Canmore Cave Tours
Canmore Cave Tours
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About
Canmore Cave Tours operates year-round tours in Rat's Nest Cave, near Canmore, Alberta, Canada. For those seeking as much excitement as possible, including squeezes, rappels, and other adrenaline-inducing activities we offer a 6-hour "Adventure Tour". For those just looking to sample what the cave has to offer, or those with less time, we offer a 4.5 hour "Explorer Tour". We can offer these tours year-round, in any weather because the cave is a constant 5 degrees Celsius, a comfortable temperature any time of the year.
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More than 3 hours
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- Terri-Lynn G11 contributionsExperience and fit levelMy children (teenagers) and I did the Rat’s Nest cave 4 hour tour. We had an amazing time and our tour guide made it that much more fun, he was very knowledgeable and skilled with this activity (and funny). He was also very patient with people who were less experienced with hiking/caving and gave extra rest breaks. This activity does require you to be somewhat fit in order to hike up the mountain and once at the cave, to be able to lift your body weight when your harnessed to climb up/down at the entrance of the cave and again once your inside. There are a 2-3 tight squeezes in there but there is an option to go around a different way with 2 of them. It’s definitely an adventure experience worth doing but for those that might be uncomfortable with small spaces, they should rethink this activity.Visited March 2023Travelled with familyWritten March 18, 2023
- jchaps787Buffalo, New York4 contributionsAn Experience You Don't Want to Miss!Canmore Cave Tour is THE experience to do while in the area. This is not a walking tour of a cave. This is full on caving/spelunking. It all starts with a fabulous well-paced hike up to Rat's Nest Cave. The breathtaking views begin to set intentions for an experience of a lifetime. While in the cave, you'll experience feelings likely never before. It truly was majestic with every step, scoot, and slide. Brett, our guide is a true leader. Without skipping a beat he was able to manage the entire groups level of comfort and guide us to receive the fullest experience based on our capabilities. Most important of all, he ensured everyone was safe and having the time of their lives! It's also valuable to mention that everyone at Canmore Cave Tours stewards the protection of these delicate natural boundaries, preserving them for all generations to share within the experience. Thank you for sharing this part of the beautiful world with us.Visited April 2023Travelled with friendsWritten May 6, 2023
- PaigeEdmonton, Canada29 contributionsMind-blowingMy husband and I did the adventure tour over the long weekend and it exceeded our expectations. John was our tour guide and he was fantastic-very knowledgeable, fun and kept us all feeling safe. The cave is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before in my life and highly recommend it. The hike in is easy and the cave is thrilling and challenging.Visited September 2020Travelled as a coupleWritten September 14, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
1,333 reviews
Excellent
1,278
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47
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4
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2
Terrible
2
Elizabeth V
1 contribution
Sep. 2023 • Family
Such a great experience! My siblings and I came here and we were blown away by how cool it was, it was perfect for our first cave. It was a fun challenge and Jon was so knowledgeable and made us feel safe at all times. Thank you so much for such a great experience, we’ll be back for the adventure tour soon.
Written September 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Joelann I
4 contributions
Fantastic tour. Small group. I went solo and without a car and thanks to a co- caver got a lift to the cave. The caving company answered all my questions promptly and clearly.
Written September 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Laurie F
1 contribution
Sep. 2023 • Family
Fantastic experience. We’ve done a fair amount of caving before, and really appreciated the care that went into fitting us with the appropriately-sized gear, especially the coveralls (we did get dirty). Our guide, John, was knowledgeable, friendly, calming and supportive. He set a perfect pace for the half-hour hike to and from the cave, as well as during the short rappel and the cave exploration itself. Our family had so much fun. Would highly recommend for anyone who loves scrambling, squeezing, sliding and crawling around on rocks in caves.
Written September 11, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Susan Z
1 contribution
Sep. 2023 • Couples
Went on the Adventure Tour with my boyfriend and we were ultimately in a group of 7. Absolutely AMAZING and unforgettable experience! Our guide Brett gave us just the right amount of push to explore our limits in the cave and squeezes. He also brought a wealth of passion and knowledge about caving that made the tour even better and made me interested in more cave exploration in the future. Will be a trip that I will be bragging about and recommending for a long time. Thank you!
Written September 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Leigh S
1 contribution
Sep. 2023 • Couples
My husband and I decided to do something different for our anniversary and Canmore Cave tours was exact what we were looking for. From the start it was a seamless process with all the gear we needed provided. The hike to the cave was beautiful. Once in the cave we were in a different world. Our guide was helpful, knowledgeable and fun! There were tricky spots but we were guided through each part with confidence. We will be back.
Written September 9, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
reneouwehand
Pulau Perhentian Besar, Malaysia6 contributions
Aug. 2023 • Family
We were very thrilled doing the adventure tour. Lots of challenges. Excellent guide, both on safety as on providing information on various subjects.
Written September 6, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jeff M
1 contribution
Sep. 2023 • Family
Great experience with my two boys!! Tamara was a great guide and very knowledgeable!! Very unique experience that’s for sure!!
Written September 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Allan C
7 contributions
Aug. 2023 • Family
My daughters and I had such a seriously fun time on our tour! Brent was an excellent guide and showed us just how capable we were by encouraging us to go through some outrageously tight spaces in the caves! Besides being uber informative throughout our tour, he put our health and safety above everything else! Definitely recommend this to anyone who wants a true adventure!!
Written September 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yenom99
Edmonton, Canada30 contributions
Sep. 2023 • Couples
A fantastic experience. I've been to Canmore numerous times and didn't even know this existed. Definitely worth the time to check out. Our guide, Brent, was a wealth of knowledge and extremely helpful. If you get the opportunity definitely check it out!
Written September 3, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Catherine S
4 contributions
Aug. 2023 • Family
An adventure of a lifetime. It was quite the experience and a wonderful site to see 😁
My family had a great time and our guide was absolutely fantastic with all the stories and putting up with all our antics. Last minute we decided to buy the go pro package and it was the best keepsake ever ❤️
My family had a great time and our guide was absolutely fantastic with all the stories and putting up with all our antics. Last minute we decided to buy the go pro package and it was the best keepsake ever ❤️
Written September 2, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I want to get the price of the experience
Thanks for your question. There are two different tours. The shorter tour is 4.5 hours in length (2.5 hours underground) and the price is $135+gst. The longer tour is 6 hours long (4 hours underground) and the price is $175+gst.
Does this attraction only happen during Summer? Or can you still go in winter?
Thanks,
Claudia.
Adam W
Canmore, Canada
Hi Claudia, thank you for the question. Our cave tours are available year-round thanks to the constant temperature inside the cave. There is a 30-40 minute hike to access the cave so it is important to dress appropriately for the weather while on the hike, but once inside the cave the temperature is a consistent 5 degrees Celsius. The cave tours are a great option when the weather is too cold to do other outdoor activities and we are able to do evening tours so you can make the most of your daylight hours.
We do offer an interpretive hike called the Diacovery Tour that only goes to the cave entrance and this tour is only available May - October.
If you have any further questions don’t hesitate to contact us.
Canadian K
Calgary, Canada85 contributions
Hi Tracey, My husband is over 200 lbs. Can we still do this tour of the cave or will he get stuck in a hole? HeeHee...Ty very much! :)
Robert H
2 contributions
At 220lb I managed to make it everywhere within the cave system that our guide took us. Yes some of the squeezes were tight, but I made it through. We were on the short tour (2 hours in cave) and there were 2 optional squeezes. The rest of the cave was not difficult to get through as the passages are larger.
littletimma
Calgary, Canada
What happens when you have to pee?
Sri G
1 contribution
Have to use the bushes. No toilet facilities on site.
Hajir a
Edmonton, Canada
Is it suitable for kids?
Adam W
Canmore, Canada
Thank you for your question! We have three different tour options, all with different age limitations. The Adventure Tour has a minimum age of 12, the Explorer Tour minimum age is 10, and the Discovery Hike (because it is a hike and does not go beyond the entrance of the cave) is open to all ages. Please visit our website or give us a call if you'd like more information about our tours.
marina202017
Canmore, Canada
Are kids ages 13,15,17 allowed to go without parents
Adam W
Canmore, Canada
Hi marina202017, thanks for the great question! It is difficult to offer a simple yes or no because, as you can imagine, there are a lot of variables to consider. We prefer to have discussions with parents beforehand and make decisions on a case-by-case basis, with our ultimate concern being that everyone on the tour has the best possible experience. That being said, the cave tour is a fantastic adventure for children and we make every effort to make our tours as accessible as possible.
Some of the factors we have to consider are the age, fitness and experience of the children, and adult to child ratios (the minimum for which is set as a requirement for our permit). Parents should also know that they will need to be present at the start of the tour to sign our liability waiver for their children and to provide transportation to and from the cave. It is very important to us that every parent clearly understands the nature of our tour before signing their children up. We are happy to have a conversation with you to answer all of your questions and to determine the best scenario.
996TT
Rischmond Hill
what do you need to bring for the tour? Any special shoes?
Adam W
Canmore, Canada
Thanks so much for the great question! We provide all of the necessary caving equipment including helmets with lights, kneepads, gloves, coveralls, safety harnesses, plus a backpack to share with a friend. We will also supply a reusable 500ml bottle of water (yours to keep) and a snack bar.
We ask you to bring the following:
- Sturdy Footwear
- Suitable clothing
- Small (pocket-sized) camera - optional
- Snacks if you have any dietary restrictions
Footwear is probably the most important piece of equipment that you will need to provide. The cave itself is generally quite dry so most closed-toe shoes will be just fine. We do recommend hiking boots or shoes as they provide the best grip but any other closed-toe shoe with a reasonable sole will be fine. In the winter time you will want to choose your footwear based on the weather. If there is a lot of snow, for example, winter boots are best and they will work fine in the cave (again, as long as they have good soles). We also have rubber boots available for rent if you happen to not have suitable footwear for the tour.
Clothing is a little tricky because you have to dress for both the hike to the cave and the cave itself. The hike to the cave is approximately 30-40 minutes uphill on a mountain trail and our tours go year-round, rain or shine, so it's important that you dress according to the weather on the day of your tour. (Hint: if it's raining an umbrella is not a bad way to stay dry but also stay cool while hiking). Once you arrive at the cave, you can adjust your layers to go underground. The cave is 5 degrees (Celsius) every day of the year, and there is no rain, no snow, no sun! We recommend long sleeved shirts and long pants (preferably non-cotton) and a sweater/hoody/jacket is a good idea if you get cold easily. Imagine spending a few hours in a refrigerator to get an idea of the temperature.
Cameras are more than welcome in the cave, however please keep in mind that they must fit into a pocket - we don't take any bags into the cave and you must have your hands free to maneuver through the cave AND caves and cameras do not get along well. The cave is very humid and dusty, which are not conditions generally liked by most electronics. Smartphones do quite well (although the screens do crack on occasion) as do small point-and-shoot cameras and go pros. If you do plan to bring a camera or any other electronics into the cave please keep in mind that you do so at your own risk.
As mentioned above, we do offer snack bars to all of our guests. We use Clif Bars, which are great for the cave but may not meet all dietary restrictions (or personal preference). If you have any special dietary needs we recommend bringing something that you know works for you. Again, anything that goes into the cave must fit into pockets, and only food that does not make a big mess will be allowed.
You can visit the FAQ section of our website for more information or contact us at any time during business hours and we would be happy to answer your questions!
Me1krnricif
20 contributions
I already sort of know the answer to this. Do you do tours of gargantua cave?? If so when are they done, what do they cost? What would be required of me to get a tour of gargantua??
Adam W
Canmore, Canada
Currently access to the Gargantua area is in question due to a proposal to establish new provincial parks that will encompass that region. We are still waiting to see what will be required to obtain permission to guide tours to Gargantua once these new parks are in place, but until then we unfortunately will not be offering tours there. If you have any further questions about this subject, or to discuss other options, please don't hesitate to give us a call.
Isaetchrist
st-hyacinthe1 contribution
Avez vous des guides francophones?
Adam W
Canmore, Canada
Désolé, mais nous n'avons pas de guides francophones en ce moment.
jwjcowan
Wabasca, Canada
Do people ever get stuck? Some of the crawl spaces pictured look impossibly tight - my worry is that I would get stuck in one of the tunnels and that friends and family would have to take turns feeding me for the sad remainder of my days.
Adam W
Canmore, Canada
Thank you for your question, your concern over small spaces in the cave is a common one. While there are a number of tight passages in the cave that you can challenge yourself in they are in no way mandatory in order to complete the tour. The smallest space that must be negotiated is about the size of a manhole and lasts only for about 15cm (and as is the case with most things in the cave it always looks much worse than it is).
While on tour our guides will encourage you to challenge yourself and try squeezing among other things, but there will always been other options that are much more comfortable.
Please don't hesitate to call us if you would like to discuss the details of the tours further.
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Claim your listingCANMORE CAVE TOURS - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Canmore Cave Tours
- Canmore Cave Tours is open:
- Mon - Mon 12:00 a.m. - 11:59 p.m.
- We recommend booking Canmore Cave Tours tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 4 Canmore Cave Tours tours on Tripadvisor
- Hotels near Canmore Cave Tours:
- (0.29 km) A1 Motel
- (1.13 km) A Bear and Bison Canadian Country Inn
- (1.63 km) Falcon Crest Lodge by CLIQUE
- (1.63 km) Blackstone Mountain Lodge by CLIQUE
- (1.52 km) Stoneridge Mountain Resort
- Restaurants near Canmore Cave Tours:
- (0.04 km) Avi's Kitchen
- (0.13 km) Valbella Gourmet Foods
- (0.10 km) Mountain Blends Coffee Roasters
- (1.58 km) Finchy's Bar & Grill at CanGOLF
- (1.27 km) The Summit Cafe