Caving in The Eastern Canadian Rockies
RATS NEST CAVE TOURS
Located on Grotto Mountain near Canmore, along the 1 A Highway. These caves are dark, mysterious, and challenging, just as nature created them over hundreds of thousands of years ago. They are wild caves and have not been developed in any way. Rats Nest Caves are 50 C (400F) all year around. Explored and mapped passageways measure over 4 km, making this one of the eight longest caves in Canada.
These caves are a treasure trove of information locked up in the mineral formations, hidden in sediment deposits, to be deciphered from the labyrinth of the passageways. The dating of mineral formations has shown these caves to be more than one million years old.
Hike for 30 minutes through a mountain forest to the cave entrance. Here you will enter a world of rough-hewn rock and dripping water that has remained silent and hidden for a millennia. Descend an 18 metre (60 foot) cable ladder, crawling and scrambling through a series of bedrock passages and large echoing chambers. You will end up in a beautifully decorated grotto full of stalactites and stalagmites. From here the passage descends under water; however, you will explore labyrinths of tubes and tunnels before returning to the surface. (You do not have to go through the water.)
Canmore Caverns: 678-8819 and Toll Free: 1-877-317-1178
Email: wood-rat@telusplanet.net
www.canadianrockies.net/wildcavetours
1009 Larch Place, Canmore
Adventure Tour ($115.00 + GST)
Rappel/abseil an 18m (60-ft) drop, climb and traverse both large and narrow passages. Tours last approximately 6 hours.
Explorer Tour($89.00 + GST) Similar to the adventure tour but no rappel. Tours last approximately 4 hours.
Each Tour Group: Minimum 2, maximum 8 people per guide. The minimum age is 9 years. Tours are physically challenging but no experience is necessary. Participants should be reasonably fit, i.e. those who hike, bike, raft, snowshoe or ski will enjoy this adventure.
Visit the world of caves with Canmore Caverns Ltd. You will descend a cave on Grotto Mountain near Canmore, Alberta.
Experienced cave guides will interpret the fascinating natural history of the cave. Huge quantities of water were pumped through this 4- km long limestone cave system from extinct glaciers of the last million years.
Tour groups meet in Canmore at the Sobeys. Reservations are required. Minimum age is 9 years (guideline).
Tour group size is 6-8 people per guide.
Contact: Chas Yonge at (403) 678-8819
ALSO THE CONTACT FOR THE MOOSE MOUNTAIN ICE CAVES
Alpine Cave Adventures: 1-877-317-1178
www.canadianrocky.net/wildcavetours
2-3 day caving in the Crowsnest Pass dates: July 16 and 17th, Aug 20 and 21 and Sept 17 and 18. Cleft Cave and Gargantua Cave.
Self-catered: bring own camping equipment and food.
Fully-catered: all camping gear and meals provided
Caving equipment provided: helmet, headlamp, coveralls, harness, gloves, knee pads.
Minimum 3 participants, should be physically fit but only limited caving experience necessary. Tours from July to September.
Kananaskis Country
(Moose Mountain Caves/Ing’s Mine)
There are caves located in the Elbow Falls region of Kananaskis Country, however Parks and Protected would prefer that the people who go there are experienced. Using the Kananaskis country explorer look on page 24. Notice where the Elbow River Launch is… now follow above (remember we are reading upside down). The road is closed year-round at Hwy 66 (It is also the entrance for the Shell sour-gas plant). Therefore you have to hike or bike 6km to the old parking area, then hike or bike another 1 km to the Cave entrance. The last kilometer is a hard climb (very steep and loose scree slope). You should have proper gear to enter these caves, helmets, crampons, ropes, lights etc… It is cold, dark and wet. Before you go it is advisable that you contact Barrier Lake Information Centre first at 673-3985. There are maps available of this cave system, and it is recommended to purchase one prior to going, as there are a few tricky places.
For more information about caving, contact Alberta Spelelogical Society at www.caving.ab.ca
