Hiking in the Chilcotin Mountains

Bring your friends and get 10% Discount if you are a group of 4 or more and book before 28th February!
Hike with your essentials for the day, whilst your packhorse carries everything else into the alpine. Hike along historic pioneer trails, winding along the mountain tops until you reach mountains with 360 degree views of breathtaking scenery.

Grizzly Viewing in the Chilcotin

Prime Grizzly viewing in our sub alpine camps is June 1st through July 15. But most horse pack trips see grizzlies right through to October. Last week our Guide School saw a Sow with 4 cubs- a pretty unusual sight!
We can also do Truck based Grizzly viewing day trips, and have courses in bear defense for those who want to enjoy the wilderness in a responsible way when on their own. Call us for details and to book your opportunity to see these animals in their home. A true Canadian experience unlike any other.

Hike the Chilcotin Mountains

Join us on one of our Hiking Trips in the Chilcotin Mountains. We offer guided multi-day alpine hiking trips and wilderness trekking tours. Explore secluded alpine basins keep your eye out for abundant wildlife and enjoy open-air lunches with stunning scenery. We have over 150 species of wildflowers which cover the alpine meadows during the summer months.

From May to September the South Chilcotin Mountains are alive with flora and fauna. Horse riding, wildlife viewing and flowering alpine meadows is the best all-round combination for a wilderness vacation.
Do you want to see a Grizzly Bear lying on his stomach pulling himself through a field of wild flowers with bouquets of flowers sticking out the side of his mouth?

The yellow flowers of the Spruce Lake side hills will be a bumper crop in May and June 2011. Balsa Root is what these colourful flowers are called. The name does not match their grandeur. Because of the good snow pack this Winter, the mountains side will be painted yellow for 6-8km in length and 1 km deep. the flower heads are over 4 inches in diameter. There will be clusters of 10 to 20 flower heads in each plant and they will stand over 24 inches tall, belly deep to the horses. To witness this display of nature at it's peak is a rare experience of the Chilcotin Mountains not had by many.

Mantracker, Terry Grant, rides the horse trails of the Chilcotin Mountains

Tune in April 17th 2011 9pm ET/PT to OLN for the premiere episode of Season 6 featuring our guide Russ Floyd

Shane Doan, Team Canada, hockey player and Phoenix Coyotes captain and his brother Brook are the hunted on the premiere episode of Mantracker, Season 6. Russ Floyd acts as Mantracker's right hand man and Chilcotin Mountain guide. Russ and Mantracker, Terry Grant, rode our mountain horses in the pursuit of Shane and Brook- the hunted in the premiere show, April 17th 2011.

How did Russ get a chance to ride with Mantracker on the international reality TV show? When Russ was 18 he took the Wilderness Horse Pack Guide Training Program with Chilcotin Holidays. He learnt all the skills to be guide, then he taught the guide training programs at Chilcotin Holidays. Russ guides year round doing Mountain Horse Pack Trips, Grizzly Viewing Trips, Horse Logging and Horse Shoeing.


The Horse Back Guide Training first program is full - the second program runs May 16th - 28th - we say that if you want to work as a Horse Back Guide, take the the first schools of the year and you're ready to work for this season. We do schools until mid-September so if earlier ones don't fit your schedule, you will be ready next season.


Russ guides guests in the same mountains the two episodes of Mantracker were filmed. Guests can request to ride the same horse and ride the same trails that Mantracker rode when he hunted Shane Doan and his brother in the premiere episode.

Working as a Wilderness Guidew

Hi, my name is Ed; I’m 52 years old and live in St Albert Alberta. I’ve been coming out to the Chilcotin Holidays Ranch for the last four years now. I’ve attended the Wilderness Guide and Outfitter courses and have been guiding guests and working around the ranch doing whatever needs to get done.

I grew up a city slicker but worked summers with my uncle who was a horseman with the
harness racing circuit in Manitoba. I loved the horses and atmosphere around the barns and helping to get the horses ready for the season was great fun.

I left home from Winnipeg when I was 17 years old and joined the Canadian Army. Travelling extensively and conducting operations around the world and Canada, at 47 years old I realized it was time to change my combat boots for cowboy boots. I since have been working full time for the Alberta Government as an Emergency Management Officer.

I have come out to the ranch every year as my working holiday and for some life balance. At first I was concerned about my age but now find, although not quite as fast as the 25 year olds,my stamina for the long days has not failed me and I truly feel rejuvenated by the experience each and every summer. I find working with younger people has an infectious spirit that provides for well- being beyond explanation.

My wife kids me saying “you’re are a sucker for hard work”, wilderness guiding is just that, however it is very rewarding hard work and at the end of each and every pack trip it gives me a the sense of satisfaction upon completing another journey that feeds me throughout the remainder of the year in that job back in Edmonton that provides me to eat regular.

Life on the ranch is filed with spectacular views, fresh mornings, and eagerness of physical and mental well-being. Great food for healthy eating, beautiful ranch accommodations for guests and clean well managed camps for the mountain trips are second to none.

There is a true infectious enthusiasm from everyone; guides, ranch hands and staff that the guests cannot help but absorb to give them a great experience. There is more than plenty of wide openness that Chilcotin country provides for, to all who venture into her. Whether a summer trip or a winters frolic, no one could help but feel invigorated! If I were only 25 all over again, mountain life may have become a full time venture for me, que sera sera… life may have turned out a little different but it is still pretty darn good with my “life balance” trips every year ha ha!

I have had many experiences in life and as a paratrooper, however I continue to realize each season at the ranch that my individual growth never ends, life just keeps providing excitement,and I’m a sucker for it all-as my wife says.

Take care all and we’ll see you on the trail in the very near future at Chilcotin Holidays were we will pitter-patter down the trail, sing and yell- Yahoo! Ed

Hike the Chilcotin Mountains

$500.00 per person 7 day/6 Night Hike Trips in the Chilcotin Mountains

There are 10 camps to choose from. This is a self guided, self catered trip. We supply the equipped camp, pack horse and guide to get you in to the camp and to the trail head drop off and pick up point.
At your own interests you can explore the wild flower meadows, the mountain goat and big horn sheep and soak up the breathtaking 360 views.