the Jasper Warden Office for access to this facility and trips from here into Jasper. 1.780.852.6167.

Park Regulations

Please be aware of the following regulations:

• The carrying and /or use of chainsaws is restricted to persons who have written permission from the Superintendent.
• The use of horse drawn vehicles is prohibited in the backcountry of Banff National Park.
• The carrying or transport of firearms is prohibited in the backcountry of Banff National Park.
• Dogs must be kept on a leash at all times. For this reason we recommend that you leave your dog at home.
• The use of Warden Service facilities such as backcountry cabins, corrals and pastures is not permitted.
• The use of llamas is prohibited.
• A National Park Fishing Licence is required when fishing in all National Parks. Read the Fishing Regulations that come with the license as seasonal closures vary. All tributaries and associated lakes in the Clearwater and Siffleur River systems, excluding Isabella Lake, are closed to fishing.

Managing Human Impact

The last two decades have seen a dramatic shift in the way people use Banff National Park's backcountry. Day use on park trails is in some cases 15 times greater than overnight use. Areas once considered remote have seen increased use due to development adjacent to the park, new technology such as mountain bicycles, equipment improvements and rising numbers of park visitors.

Research shows that wildlife movement and habitat use is being restricted by the presence of people. Increased use may also be eroding visitors' wilderness experiences. In order to maintain a healthy ecosystem and quality backcountry experiences, Parks Canada is initiating a human use management strategy that may include new restrictions on access. Ongoing social and wildlife research will hopefully allow us to better manage the backcountry in the future, for the benefit of the park's wildlife and visitors. Changes will be phased in over the coming years, so please check for these before beginning your trip.

Minimize Your Impact

• Avoid grazing on wet and fragile areas.
• Camp at least 70 metres away from streams and lake shores.
• Once on the trail, keep all stock in single file. Multiple trails (trail braiding) are prevented when horses are kept on one trail. Keep horses on the trail and avoid skirting around puddles or obstacles which leads to trail deterioration, widening, loss of plant cover and increased soil erosion.
• Deadfall that is blocking the trail should be removed with an axe or a swede saw so that new trails are not created.
• At rest stops, keep horses well off the trail away from water sources and scatter all manure left behind.
• Hobbles are preferred to tying up horses overnight.
• Do not tie to trees. If you must tie overnight, stretch a rope between two trees (high line). Fix tie ropes on a highline to prevent damage to tree roots from pawing and trampling.Clean up and scatter manure.
• Travel light. Advances in lightweight equipment make it easier on you, your horses and the environment, and fewer horses may be required to pack your gear.
• Travel with the least number of horses possible.
• Feed bags ensure less spillage of feed and less attractant for bears.
• Keep a clean camp and pack out all garbage, unused food, and horse feed. A low impact camp leaves no indication that it has been used at all.
• At random campsites be sure to disperse evidence of your fire pit.
• DO NOT nail items to trees or build structures.
• We recommend you do not take stallions on your trip, since you will be meeting other horse parties on the trail.
• Hang your food at least four metres above the ground and two metres from each tree trunk to reduce attractiveness to bears.(Bring two 20 M lengths of rope with you.) Cook and sleep in separate areas.
• As a courtesy to other users (hikers, bikers), do not bring horses into designated campgrounds. This will keep the campground free of manure. Camp in perimeter sites to prevent horses passing through campgrounds.
• Don’t use hay as supplemental horse feed – it could introduce non-native plants into the park. Instead, use processed feeds such as cubes and pellets.

For more information contact:

Banff Visitor Centre
224 Banff Avenue
Box 900
Banff, Alberta
T1L 1K2
Phone 1.403.762.1550

Lake Louise Visitor Centre
Box 213
Samson Mall
Lake Louise, Alberta
T0L 1E0
Phone 1.403.522.3833

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