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Real.
Unforgettable.

Wild Caving Adventures.

5.0★ Google · 4.9★ TripAdvisor · Epic Adventures Since 1992

Group descending into the Grand Gallery of Rat's Nest Cave

Real.
Unforgettable.

Real.
Unforgettable.

A Wild Caving Adventure
beneath the Canadian Rockies
— rain, snow, or shine. (bragging rights included)

5.0★ Google · 4.9★ TripAdvisor · 2,000+ Reviews
Epic Adventures Since 1992

Your Time is Precious.

Make It
Extraordinary.

Most people come to the Rockies for what's above, but only the curious few discover what lies beneath. Rat's Nest Cave stretches four kilometres under Grotto Mountain — carved from ancient limestone and shaped by glaciers. Home to fossils, pictographs, and formations that took millennia to grow, it's an experience that stands the test of time.

Whatever you came to the Rockies for, this will be the part you talk about when you get home.

Real Adventure

You're heading into a real, undeveloped natural cave — no walkways, no fixed lighting, no handrails. You'll be dressed in high-quality caving equipment and teamed up with one of our experienced cave guides for an experience that is uncommonly wild.

Year-Round, Rain or Shine

Mountain weather is unpredictable - unless you're IN the mountain. The Cave is always 5°C. There's no rain, no wind, no snow and no sun, so we can explore the cave any day of the year. TL;DR: We almost never cancel because of weather, so plan with confidence.

A Complete Experience

Most guests are surprised by how much there is to discover down there — the geology, the fossils, the stories your guide brings to life around every corner. The physical challenge is real, but so is the sense that almost anyone, with the right guide and the right attitude, can do this.
Real Adventure
You're heading into a real, undeveloped natural cave — no walkways, no fixed lighting, no handrails. You'll be dressed in high-quality caving equipment and teamed up with one of our experienced cave guides for an experience that is uncommonly wild.
Year-Round, Rain or Shine
Mountain weather is unpredictable - unless you're IN the mountain. The Cave is always 5°C. There's no rain, no wind, no snow and no sun, so we can explore the cave any day of the year. TL;DR: We almost never cancel because of weather, so plan with confidence.
A Complete Experience
Most guests are surprised by how much there is to discover down there — the geology, the fossils, the stories your guide brings to life around every corner. The physical challenge is real, but so is the sense that almost anyone, with the right guide and the right attitude, can do this.

More Than 30 Years
of Adventure

We've been sharing this incredible
underground world with visitors from
across the globe since 1992.

Discover Canmore's Rat's Nest Cave

Choose Your Adventure

Two great tour options. Zero regrets.
Adventure Tour

Rappel, squeeze, and explore. For those who want the full experience.

  • $199/Adult
  • $169/Youth
  • Ages 12+
  • ~6 Hours
Learn More
Explorer Tour

Real wild caving. Crawls, squeezes, ancient formations. No experience necessary.

  • $149/Adult
  • $129/Youth
  • Ages 10+
  • ~4.5 Hours
Learn More

Choose Your Adventure

Two great tour options. Zero regrets.
Adventure Tour

Rappel, squeeze, and explore. For those who want the full experience.

  • $199/Adult
  • $169/Youth
  • Ages 12+
  • ~6 Hours
Learn More
Explorer Tour

Real wild caving. Crawls, squeezes, ancient formations. No experience necessary.

  • $149/Adult
  • $129/Youth
  • Ages 10+
  • ~4.5 Hours
Learn More
From Our Guests

Michael Buddenhagen

18 July 2026
(Translated by Google) A truly fantastic experience that I had with my son on our road trip. We'd never been in a cave like that before, let alone with the full program of climbing, crawling, and sliding. An extraordinary adventure, expertly guided by our very experienced and knowledgeable tour leader. We descended in a small group of eight people. Even on the way to the cave entrance, we had to cross a small path with a stream and then put on our hiking gear. Since we only then realized that we were both missing harnesses in our packed backpacks, she expertly provided us with some. The tour in the cave lasted about 2.5 hours and was very worthwhile and informative. Old clothes are a good idea, even though you're given a red jumpsuit. In some places, it's a bit challenging to move through the narrow passages and pull yourself up and down. Since it's also wet in the cave, you have to watch your step. Our guide told us details about the cave and its history at many points along the way and explained the different ways we could move around inside it. Even with my limited English, I felt very safe and comfortable. I highly recommend this tour to anyone traveling to Canmore or Banff. Thank you so much for the wonderful experience and best regards from Germany. (Original) Eine super großartige Erfahrung die ich mit meinem Sohn erleben durfte im Roadtrip. Wir waren noch nie in so einer Höhle. Geschweige mit vollem Programm klettern, krabbeln und rutschen. Ein außergewöhnliches Abenteuer, die unsere Reiseleiterin, sehr erfahren und sachkundig zeigen durfte. Wir sind in einer kleinen Gruppe von 8 Leuten hinabgestiegen. Schon auf dem Hinweg zum Höhleneingang mussten wir einen kleinen Weg mit Bach überqueren und uns dann "Bergkleidersachen" anziehen. Da uns hier erst auffiel, dass hier uns beiden Haltegurte in den gepackten Rucksäcken fehlten, hat Sie fachmännisch uns welche organisieren können. Die Tour hat ungefähr 2,5h in der Höhle gedauert und war sehr sehenswert und informativ. Alte Klamotten sind sinnvoll, auch wenn man einen roten Overall bekommt. An manchen Stellen ist es ein wenig herausfordernd, um sich durch die engen Stellen zu bewegen und auch ab bzw. wieder hochzuziehen. Da es auch nass in der Höhle ist, muss man schauen, wo man sich hinbegibt. Unsere Führerin erzählte uns an vielen Stationen Details zur Höhle und Geschichte und erklärte uns wie wir uns in der Höhle mit verschiedenen Möglichkeiten bewegen. Auch mit meinen gebrochenen Englischkenntnissen habe ich mich sehr sicher gefühlt. Ich kann diese Tour jedem, der nach Canmore oder Banff reist, sehr empfehlen. Vielen Dank für die großartigen Erlebnisse und ganz viele Grüße aus Deutschland.

Travis Cherry

16 July 2026
We did the "Adventure Tour", and it truly is an incredible adventure. You will get dirty, it will be a little scary/challenging in certain places, and it does require upper body strength to pull yourself through tight spaces and up and down certain points. Wet conditions can make the cave a bit tougher to navigate as you have to be more selective in your foot and hand hold placements. This is not a "show cave" with lights, staircases, and guard rails. It allows you to get up close and personal with the rocks, bones, darkness, and natural artifacts found in a cave. The cave is massive and you will get to visit approximately 10% of the overall cave system. Our guide, Gabby, was incredible throughout our journey, stopping to explain various formations, geological tidbits, and historical facts. On top of that, she made us feel safe utilizing the ropes, harnesses, hand/foot holds, and additional equipment at our disposal. I do not recommend this tour if you are tired, out of shape, have any type of medical condition, or are not comfortable in dark/tight spaces. All of that said, if you aren't afraid of getting a little dirty, this is a fantastic adventure and a unique experience that shouldn't be missed if you're in the Canmore area.

Elijah Rodgers

15 July 2026
Absolutely amazing experience! Caves of all experience levels and lots to choose from. Our guide Annie was amazing. Fun attitude and very professional!

tiyra noel

23 February 2025
This was the highlight of the trip for my boyfriend and I. Such an amazing experience and SO much fun!!! One to remember for sure! Big thanks to John our tour guide

Jethro Rodgers

14 July 2026
Caving experience was amazing!!!! Our guide Annie was very informative and helpful as well as a lot of fun! This cave system is quite large and plenty to explore. We did the Adventure tour which was well worth the value offered. Highly reccomend!!

Kristen Cinnamon

10 July 2026
This was amazing! Our guide was fantastic, the communication leading up to the tour was very clear, and we felt well prepared. The hike was challenging but beautiful and well worth it! Our experience in the caves was fantastic. Very safe but still a moderate level of difficulty to get around which made it very fun. My kids (11 and 14) were very nervous but loved every minute of the cave tours. They even challenged themselves by doing some of the tight squeezes. The caves were beautiful to see. I highly recommend this tour for anyone travelling to Canmore or Banff.

Ferdi Vos

09 July 2026
(Translated by Google) Had a really good tour with Jon! He was able to explain everything to us about the animals, nature, and of course the cave! Very interesting, knowledgeable, and we had some nice conversations with him. The cave view was also fun to do, especially because very little has been altered in the cave. So that does mean some climbing, and you do get quite dirty from the mud and wetness. No problem though, most of it is absorbed by the overalls you are given! 5/5! (Original) Hele goede tour gehad met Jon! Hij kon ons alles uitleggen over de dieren, natuur en uiteraard de grot! Zeer interessant met veel kennis en hebben leuke gesprekken gehad met hem. De cave aanzicht was ook leuk om te doen, met name omdat er weinig is aangepast aan de grot. Betekend dus wel wat klauterwerk en je wordt er redelijk vies van de modder en nattigheid. Geen probleem meeste wordt opgevangen door de overal die je krijgt! 5/5!

Armando Delgado

07 July 2026
A once in a lifetime experience! We had an incredible time doing this tour and doing the squeezes through the cave. Our guide was exceptional and was very knowledgable about caving and answering all of our questions. I would 10/10 recommend this experience if you are in the Banff/Canmore area.

Ryan Hurtado

06 July 2026
Went with our 11 and 14 year old boys. None of us had ever been in a cave. Of note, this is a vertical cave --> requires descending down and then climbing out. Our guide HyunHo was spectacular. he was friendly, patient, great at explaning and teaching, taught us about caving and the cave itself. Amazing experience, tons of fun. Would strongly recommend for anyone even thinking about it. Got the kids interested in exploring more caves in the future. Easily worth the cost for this lifelong memory.

Tori Hardy

05 July 2026
We had Emily as our tour guide and she did an absolutely fabulous job! We chose the explorer tour as a 2nd year wedding anniversary gift to ourselves and it did not disappoint one bit. Although it was a steep and sometimes slippery hike, it was well worth every bit. I cannot thank Emily enough for giving us such a fun and unforgettable experience :) she was so helpful, easy to talk to and even laughed at all my husband's jokes! We felt incredibly safe and secure our whole trek and would definitely do it again. Can't recommend enough.

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