Are you headed to Sundre and are looking for some fun and adventurous things to do? We’re pretty spoiled for choice in Alberta, especially if you live around Calgary. The trouble is that everyone is doing the same things in the same places. I guess they don’t know about Sundre, a sweet, small town situated a mere hour north of Calgary and east of the Banff National Park boundary. Forget Banff, Bragg Creek and Canmore! There are loads of things to do in Sundre for both families and outdoor adventurers, but without the crowds those other destinations are plagued by.
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Things to do in Sundre
A lot of my friends beg me not to give away their secret spots for fear of tourists. Too bad! Sundre is an under-the-radar gem that more people need to know about. There are so many things to do in Sundre that you’ll have a hard time fitting it all in over a weekend. Here’s a game plan to get you started.
Biking in Sundre
The big deal in Sundre is its mountain biking scene. There’s a wide variety of technical and beginner trails, and you can park and ride to everything. Best of all, hardly anyone is on these trails, which range from 1-2 km or up to 10 km in length. (Plus, there are 15 km of trails just north of town.)
The Sundre Bike and Ski Club has developed two to three km of trails on the Red Deer River Valley system. There’s single and double tracks, plus a wide gravel track you can ride five abreast. It’s a multi-use trail, so watch out for hikers and moose!
Tip: There’s a trailhead and plenty of parking at Alder Close.
Now, if you head north on the River Valley trails, you can veer left onto 12th Avenue, connecting with the town’s paved trail systems that take you to Snake Hill Recreation Area. What’s nice about this region is you get the total feel of mountain biking without exposing yourself to the risk. There are nine km of biking trails at Snake Hill, and it actually feels pretty remote on these single-track trails, even though you’re never more than 40 ft away from the main, well-travelled trails.
Contact the Bike and Ski Club for advice at: [email protected] or join their Tuesday night ride.
World of Wildlife
If your kid loves critters as much as mine, you’ll want to hightail it to the World of Wildlife at the Sundre Museum. Here, you’ll find 170 mounts from around the world. No lie, that’s a lot of taxidermy! It’s fun, though, and you’ll learn a ton, especially if you visit Thursday through Sunday in summer when Daniel is guiding. This dude knows so much about the animal kingdom your kids will be enthralled, trust.
Be sure to head outside before departing. There’s an old ranger station to wander through, plus other heritage buildings that people can explore at length. It’s so laid-back that kids can ring the school bell, write all over the one-room school chalkboard, and burn off energy running around the grounds.
Wild Horses Alberta
You’ve likely seen these majestic creatures on the highway. There’s approximately 2,000 wild horses in Alberta. When their numbers get too high, the government culls them. This is where the Wild Horses of Alberta Society (WHOAS), comes in. This society rescues the horses and resettles them into loving stables.
There’s no formal program, but visitors are welcome to tour the outdoor facility for an up-close and personal experience with wild horses. Currently, there’s a herd of six plus two colts. There’s no charge to visit, but donations are greatly appreciated. You’ll need to set up your visit in advance by emailing [email protected].
Horseback riding near Calgary
Further equine experiences can be had on trail rides with Sunset Guiding and Outfitting. Situated an hour’s drive west of Sundre, this outfitter takes children as young as four years old for hour-long trail rides. Older peeps can go longer rides – up to a full day from May until Thanksgiving.
We opted for a two-hour trail ride that delivered sweeping views of the Rockies, Kline Lake, and the Panther River Valley. I’ve been on a lot of trail rides in my day, and these horses were well cared for and super gentle. It was truly a delight to mosey through an area as pretty as you’d find anywhere in the Rockies.
White water rafting
If you’re after an outdoor adventure, look no further than barreling down the Upper Red Deer River with Mukwah Rafting Tours. Fun fact: The Red Deer River is a natural river, not dammed up like the Kananaskis.
This means more rapids and more excitement. There’s a sampler 17 km tour, but most tend to go for the Full Jaunty—a four-hour, 25 km paddle. If they offer to stop in an eddy so you can do a 10-ft. cliff jump, leap at this opportunity!
They provide wetsuits, water boots, helmets and life jackets, plus you’ll get lunch before you raft, chowing down on homemade soup, sandwiches, fruit, veg and dessert. Rafting is surprisingly tiring, so think about adding on a steak BBQ at the end of your tour.
As refreshing as cooling off on a hot summer day is, I was most jazzed to hear about their midnight float trips! Yes, on the three to four days on either side of a full moon you can float down the river by the light of it.
Kids as young as four years old can join this excursion as you bob down a tamer, rapid-free section of the river. The moon floats don’t start until after midnight, so think carefully about bringing tired kids. Check Mukwah’s website to see when this is next offered.
Sundre golf course
Admittedly, I don’t know much about golf, but I do know a beautiful course when I see one. Ten years ago, the Sundre Golf Club went from a small town country course to a legitimate challenge that’s hosted the Alberta Open. You can play 18 holes for $79 on weekends—probably one of the reasons it was recently voted the best value course in Alberta.
Good to know
Before you go, download the Town’s mobile App, which has interactive trail maps and other helpful tips.
If you plan on staying overnight (worth it), consider these camping and hotel options.
Thanks for the gracious write-up about Sundre! Come back anytime!
I will for sure be back! There’s so many things to do in Sundre. Winter next time!