Canmore: Rat's Nest Cave Explorer Tour & Guided Caving

Summary

Underground adventure in Canmore’s wild Rat’s Nest Cave

You’ll hike up from Canmore with a local guide before heading deep into Rat’s Nest Cave—crawling past ancient bones, testing yourself on squeezes (if you want), and sharing stories underground. Expect cool air on your face, total darkness at times, and moments of real surprise you’ll remember long after you’re back in daylight.

What’s the experience like?

Li handed me my helmet and grinned, “You’ll want to keep this tight.” I laughed, but honestly, my palms were already sweaty. There was something about standing at the mouth of Rat’s Nest Cave, just outside Canmore, that made me feel like a kid again—nervous and excited at the same time. The wind up there smelled sharp, almost mineral, and you could hear nothing but our group’s boots crunching on the trail. I tried to say “Ni hao” back to Li (he’d told us he grew up near Banff but learned Mandarin from his mom), and he just shook his head and laughed. I probably butchered it.

The hike up took maybe half an hour, and by the time we reached the cave entrance I was breathing hard. Not embarrassed though—Li said everyone does. Inside, it was cooler than I expected, almost damp. My hands brushed against rough limestone as we crawled through the first tunnel; one guy behind me kept making jokes about Indiana Jones but honestly, it felt more real than any movie set. We stopped where Li pointed out some prehistoric bones wedged in a corner—I didn’t expect that part at all. He explained how old they were (thousands of years? My brain couldn’t quite hold onto the number) while our headlamps flickered across the rock.

I hesitated at the first squeeze—the so-called warm-up squeeze—but Li talked us through it. You don’t have to do it if you don’t want to, he said. But I did, eventually. It was tighter than I thought possible; my jacket scraped against stone and for a second I wondered if I’d get stuck (I didn’t). The silence down there is weirdly thick except for your own breath echoing off the walls. At one point we all turned off our lamps for a minute—total blackness—and someone whispered that it felt like floating in space. That stuck with me.

Coming out into daylight again felt strange; everything looked too bright and loud after those hours underground. My legs were shaky but in a good way—I still think about that view over Canmore from the cave mouth. If you’re even a little curious about caving or just want to see what’s under those mountains, this Explorer Tour is worth every scraped elbow.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — 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

Top questions

How long does the Canmore caving tour last?

The Explorer Tour lasts about 4.5 hours total, including 2 to 2.5 hours spent underground inside Rat's Nest Cave.

Is hotel pickup included for the Canmore caving tour?

No hotel pickup is listed; however, public transportation options are available nearby for reaching the meeting point.

Do I need previous caving experience for this tour?

No prior experience is needed; guides provide all instructions and equipment for beginners.

What should I wear for caving in Canmore?

Wear comfortable clothes suitable for crawling and hiking; all safety equipment like helmets and harnesses are provided.

Are there health restrictions for this caving tour?

This tour isn’t recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health or spinal injuries; pregnant women past their first trimester should not join.

How physically demanding is the Rat's Nest Cave tour?

The activity is moderately strenuous—you’ll hike uphill 30-40 minutes plus crawl, climb, squeeze, and slide inside the cave.

Is lunch included on this day trip from Canmore?

No lunch is included; only expert guiding and all caving equipment are provided during your experience.

What’s included

Your day includes expert guiding throughout your journey from Canmore up to Rat’s Nest Cave and deep underground, plus all necessary caving equipment—helmet, harnesses—and every activity along the way so you can focus on exploring without worrying about gear or safety details.