Indigenous / Caving / Dog Sled Experiences

On this page:

Indigenous Adventures, Skills & Crafts

Bloomin' Inn Bed and Breakfast

Come with us on a journey to explore a world of Indigenous traditions and natural wonders in the Rocky Mountains. Immerse yourself in the clean mountain air, and the sensational panoramas that unfold before you on our guided walks and hiking trips. You may find yourself hiking in unspoiled mountainous terrain, trekking through an intricate maze of canyons, delving into the secret passages of a beautifully carved cave, or backpacking over a mountain pass; but above all ... you will find yourself removed from the pressure and demands of everyday life!

Whether your choice is to walk or hike in the provincial or national parks; we're ready to help make yours a trip to remember. Your guides will educate you about the animals in this area, allowing you to feel comfortable and better able to focus on enjoying yourself. Be prepared to spend quality time with us, we don't believe that there is any need to hurry; we would rather focus on your experience.

Please keep in mind that our half-day adventures are truly a half day. We develop our programs for those who desire a quality trip, and therefore you should be prepared to spend at least four hours with your guide when joining a half-day trip.

Half-Day Hikes:

$175.00/person + 5% GST - Includes snack & drinks. (Based On Availability)

Full-Day Hikes:

$299.00/person + 5% GST - Snack & drink included, lunch is available for purchase on request

Should you wish to engage us for an exclusive trip, for yourself or for a small group of family or friends, we would be delighted to lend our expertise to your experience. You may select from our existing hiking trips or you may want to create your own itinerary; either way, we will be pleased to assist you with our expert guiding services.

Half-Day Private Hikes:

$900.00/person + 5% GST for the first four people and $150.00/person + 5% GST for each addition person; up to 8 people.

Full-Day Private Hikes:

$1100.00/person + 5% GST for the first four people and $275.00/person + 5% for each addition person; up to 8 people.

Indigenous Adventures, Skills and Crafts Menus

Select a specific activity from the following menus, or mix and match options to create your own unique adventure. For example, you may opt for one or two from an Adventure Menu mixed together with items chosen from the Bush Craft menu.

Your individual combination of activities can be presented as a half-day, full-day or multi-day package. Please keep in mind that the less time you have available, the more limited we will be in what we can offer, although we will always work with you to create an itinerary that best accommodates your person interests and available time.

Imagine a getaway where you can learn the hands-on skills our Native forefathers - fire lighting, shelter-building, crafting and rope making - while learning about the culture and gaining a deeper understanding of the Indigenous people. And to heighten the experience, you spend the night sleeping in an old-fashioned trapper's tent surrounded by the whispering trees and soaring peaks of the Rocky Mountains.

TRADITIONAL NATIVE LIVING SKILLS (Bushcraft)

Program Prices are Per Person and do not include GST

Fire Lighting

Bush Crafts

Learn both traditional and modern methods of fire lighting for different fire types. And, the best way to build a fire to keep you warm. It's not what you think!

  1. Half-Day: $175.00/person plus 5% GST (Minimum 4 participants)
  2. Full-Day: $299.00/person plus 5% GST (Minimum 4 participants)

Shelter

Shelter In both summer and winter (winter survival) we use shelter construction techniques employing trees and tarps. In winter we also use various snow shelters.

  1. Half-Day: $175.00/person plus 5% GST (Minimum 4 participants)
  2. Full-Day: $299.00/person plus 5% GST (Minimum 4 participants)

Medicines

The plants in this area are plentiful and each one is unique in its ability to provide us with food and medicine. Come share some of the secrets that your guide learned from a Native Medicine Woman.

  1. Half-Day: $175.00/person plus 5% GST (Minimum 4 participants)
  2. Full-Day: $299.00/person plus 5% GST (Minimum 4 participants)

Signaling

How to attract attention when you really need it! As a small person in a big forest, if you signal an airplane, how will you know if they have seen you? Well show you, but bring a note book, theres a lot to show!

  1. Half-Day: $175.00/person plus 5% GST (Minimum 4 participants)
  2. Full-Day: $299.00/person plus 5% GST (Minimum 4 participants)

Rope Making

Need string or a rope but don't have it? We'll show you how to make it, and make it strong! These ropes and strings can have many uses and the technology is right in your hands!

  1. Half-Day: $175.00/person plus 5% GST (Minimum 4 participants)
  2. Full-Day: $299.00/person plus 5% GST (Minimum 4 participants)

Tool Making

An amazing array of tools and their uses. From using a knife to cut wood, to making your own bush saw or back pack and so much more!

  1. Half-Day: $175.00/person plus 5% GST (Minimum 4 participants)
  2. Full-Day: $299.00/person plus 5% GST (Minimum 4 participants)

Traditional Navigation

No compass or GPS? Learn how our forefathers used to navigate using a sun compass, sun stick and a few other useful tools.

  1. Half-Day: $175.00/person plus 5% GST (Minimum 4 participants)
  2. Full-Day: $299.00/person plus 5% GST (Minimum 4 participants)

Half-day activities include a snack and a drink.

Full-day activities include a snack and a drink, lunch available for purchase on request.

Make Your Own Moccasins

​Come learn the art of making moccasins, a valuable skill you can use for a life time. The course is for a simple design of side seam moccasins and covers the following:

  • Creating a pattern specific to your foot
  • Creating beadwork patterns
  • Various types of bead embroidery for beginners and advanced beaders
  • Sewing techniques and refining the moccasin ​

Price: $295.00/person plus 5% GST - Minimum of 4 participants (includes instruction, hide, beads, sewing needle, sinew, bead thread and beading needle).

Learn to Bead

​Learn how to do traditional and modern beadwork. The course includes instruction on various types of bead work and covers the following:

  • Creating simple jewelry - earrings, bracelets, chokers, pendants etc
  • Creating beadwork patterns
  • Various types of bead embroidery for beginners and advanced beaders
  • Various types of bead weaving techniques ​

Price: $195.00/person plus 5% GST - Minimum of 4 participants (includes instruction, beads, bead thread and beading needle)

Make Your Own Medicine Bag

​Create a medicine bag for yourself or as a gift. The design is for a small and simple bag and covers the following:

  • Cutting and creating the pattern
  • Creating beadwork patterns
  • Various types of bead embroidery for beginners and advanced beaders
  • Sewing techniques and refining. ​

Price: $195.00/person plus 5% GST - Minimum of 4 participants (includes instruction, hide, beads, sewing needle, sinew, bead thread and beading needle).

Contact our knowledgeable staff today to discuss making your western experience holiday a reality.

SUMMER ADVENTURE

Program Prices are Per Person and do not include GST

Nature Ramble

An easy short ramble, through interesting eco-systems, that allows time for looking at flowers, bird spotting, and examining animal signs and water systems. And who knows what else we may discover.

  1. Half-Day: $175.00/person plus 5% GST (Minimum 4 participants)
  2. Full-Day: $299.00/person plus 5% GST (Minimum 4 participants)

Hike

Mountain Hike

You explore pristine mountain scenery over your choice of easy, moderate or challenging terrain. For the more adventurous, we offer the highest hiking route in the Canadian Rockies!

  1. Half-Day: $175.00/person plus 5% GST (Minimum 4 participants)
  2. Full-Day: $299.00/person plus 5% GST (Minimum 4 participants)

Tracking Skills

Learn the basics of tracking. Start by exploring your own tracks and then look for animal tracks and build on what youve already discovered.

  1. Half-Day: $175.00/person plus 5% GST (Minimum 4 participants)
  2. Full-Day: $299.00/person plus 5% GST (Minimum 4 participants)

Map, Compass and GPS

The cost in Search and Rescue in the Rockies, not to mention the danger to human life, is often totally preventable. We offer a hands on session on learning to read a map, using a compass and understanding and using GPS.

  1. Half-Day: $175.00/person plus 5% GST (Minimum 4 participants)
  2. Full-Day: $299.00/person plus 5% GST (Minimum 4 participants)

Canyon Walk

Explore the pictographs of Grotto Canyon and hear the story, from a Native perspective, about why the pictographs are there, who might have left them, and more importantly who did not leave them!

  1. Half-Day: $175.00/person plus 5% GST (Minimum 4 participants)
  2. Full-Day: $299.00/person plus 5% GST (Minimum 4 participants)

Contact our knowledgeable staff today to discuss making your western experience holiday a reality.

WINTER ADVENTURE

Program Prices are Per Person and do not include GST

Snowshoeing

This historic Canadian form of traveling (using traditional equipment) takes you on a journey through pristine mountain scenery. The skills are easy to learn, and the pace is relaxed.

  1. Half-Day: $175.00/person plus 5% GST (Based On Availability)
  2. Full-Day: $299.00/person plus 5% GST (Based On Availability)
Half-Day Private Rate:

$900.00/person + 5% GST for the first four people and $150.00/person + 5% GST for each addition person; up to 8 people.

Full-Day Private Rate:

$1100.00/person + 5% GST for the first four people and $275.00/person + 5% GST for each addition person; up to 8 people.

Cross Country Skiing

A lesson in the morning will help you to feel at ease before your guide takes you on a tour - at your pace - over easy terrain - to view some of the most stunning snow capped mountains in the world.

  1. Half-Day: $175.00/person plus 5% GST (Based On Availability)
  2. Full-Day: $299.00/person plus 5% GST (Based On Availability)
Half-Day Private Rate:

$900.00/person + 5% GST for the first four people and $150.00/person + 5% GST for each addition person; up to 8 people.

Full-Day Private Rate:

$1100.00/person + 5% GST for the first four people and $275.00/person + 5% GST for each addition person; up to 8 people.

Night Walk

Join your knowledgeable guide as you step out of your hotel and into a night time Winter Wonderland. In the city stars may be invisible however, as you join us to view the night sky, you will experience the stars as you never have before. Then listen and be entertained by Native Lore on Cosmology!

  • $175.00/person plus 5% GST (Minimum 4 participants)

Half-day activities include a snack and a drink.

Full-day activities include a snack and a drink, lunch available for purchase on request.

Contact our knowledgeable staff today to discuss making your western experience holiday a reality.

Caving Adventures

Join us on a tour of discovery to Rat's Nest Cave under Grotto Mountain: a wild, undeveloped cave with no artificial lights, boardwalks or handrails. Long ago this 4-km long limestone cave system was created by massive volumes of melt water from extinct glaciers. Now the glacial waters have receded leaving glacial deposits, fossil animal bones, pools of sparkling clear water and glistening calcite formations, all of which you can view on our wild cave tours. Caving offers our guests a unique combination of geological, historical and environmental interpretation. Two of our favourite caving adventures are the Adventure Tour and the Explorer Tour.

Adventure Tour

The Adventure Tour begins with a 20-25 minute hike through pine forest to a canyon leading to the cave entrance. Here you change into caving equipment - helmets, lights, coveralls, kneepads & gloves. You will receive a safety briefing prior to starting the tour. Your expert guide will take you on a natural history tour of Rat's Nest Cave, an exciting underground world - etched and sculptured over hundreds of thousands of years - through twisting passages and chambers of stalactites & stalagmites, animal bones and fossils then finally down to the tranquil pool in the grotto. Your six (6) hour adventure (return time to Canmore) includes traversing large and narrow passages, an 18 metre (60 foot) rappel on a "figure-of-eight" rappelling device plus crawling and squeezing through the 'Laundry Chute'.

Adventure Tour: $165.00/person + 5% GST
Tours last approximately 6 hours.

Explorer Tour

The Explorer Tour is similar to the adventure tour but does not include the rappel or Laundry Chute. Allow 4.5 hours return to Canmore.

Explorer Tour: $130.00/person + 5% GST
Tours last approximately 4.5 hours.

Bring 1 or 2 small, wrapped energy snacks such as a granola bar, chocolate bar etc. for taking into the cave and bottled water for when you come out. We recommend either a compact digital or disposable camera with flash for taking photos. Anything you wear or take into the cave will get covered in fine mud, so avoid new fancy clothing or camera equipment. There are no facilities at the cave site, so use the toilets in Canmore before you leave.

Do not expect to carry anything into the cave. You will need to have both hands free at all times. Backpacks are provided for carrying gear in the cave.

The cave is a constant 5C (41F) year round. Why is that? Because caves reflect the mean annual temperature so no matter what the outside weather it's always pleasant inside the cave. Like most alpine caves, it is cool in summer, mild in winter.

No experience is necessary, however participants should be reasonably fit.

Guide, helmet, light, coveralls and other gear provided.

Dog Sled Experiences

Dog Sledding

Dog Sledding is hands on! You will have the opportunity to put the dogs into their harnesses and attach them onto the sled. Then take an exhilarating ride on your sleds while enjoying the amazing scenery of the Rocky Mountains!

2-hours:
  • $240 per person in low season and $249 in high season* (based on 2 adults);
  • Child 6-9 years: $125 (sled minimums required)
  • Child 2-5 years: $62.50  (sled minimums required). Must have a car seat to travel to the tour departure point. (no children under 2 years).
  • Single rate is $480  (only one person plus the guide)
  • All prices are plus 5% GST.
*HIGH SEASON DATES: Every Saturday, plus December 18-31, 2021, January 1-3, 2022, February 19-21, 2022, April 15-17, 2022.
Half-Day (4 hours):
  • Prices are per person plus 5% GST (minimum 2 adults per sled),
  • $525 per person (must be 10 years old or older),
  • Minimum 2 adults per sled.  Singles or groups of three accepted at our discretion.

Contact our knowledgeable staff today to discuss making your western experience holiday a reality.

Click to Call

Call 1-403-731-7921


Text Us

Send a SMS


Download Brochure

Download