Canmore: Rat's Nest Cave Explorer Tour & Underground Crawl
What's Inside One of Canada's Longest Caves
You hike uphill for 30–40 minutes, then spend 2 to 2.5 hours underground crawling past bones and formations, squeezing through tight passages if you choose, and learning cave geology from your guide. All equipment (helmet, harness, lights) is provided. You'll need moderate fitness and a waist under 46 inches to fit the safety harness.
Options for this experience
2 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Explore Rat's Nest Cave in Canmore
- Arrive at Rat's Nest Cave
- Meet your guide
- Enter the cave
- Crawl past prehistoric bones
- Investigate ancient cave formations
- Attempt warm-up squeeze
- Try challenge squeeze
- Exit the cave
What’s included
Your day includes expert guide, all caving equipment (helmet, safety harness, lights), the 30–40 minute mountain hike to the cave, 2 to 2.5 hours underground exploring Rat's Nest Cave, and all activities including optional squeeze passages. You don't arrange transport to the cave or bring your own gear.
Times
- Every day 09:30 11:00
Before you book
Operated by Canmore Cave Tours
Prices and times updated today
Traveler reviews
The experience
What happens when you crawl 200 meters underground and find yourself in a passage so tight you have to squeeze through on your belly? That's part of the Canmore caving experience at Rat's Nest Cave, and it's not something you can replicate anywhere else in Alberta. The 4.5-hour tour starts with a 30 to 40-minute hike uphill on a mountain trail. Nothing brutal, but enough to warm you up before you descend into the cave system itself.
Once you're down there, the guide walks you through roughly 2 to 2.5 hours of actual caving. You'll see prehistoric bones embedded in the rock, study ancient formations that took thousands of years to form, and if you're game for it, tackle the warm-up squeeze and the challenge squeeze: tight passages that test your nerve but also give you that real sense of moving through something genuinely old and untouched. The cave stays cool year-round, so even in summer the temperature drop is noticeable. Your guide handles all the technical stuff: they fit your helmet and safety harness before you go in, check your gear, and lead you through the route at a pace that works for the group.
The whole thing requires moderate fitness. You're scrambling, crawling, and sliding, not just walking. Your guide will be honest about what you're capable of, and the minimum group size is two people, though if numbers don't meet the requirement after booking, you get offered an alternative date or a full refund. Bring water, wear clothes you don't mind getting dirty, and know that this isn't a museum tour with a rope barrier. You're actually moving through the cave, using your hands and legs to navigate.
Is this one for you?Book this if you want to actually move through a real cave system rather than walk a lit tourist route. The tight squeezes and scrambling are what make it feel genuine, and the guide's expertise is what keeps it safe.
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Top questions
Can children come?
Yes. Ticket types: Youth (10 to 15 years). Children under 10 can't be included in the booking.
How long is the actual time spent underground?
Approximately 2 to 2.5 hours of caving, plus a 30–40 minute uphill hike to reach the cave entrance.
What's included in the tour price?
Expert guide, all caving equipment (helmet, harness, lights), and all activities. You don't pay extra for gear or entry.
Is Rat's Nest Cave difficult?
It's moderately strenuous. You'll crawl, squeeze, and slide through passages. The challenge squeeze is optional. Moderate fitness is required.
What's the maximum waist size for the safety harness?
46 inches (116 cm) waist and 33 inches (84 cm) leg size. Check before booking if you're near the limit.
Is this tour suitable for pregnant women?
Not recommended for women beyond their first trimester due to the physical demands and tight spaces.
What should I wear?
Clothes you don't mind getting dirty, sturdy shoes for hiking, and layers: the cave stays cool even in summer.
What's the minimum group size?
Minimum 2 people. If the group doesn't meet the minimum after booking, you'll be offered an alternative date or full refund.
Is there parking or public transport?
Public transportation options are available nearby. Check locally for current transit routes to the trailhead.
Who shouldn't do this tour?
Not recommended for people with poor cardiovascular health, spinal injuries, or pregnancy beyond the first trimester.
Canmore: Rat's Nest Cave Explorer Tour & Underground Crawl
4h 30m · EN
from CA$ 149 per person
≈ US$ 108 in your currency
Next, you choose your date and number of travelers and see the final price.