Canmore Cave Tours: Address, Phone Number, Canmore Cave Tours Reviews: 5/5
Canmore Cave Tours
Canmore Cave Tours
5
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.
Suggested duration
More than 3 hours
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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
1,201 reviews
Excellent
1,151
Very good
45
Average
4
Poor
2
Terrible
2
wadebran580
Neilburg7 contributions
This was my 2nd time doing this and it was still a lot of fun! Great body workout, interesting to see how the body can get in between things, etc.
Written August 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Ed K
1 contribution
If you want a little excitement and to do something that may be out of your element, this is it.
This is a "must do" in Canmore and we highly recommend it to anyone that do something they would not regret.
We did the Explorer Tour to get the cave experience and our tour guide John was great. He was very assuring and had a few good stories regarding the caves and their history. The cave had its challenges but was exciting to see and do. We had a great time and a great group with us.
This was a adventure we will never forget and makes for good stories to tell.
This is a "must do" in Canmore and we highly recommend it to anyone that do something they would not regret.
We did the Explorer Tour to get the cave experience and our tour guide John was great. He was very assuring and had a few good stories regarding the caves and their history. The cave had its challenges but was exciting to see and do. We had a great time and a great group with us.
This was a adventure we will never forget and makes for good stories to tell.
Written August 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jean-Frédéric
2 contributions
Hello, this was a wonderful experience.
The Guide with us was so enthusiastic and was giving a lot of valuable information.
I really recommend this activity.
The Guide with us was so enthusiastic and was giving a lot of valuable information.
I really recommend this activity.
Written August 15, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Kathy B
Saint Paul, MN88 contributions
We spent an incredible day in Rat's Nest Cave with Brent. Although each of us were anxious about different parts of the adventure, he made it easy to comfortably challenge ourselves while feeling safe the entire time. I admit to being mildly claustrohobic, and yet was able to slither through all the squeezes without fear, and he was kind and supportive to my son who was afraid of heights. The tour definitely requires physical fitness--there are places you need to bend, push with your feet, and to pull yourself a fair distance up a rope, and the hike to the cave is moderate--but everything was do-able for our group. Exhausting, amazing, unlike anything we've done before, it gets my highest recommendation. What an incredible day, and the highlight of our trip. We hope to go caving again!
Written August 9, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Braden B
1 contribution
Super cool experience! Nice mix of adventure and adrenaline with a cool education on caving as a whole. Our guide was super professional and knew what he was talking about. You get to push yourself as much or as little as you want to and have some really cool once in a lifetime experiences.
Written August 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Lisele p
1 contribution
This was mine and my husband's first time cave exploring and it was one of the best experiences of our Alberta Trip. Our guide Max was not only knowledgeable but knew when to take breaks without anyone asking. Max also expertly took us around the cave and showed us cool passageways and was such a pleasure to be around. I highly recommend Canmore Cave tours
Written August 8, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
tmichaelharrison
Jacksonville, FL5 contributions
Annie was a great guide and gave us lots of time to try extra things that aren't normally part of the tour. Not for the faint of heart or anyone that is claustrophobic, but highly recommended
Written August 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Clear_cut_tree
9 contributions
We had the pleasure of spending the day with the most knowledgeable guide Tiffany. She was professional, fun and made the experience relaxing for everyone.
The caving tour itself was a great challenge. It was like nothing else we have ever done. The day exceeded all of our expectations and we can’t recommend it enough.
The caving tour itself was a great challenge. It was like nothing else we have ever done. The day exceeded all of our expectations and we can’t recommend it enough.
Written August 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
jasondf
2 contributions
Found this place online and we'd never done anything like it before. We didn't really know what to expect, but it was amazing. Our tour guide Sarah was awesome and the cave was beautiful. I would highly, highly recommend doing this tour - it was super fun and my friends and I all want to do it again!
Written August 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Christine M
1 contribution
The guide was excellent and knowledgeable. The sights in the cave were outstanding. I would recommend this adventure and this company to anyone wanting to do this.
Written August 5, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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.
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
18 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.
Frequently Asked Questions about Canmore Cave Tours
- 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
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- (1.52 km) Stoneridge Mountain Resort
- Restaurants near Canmore Cave Tours:
- (0.04 km) Avi's Kitchen
- (0.13 km) Valbella Gourmet Foods
- (0.25 km) 514 Poutine
- (1.27 km) The Summit Cafe
- (1.25 km) Red Rock Pizza