McKenzie's Trails West

I've been to lots of trail riding places and this is literally one of the best I have been to. The horses were trained excellently. This is the best place for beginner riders. I don't know when I will be back, but I surely will.

My wife and I went on the four-day pack trip with McKenzie's in the fall of 2021 and had the most amazing experience that exceeded even our wildest expectations by a long shot. Despite the fact that I had never sat on a horse before I had a great time and was able to sit, walk, and hike again the next day without any troubles.

I specifically chose McKenzie's Trails West because they are a small, family-run operation with long-running ties to the area. From the minute we arrived at basecamp to the last goodbye it was clear to see that this is an operation driven by the love and passion for the animals and the lifestyle. Everything is extremely well organized, the horses are well trained and cared for, and even providing vegan options for my wife was not a problem.

Shelley - who runs the operation - gave us the warmest welcome possible, provided outstanding service and advice every step of the way, and answered all my numerous questions with great expertise and patience in advance. Lane, Logan, and Maddy - our guides on the trip - were fantastic and did an incredible job guiding the daily rides, caring for the horses, looking after guests, telling stories, and preparing delicious meals (I don't think I have ever eaten as much good food in my life). All three of them, live and breathe for this life out in nature among horses and actually leave their work every summer to take on the tough and poorly-paid job of a guide. They know these valleys like the back of their hand and are very skilled and caring riders.

The country in these mountains is simply stunning and we couldn't stop gasping at the beauty of nature with every turn we took. Not many people have the opportunity to see this kind of country for themselves and we consider ourselves very fortunate. We even got to see the change of colours and had clear skies for most of the way.

All in all this was the adventure of a lifetime and my wife and I will be talking about this for the rest of our lives. A massive thank you to Shelley, Logan, Lane, and Maddy for this truly unique and unforgettable experience! You guys are the best!

My wife and I went on a 6-day trip and it was one of the best experiences of our lives! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.
Shelley, Maddy, and Logan, our guides, were professional, knowledgeable, skilled, and very friendly.

The horses were safe and steady, the meals were EXCELLENT, and the camps were well organized.

During this trip you will see some of the most beautiful country in the world! We saw breathtaking mountain views, beautiful blue lakes, forests, flowers, and wildlife (including Mountain Sheep and California Golden Trout).

SUGGESTIONS
1. Ensure you are in good shape before the trip as it can be physically demanding.
2. Bring ALL the items on the equipment list you are provided. Don't question the list as we needed everything on it at one point during the trip.
3. Bring your phone so you can take pictures and videos, there are so many awesome sights you will want to capture. It's helpful to bring an external battery to charge your phone.

The 6 day pack trip was AMAZING! A great way to spend time together as a couple, no phones, no internet and lots of wilderness! The horses were calm and tough and the guides were dependable and super helpful. I would HIGHLY recommend Mackenzie Trails West for an authentic cowboy/ explorer experience.

What an experience! If you're driving the Icefield Parkway from Between Jasper and Banff and looking for to add to your adventures, McKenzie's Trails is a great option!

My, now, Fiancé and I went out to McKenzie's Trails for the 3 hour guided ride with lunch. Although she didn't know, this experience was the prelude to our engagement.

Due to the forecasted weather everyone else postponed, and the result was a private trail ride for the two of us. Kenzie took us out on the trails, where she talked to us about the Rocky Mountain geography and the lifestyle of living out in the mountains, she was great!

The lunch was fantastic too! Cold cuts, cheese, and pickles and a flaky buttery croissant...so good. They also pack you with beef jerky, potato chips, nuts, and an apple (which you can feed to your horse when you're done)... you wont go hungry!

Our horses were fun too. I had Blue (Steal), the lad was was looking around throughout the ride as if he was taking in the sights along the way.

And the scenery, how can you get tired of looking at mountains... the ride through the trails takes you up to some fantastic viewpoints, and you do it all on horseback.

What a fantastic experience to lead our day to our engagement!

Thank you to Kenzie, and everyone that made our experience so great. Truly Recommend this experience!!!

P.S. if you're doing these trials you should also checkout Rockie Mountain Heli, where you can do a helicopter ride through the mountains (I believe they provide a combination experience).

Couldn't grab more photos than these, as it was my first ride. Tour guides are very informative and friendly. Postcard scenery, it was unbelievable. Once in a lifetime experience. Would give 6 stars if possible.

We had a fantastic five-day, two-person trip with McKenzie's Trails West in early September. Highly recommended even if you don't have much experience with horses. Horses were super, food was hearty, guides were knowledgeable and fun. I really appreciated their flexibility to plan a trip around our needs and preferences (e.g., splitting the first day into two so that we weren't too saddle sore!) and open communication during the trip (e.g., the length of rides, what we would like to see, any modifications to food, warmth, etc.). This part of western Alberta has stunning scenery and it's great to travel through on horseback. Don't underestimate mountain weather, but do take the leap and contact them to discuss everything from a 1-hr trail ride to a 12-day trip. We will be back!

It was my first time horseback riding and we tried the 1 hour ride at 5pm and we wound up being only our group. Our guide Anika was great and fun and the trail we went on was beautiful. The entire staff was friendly and warm and made us feel like we were part of the family.

That one hour ride was really affordable and greatly worth every penny. The horses were well taken care of and it showed that the staff all loved what they do and added a lot to the entire experience.

Truly a unique experience that I will cherish and after spending the last 1.5 years staring at the four walls in my own house, this felt like a great gift to be outdoors, enjoying a beautiful scenery we wouldn't get to enjoy otherwise. Thank you to all the staff for making those memories for us. We'll be back at some point for sure.

A fantastic experience with friendly and knowledgeable guides! We took our children (aged 7 and 10) to McKenzie trails for their first horseback riding experience and it exceeded our expectations. The horses we well trained, the trails were very scenic and the guides were very professional and friendly. Looking forward to trying the 2 hour ride the next time we visit!

Gorgeous views! Intimate 4 hour guided trail ride. Well worth the price.

McKenzie's Trails West was a wonderful experience! We went as a family of four and even though we all had horse and riding experience, it was still a beautiful ride. We went on the three hour ride and the views ... STUNNING! The horses were sure-footed, calm, and knew what they were doing. Our guide was Sarah and we were delighted to see that she had a large knowledge of the area, was friendly, and welcoming.

Recently went on a three hour canyon ride (July 2022) with McKenzie's Trails West. It was such a fun experience, I can't say enough good things. The staff and trail guide were all friendly and knowledgeable. The horses were very well trained, calm, and easy to be around (coming from a city guy). The views were stunning!

This is one of the best trail rides out of many I have been on in Alberta so far. The kindest people run it, and the guides are super friendly. We brought our two kids ( first time riders), the horses were very well mannered and they were given a small lesson before heading out. The different terrains and scenery made it such a spectacular ride!! We will be back for one of their pack trips next time! I highly recommend this place.

It was such a great time and experience! I will definitely be coming back when I come out West again! The staff and horses were amazing 👏

Definitely not "one of", but it is THE best trail riding in this Province. Wonderful family run establishment with very caring and attentive people. We had a four hour long ride on 22 Jun 19 led by the owner's son, Logan, who was absolutely great. His passion and enthusiasm for the horses and the terrain shone right through. We also had newcomer Chloe taking up the back of the group who was also delightful and very caring about the horses. I can't speak for everyone else on the ride, but I found the horses to be the absolute best when it came to temperament. It is very easy to tell these horses are loved and well taken care of. I was on the oldest of the herd, Rocky, and he was awesome. This was by far the best riding experience I have ever had in our mountains and I can't wait to go back and ride again. Thank you for such a memorable experience!!

The folks at McKenzie trails west has hit the nail on the head! Excellent experience from beginning to end. They had our horses ready the moment we pulled up. Our guide for the day, Maggie, was wonderful and very personable. The horses were exactly what I expected, stable and dependable for the kind of rider we were. They were well loved animals who were well trained. Two thumbs up for you guys, we will be seeing each other again soon.

We arrived to a warm welcome. We were put at ease and set up for our horseback ride in an unhurried manner. Our guide Maddie was friendly and happy to engage in conversation. The trail for the 1 hr ride was great for beginners, and enjoyed by my wife, my teenage son and I.
We unreservedly recommend this company to anyone seeking to go horseback riding. Thank you McKenzie's Trails West.

Our guide Anika was a pleasure to converse with as she guided us on our horses through trails in the woods. Went with my girlfriend and her mom and we had a wonderful time. All the staff was super warm and friendly! Great place for beginner and advanced riders alike.

Great, it was the best time I have ever had. The horses are trained well. Nice nature trail ride. I got the 1 hour one, not disappointed at all.

This was a great experience, my wife and I had a great time. Chloe was an excellent guide and answered all of our questions. I would recommend it highly, and am considering a multi day trek when we have the time after how much we enjoyed out trail ride.