introductions
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Canmore Cave Tours
Join us year-round, rain or shine, for a Natural History tour into Rat’s Nest Cave - a wild, undeveloped cave under Grotto Mountain; near Banff and Canmore, Alberta, Canada!
Canmore Cave Tours has been offering tours at Rat’s Nest Cave, since 1992. While we have grown since then our goal remains the same - to offer our guests the most extraordinary, unforgettable experience possible.
As passionate cavers and cave advocates we feel it is a privilege to share this amazing place with you, and when you join a tour with us you do so as our friend and fellow explorer. We hope that at the end of the day, tired and dirty as you may be, you are brimming with as much excitement and appreciation for the cave as we are.
Read Our Reviews
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Canmore, Alberta, Canada
Canmore is an authentic mountain lifestyle community nestled in the spectacular Bow River Valley and surrounded by the majesty of the Canadian Rocky Mountains. In this dynamic and energetic town you will find award-winning festivals, world-class mountain sports, outstanding health and wellness, vibrant arts and culture, unique boutique shopping and remarkable dining experiences, all on the doorstep of Banff National Park.
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Canmore is just a 60 minutes west of Calgary and 25 minutes east of the town of Banff so come visit us and see why in Canmore you can: Do More, Play More, Live More!Neighbouring Cities
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Rat's Nest Cave
Rat’s Nest Cave is a special place. In 1987 it was designated a Provincial Historic Resource because of its incredible archaeological significance. It is home to ancient pictographs, 7000 year old bones, and beautiful cave formations. At over 4km long, Rat’s Nest Cave is one of the longest caves in Canada.
The water-sculpted passages of the cave offer us seemingly endless opportunities to learn and explore. At 5 degrees celsius, the cave is a cool but comfortable destination every day of the year, a trait enjoyed by cave residents like bushy-tailed wood rats, and North America’s smallest mammal - the pigmy shrew.
With no lights, handrails or walkways we are left to enjoy the cave in its natural state, just as the original explorers did.
Explore the Cave Map
Newsworthy
ARTISAN POTTERY MUGS: A CANMORE COLLABORATION
BOOMING ICE CHASM - JULY 2017
Testimonials
We think caving is pretty much the best thing since sliced bread, but then we are pretty enthusiastic about life underground overall. So don't just take our word on it. Here are some thoughts from some of our newsest cavers to inspire you!
“AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE”
"My husband and I both look back at this and agree this was one of the highlights of our vacation..."
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“AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE”
Reviewed By: Mo89564
Mar 27, 2017:
My husband and I used Canmore as a base for exploring Banff, but since I was curious about the area and the things to see/do, the Canmore Cave Tour (Grotto Mountain/Rat's Nest Cave) popped up when I was researching the area.
I decided to book this after I saw the pictures and read other people's experiences. We met our guide at the office in the morning that was very personable but clearly knew her stuff and was passionate about caving. We were in a group of about 8 which was nice - small, but nice to talk to others and everyone definitely looked out for each other during the experience.
Hiked up to the entrance and went in! This was where the awesomeness began. It is a physical and mental challenge - but so rewarding. You'll be crawling through sections, rappelling down into the dark and learning about the history. You'll be seeing things that very few people get to see. My husband and I both look back at this and agree this was one of the highlights of our vacation - and we're comparing this against the heavyweights known as Banff and Jasper.
Advice to anyone considering this:
-You don't have to be in pristine physical condition, but you should have a good base. It is a physical activity and you will be using muscles that you don't know you had.
-The squeezes weren't claustrophobic to me as a 5'8 135 lbs. female. My husband is 5'11 190 lbs and had no problem. A guy on our tour was even bigger than my husband, probably over 6'0 and 200 lbs and had no problems maneuvering. Your guide will give you the honest truth whether you're able to do things and if you can't or are apprehensive, you don't have to! But challenge yourself. You'll be surprised and it is a lot easier than you think.
-Enjoy that room with the stream running through it. It blows my mind what is underneath the ground that we walk on now that I've been under it.
-After your tour, buy the "Rat's Nest Cave" book by Charles Yonge. I meant to buy it once our tour was finished, but completely forgot and ended up getting the book through Amazon. It's full of history and science but has much more value. I personally keep it on my coffee table and when my friends/guests come over, it's a convenient excuse for me to segway into to how awesome the cave tour was and reminisce about being underground. That's how much I loved this tour. There are very few opportunities in this world to experience this kind of thing - don't let them pass you by.
“BEST ADVENTURE”
"Had a great time exploring the Rats Nest Caves with Canmore Cave Tours. "
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“BEST ADVENTURE”
Reviewed By: Kristen B
Sept 4, 2016:
Had a great time exploring the Rats Nest Caves with Canmore Cave Tours. Our guide was excellent and we would recommend tackling the mountain to everyone who's interested in a good time and a little bit of a challenge.
We did the 6 hour adventure tour and we were not disappointed in the least.
We're already planning a return trip for the Christmas Carolling (if available) and will be coming back again in the spring with new adventurers who are interested in going based on our experience and exciting tales.
“BEST TOUR IN THE BOW VALLEY AREA!”
"I've been on several tours in the Bow Valley area and this is by far the best tour I've been to, hands down."
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“BEST TOUR IN THE BOW VALLEY AREA!”
Reviewed By: Michelle L
Feb 13, 2017:
I've been on several tours in the Bow Valley area and this is by far the best tour I've been to, hands down. Our tour guide, Max, was super friendly, knowledgeable, a great communicator with each member of our diverse group, and seemed genuinely interested in what he does.
We started the Adventure tour by meeting at the tour office at 10:15 a.m. Once we were given an introduction and gear, we drove our separate cars to the trail-head (about 5 min drive from the office). The hike up is about 30 min and continuously uphill, but the guide is really good about taking several breaks in between to allow people to catch their breath. Once we got to the end of the trail, we removed layers as needed and dropped off our bags.
The tour lasted a full 4 hours underground. We rappelled 16 stories to get to the base of the cave, crawled through several optional crevices, explored in the dark, and learnt a lot about the formation of the cave. The options to crawl through small spaces was my favourite part. Some spaces were so small that you had to lay down and use your forearms and legs to drag yourself through them.
Overall, incredible tour. Worth every single penny. Great for the adventurous. If you're doing one tour in Banff/Canmore, do this one over any others.
Tips: Clothing (winter): wear several layers. The hike up can be cold but the cave is 5 degrees Celsius. You'll have the opportunity to delayer before entering the cave. Wear thick socks and hiking boots (or some sturdy winter boots that are good for walking). You are provided an full body coverall, knee pads, and gloves, so take these into consideration as well.
You need to be in good/average physical condition to hike to the cave and be okay with being on your hands and knees. You don't have to crawl through the tiny spaces if you don't want to because there are other paths available.
Food: You are given a cliff bar and water bottle to keep. Since you will be crawling a bit, you do not bring your backpack or water bottle down with you. I advise bringing a small snack that can fit in your pockets to bring with you into the cave. There are no washrooms in the cave (duh), so make sure to go beforehand.
“EXCITING CAVE ADVENTURE!”
"We went to Canmore for my birthday and came across Canmore Cave Tours in our search for something fun to do. We were not disappointed!"
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“EXCITING CAVE ADVENTURE!”
Reviewed By: David M
Aug 20, 2016::
We went to Canmore for my birthday and came across Canmore Cave Tours in our search for something fun to do. We were not disappointed! I am claustrophobic and had no problem in the cave. It's very open in most areas with only a few parts that need to be crawled through. It's a great workout and you will feel it the next day for sure.
Our guide Scott was very knowledgable and was happy to answer every question we threw at him. He made the experience very comfortable and we never felt unsafe.
Highly recommend this experience!
Explore the Rat's Nest Cave Map
The Bushy Tailed Wood Rat
The cave is named after these critters, which make their homes close to the entrance.
The Laundry Chute
Visit this amazing squeeze on our Adventure tour
The Bacon Strip
See this ancient formation on our Adventure tour
The Grotto Pool
This is where our cave divers brave the unknown, and 'push' the cave. Visited by both the: Adventure tour and Explorer tour.
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Entrance to the Cave
In winter, fixed ropes aid access to the entrance.
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The Bushy Tailed Wood Rat
The cave is named after these critters, which make their homes close to the entrance.
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The Grand Gallery
This is the largest room in the cave
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The Laundry Chute
Visit this amazing squeeze on our Adventure tour
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The Bacon Strip
See this ancient formation on our Adventure tour
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The Grotto Pool
This is where our cave divers brave the unknown, and 'push' the cave. Visited by both the: Adventure tour and Explorer tour.
Take Home A Little Piece of Canmore
We believe the souvenirs you take home are just as much a part of your experience as your time in the cave so you won't find the standard gift-shop fare here.
We have partnered with some of our local artisans and asked them to help tell the story of the cave through their eyes, and their craft. You won't find these little pieces of Canmore anywhere else in the world.
Our Partners and Friends
We work with a number of like-minded experience providers to help you find your next great adventure.
Book your pre or post-caving activities here, or Contact Us and we'd be happy to help.
