Bow Valley Canyon Tours

Heart Creek
Canyon

Embark on the Heart Creek Canyon Tour for an unforgettable half-day adventure that introduces you to the thrill of canyoning in the heart of Banff. The shorter time frame of this four-hour excursion makes it our most accessible tour, perfect for beginners. Experience the rush of rappelling and the optional 60-foot wet waterfall slide, making memories amidst the stunning landscapes of Heart Creek Canyon. 

Heart Creek Canyon Tours -Bow Valley

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Quick Details

SKILL Level

Beginner

No. of Rappels

4 - 5

Length of trip

Half Day (approximately 4-5 hours

GROUP SIZE

4 - 8 people

AGE

Ages 12+

Seasonal Availability

May 29 to Oct 01

TRIP Itinerary

Looking to try Canyoning for the first time? Then this is the trip for you! An easy approach, an ideal location to learn rappelling, and amazing scenery all make this trip the perfect choice for your first canyoning experience. Heart Creek Canyon is also our closest trip to the townsites of Banff & Canmore. Upper Heart Canyon provides a perfect location to learn and develop your rope rappelling skills. Introductory short rappels allow you to ease into rappelling and increase in length as you progress down the canyon, finally culminating with an exciting 60ft wet waterfall rappel and slide (optional: it is possible to hike around the lower falls).

Heart Creek Canyon Trip Itinerary

9:00 am:
Meet and greet at Heart Creek Trailhead Parking lot. You get to know your guides and other members of the group. Here your guides will provided with all the necessary equipment for the trip. An approximate 45min hike brings us to the top of the canyon and the start of our adventure.

10:00 am:
We gear up! Before we begin with our first rappel your guides will go thru a mandatory safety briefing and rappel clinic. Your guides make sure everyone is ready and safely prepared for the canyon. We begin the descent of the canyon.

10:00am – 12:00pm:
It takes approximately 2 – 3 hours to descend the entire length of the canyon which ALWAYS includes one final wet rappel.

1:00pm – 2:00pm:
A 20 – 25 min hike from the bottom of the canyon will bring you back to your Vehicle. Here we do a finaly change out of the wetsuits, unpack and undress gear. *Please Note: The itinerary may change according to unforeseen events, ability level and speed of group.

WHAT’s Included

We only use the highest quality equipment and canyon specific gear. The gear we provide on all of our canyon trips includes:

Bow Valley Canyon Tours Equipment
  • 5mm wet suit (Farmer John bottom, thickest wetsuit available to ensure everyone stays warm)
  • 5mm wetsuit top
  • Petzl helmet (UIAA – CE certified)
  • Petzl high quality harness
  • Petzl canyon specific rappel device.
  • Neoprene booties (similar to socks that go into your shoes to keep your feet warm)
  • Waterproof bag for any valuables

WHAT YOU
SHOULD BRING

  • Bathing suit
  • Towel
  • A pair of sturdy runners or light hikers which can get wet when descending the canyon. (no sandals or open toed shoes, no tennis shoes)
  • Rain jacket or hardshell (optional If available)
  • Extra clothes to change into after the trip (Will remain in the vehicle)
  • Waterproof Camera or Gopro
Bow Valley Canon Tours

FAQ
Heart Creek Canyon Tour

Although most trips take around 4 -5 hours car to car please note these are only approximations. We strongly recommend planning for additional time when planning your day. Occasionally due to factors out of our control, trips can take longer. Groups speeds can also vary a lot so please plan on being back later than the estimated time.

Due to the active nature of this trip we require all participants to be at least 12 years of age. Participants do not require any previous rope or rappelling experience, they must though be relatively comfortable with heights.

Heart Creek Canyon is located 17km east of the town site of Canmore and approximately 10 min drive from Canmore and 25 minutes from Banff. Look for the Heart Creek Trail exit

Depending on the trip you booked, your meeting time may be 9:00 am, 10:30 am, or 12:00pm at the Heart Creek Trail Parking lot. We recommend to arrive about 5 min early.

It is a good idea to change into a bathing suit before arriving at the meeting point. There are rudimentary public toilets at the Heart Creek Trailhead. We will “suit up” and change into wet suits before we rappel into the canyon which is after our short approach hike up the top of both canyon sections. Please also keep in mind that there are no services at the staging area. The closets gas station is in Deadmans Flats.

Participation in activities with Canadian Wilderness School Expedition/ Bow Valley Canyon Tours involves risks, dangers and hazards. All participants must read and agree to the Release Agreement prior to proceeding with booking. Click here to read the Release Agreement: Click here to read the Release Agreement:

Our canyoning season usually runs from May to October. Bookings can be made directly by clicking the: BOOK NOW link or call us by phone. We would love to answer any remaining questions you might have.  Please be ready to provide a credit card when booking by phone. We are normally available between the hours of 8am – 6pm seven days a week, Mountain standard Time.

PH: (403) 679-2309

Email: tours@cwexpeditions.ca

Due to factors our of our control and the unpredictible nature of being outdoors, all trips may be subject to last minute itinerary change or in an extreme case even possible cancellation due to such things as unexpected water levels and/or weather conditions. Safety of all participants and our guides is ALWAYS our number one concern and so we need to make decisions accordingly. In these rare circumstances, please refer to our cancelation policy provided upon booking the trip.

Unforgettable Canyoning Adventures Await!

We gratefully acknowledge that we travel, work, explore, and play in the Treaty 7 Territory region of Southern Alberta. Treaty 7 encompasses the traditional lands of the Îyârhe Nakoda Nations of Chiniki, Wesley, and Bearspaw, the Tsuut’ina First Nation, the Kainai, Siksika, and Piikani Nations of the Niitsitapi (Blackfoot) Confederacy, and Métis Nation of Alberta, Region III. We promise to honour and celebrate the land, history, and habitants of this sacred space, for we are guests in their home.