Recently updated on May 26th, 2020 at 12:32 pm
With the country’s biggest population of wild horses and a dramatic setting between the Rocky Mountains and Saskatchewan prairie, the Canadian province of Alberta is renowned far and wide for its deep-rooted cowboy culture. Within this spectacular landscape, Kananaskis Country is the ideal place to experience Canada‘s wild west authentically. And this is where Boundary Ranch lies, home to the Guinn family, who proudly introduce each guest to their heritage and land.
Bordering the town of Canmore and Banff National Park, Kananaskis Country sits in the foothills of the Canadian Rockies, to the west of Calgary. This 4,000-square-kilometre expanse of land encompasses a collection of wildlife-rich parks with tranquil alpine lakes and rushing rivers that cut through the undergrowth.
Between the Provincial Parks, Wildland Provincial Parks and Plateau Mountain Ecological Reserve, wildlife abounds, as the diverse habitat – ranging from subalpine forest and wetlands to alpine meadows – provides the ideal environment for an abundance of plants and animals. Around 130 species of birds nest here, including birds of prey, the osprey and the golden eagle. Squirrels and chipmunks are common sights, while sightings of the region’s lynx, wolves and bears are a rare delight.
The region was first designated a protected area in 1978, enabling people from across Alberta and beyond to continue enjoying the pristine wilderness here long into the future. Naturally, the landscape lends itself perfectly to outdoor pursuits, from hiking, mountain biking and fishing in the summer months, to skiing and dogsledding in the snow-blanketed winter. But the key reason that many people choose to come here is the chance to experience the Canadian Wild West, found on Kananaskis Country’s ranches.
Boundary Ranch sits amidst alpine meadows, with the mountainous backdrop that the Rockies provide. Here, the Guinn family shows each of their visitors the riches of the land by leading them on horseback treks along the landscape’s winding trails. It was long before Kananaskis Country became so widely known that the family began guiding people along these trails. In fact, it was back in the 1930s that the outfit began, but to this day it’s the same hiking and horseback riding trails that are used by the family.
Upon arriving at the ranch, Trafalgar guests are greeted by the ranch’s cowboys, who lead the way on horseback to the wooden lodge. From here, guests are taken on a horse-drawn wagon tour of the ranch, giving them time to take in the picturesque surroundings and see buffalo in the paddock. Back at the cabin, a hearty home-cooked meal is then shared, while listening to stories of life across the generations on Boundary Ranch. After a post-dinner lesson in country and western-style dancing, the evening comes to a close, leaving each guest with unrivalled memories of their time in Canada’s Wild West.
Experience Canada’s cowboy culture by visiting Boundary Ranch on the Iconic Rockies and Western Canada trip with Trafalgar.
Image credits: Cover photo of Kananaskis Country © iStock / keeperofthezoo. A horse in Alberta © iStock / Arpad Benedek. A Kananaskis Country Ranch © iStock / Imagine Golf. Kananaskis Country Hiking © iStock / Veronica Bogaerts. Kananaskis Country © iStock / jmatkins.