Page 7 - AEF-AlbertaBits_Fall-2025

Trail Guide
Autumn
Colours
Explore the northern
Rockies by horseback
By Caitlin Hart
CLEAR BLUE RIVERS, orange and yellow
foliage and the soaring Rocky Mountains
— for some equestrians, fall is the best
season on Alberta’s trails.
Old Entrance Ranch owner Mary
Luger has been guiding trail rides
outside of Hinton for almost 27 years
and says fall is her favourite time of year
to take to the trails
“It’s usually nice and dry by September,”
Luger explains. “There’s less demand,
it’s less busy and less hot, so the horses
aren’t grouchy. We can go for longer rides
and there aren’t horseflies bothering you.”
Luger leads small groups of riders with
Old Entrance Ranch’s resident horses and
welcomes novice riders. The company also
offers teepee camping, tent and RV sites,
and year-round cabin rentals, perfect for a
fall getaway.
Equestrian enthusiast Paulette Barry
concurs. “In the fall, you have nice clean
air and all the beautiful colours of the
leaves. And the trails are not quite as
busy. It’s a great time to go.”
Amy Wheeldon, a lifelong equestrian
from the U.K. now living in Alberta, agrees
that the scenery in fall is beautiful.
“The colours of the leaves are
spectacular, and with the cooler
temperatures, the whole experience feels
calm and refreshing. It’s a wonderful way
to enjoy the season.”
Photos supplied
Of course the view of the northern
Rockies is always awe-inspiring, but fall
offers something special — September is
peak foliage season in the region. With
aspen poplar and black poplar along the
trails, the colours of the season are on
full display.
“The yellow leaves just make it more
beautiful than ever,” Luger adds. “And the
whole area is gorgeous.”
Wheeldon has been on one of Old
Entrance Ranch’s trail rides.
“We went out as a bigger group, and
the terrain they took us on was so varied.
After some steep sections, we reached
a spectacular viewpoint overlooking
the Athabasca River heading into Jasper
National Park,” she says.
She’s also taken to the trails in
nearby Brule, west of Hinton along the
Athabasca River.
“We went at sunset, surrounded by
incredible fall colours and a stunning
mountain backdrop,” Wheeldon says. “It
felt like one of those ‘this is why I moved
to Canada’ moments — peaceful, beautiful
and completely unforgettable.”
For riders looking to strike out on their
own, Rock Lake-Solomon Creek Wildland
Provincial Park 70 km northwest of Hinton
offers equestrian trails in the northern
foothills. And for a true backcountry
experience, there’s Willmore Wilderness
Park, southwest of Grande Cache.
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