Boundary Ranch is a legendary western ranch experience set amid the spectacular natural beauty of Alberta’s Kananaskis Valley. It offers visitors an authentic taste of the “real west,” from guided horseback trail rides through mountain backcountry to old-fashioned cowboy hospitality. Just a short drive from Kananaskis Village on Highway 40, This four-season outpost connects guests to the adventure and serenity of the Canadian Rockies. By combining outdoor thrills with rich heritage, Boundary Ranch has become an iconic destination where scenic wilderness, Western culture, and family-friendly fun come together in the heart of Treaty 7 territory (traditional lands of the Stoney Nakoda, Tsuut’ina, and Blackfoot peoples).
Beyond individual adventures, Boundary Ranch serves as a memorable venue for events, which feeds into stories about destination weddings, unique corporate retreats, and group travel in the Rockies. The ranch’s Western Entertainment Centre (a rustic log banquet hall known as the Kiska Lodge) can host up to 300 guests with full catering facilities. Couples can say “I do” with a stunning mountain backdrop, arriving by horse-drawn carriage and treating guests to wagon rides and cowboy-chic receptions. Companies can book the ranch for team-building retreats, enjoying activities like team penning on horseback, rodeo games, or guided trail adventures as bonding experiences.
Skip the sterile boardroom and step into something unforgettable. At Boundary Ranch in Kananaskis Country, corporate events come with mountain views, log-beamed banquet halls, and the kind of team-building that trades flipcharts for cowboy hats. From horseback rides and mini rodeos to curling matches and sleigh rides in winter, this isn’t your average off-site—it’s a professionally hosted mountain experience designed to bring teams together in fresh, inspired ways.
Looking for a venue that offers more than just AV hookups and round tables? Boundary Ranch blends full-service meeting capabilities with authentic outdoor adventure in the heart of the Rockies. Host your seminar in the rustic-chic Western Event Centre, then take your team on a wagon ride, learn to lasso, or watch a Wild West show over lunch. Whether you’re planning a strategy session or a staff celebration, Boundary Ranch turns work into an experience.
The ranch’s seasonal café (summer operation) serves up casual meals, snacks, and refreshments to visitors stopping by. It’s a cozy spot to grab a coffee or an ice cream and enjoy the ranch atmosphere between activities. The café also doubles as a gift shop offering local souvenirs and western-themed merchandise.
Boundary Ranch is famed for its rustic barbecue lunches and dinners for groups. Served in a scenic log BBQ pavilion or dining hall, these meals highlight Albertan cuisine – think grilled Alberta beef steaks or burgers, baked potatoes, corn on the cob, and the ranch’s homemade “Boundary Baked Beans,” all served on western enamelware plates. Guests can book “ride ‘n’ dine” packages (e.g. a Steak Lunch Ride), where a horseback excursion is followed by a hearty BBQ meal on site. The ranch is able to tailor menus for dietary needsboundaryranch.com, ensuring everyone can enjoy a true cowboy cookout. This dining experience adds flavour (literally!) to any media coverage – visually, it’s very appealing (picture steaks on the grill, picnic tables, and cowboy coffee over a fire) and it ties into Canada’s western culinary traditions.
For weddings, corporate retreats, and special events hosted at the ranch, full-service catering is available. The in-house culinary team can provide everything from buffet-style BBQ feasts to plated dinners or casual campfire cookouts, depending on the client’s vision. A licensed bar service is typically offered as well, often featuring local craft beers or Caesar cocktails for a Canadian touch. The emphasis is on hospitality and hearty, crowd-pleasing menus, ensuring that dining is a highlight of events at Boundary Ranch.
The ranch’s story is tied to the Guinn family, pioneers of Rocky Mountain guiding since the 1930s. Long before “Kananaskis Country” was even on the map, Alvin “Bud” Guinn (1915–2006) and family were leading packhorse trips through these peaks, helping spark the early development of cowboy tourism in the Canadian Rockies. A popular hiking route in the area, Guinn’s Pass, is even named after the family’s trailblazing exploits.
Boundary Ranch’s roots trace back to the famed Rafter Six Ranch, founded in 1914 by Herbert “Soapy” Smith and later run by the Guinns. Building on that legacy, Boundary Ranch was established in 1987 as Kananaskis Country emerged as a destination. The name “Boundary” reflects its unique location straddling provincial and federal forestry lands. In its first summer, the Guinn family lived in trapper tents and teepees on site while managing the fledgling ranch with just 15 horses – humble beginnings for what would become a thriving operation.
To this day, Boundary Ranch remains family-run, with the Guinns maintaining a hands-on approach and a strong connection to tradition. Over the years the ranch has grown to about 100 head of horses and a small buffalo herd (plus a resident donkey and mule), yet it continues to emphasize friendly western hospitality and authenticity. With over 85 years of combined guiding experience in the Rockies, the family ensures each guest enjoys a safe, memorable adventure true to the ranch’s heritage.
From May through October, Boundary Ranch invites visitors to explore the wild beauty of Kananaskis the old-fashioned way—on horseback. Whether you’re a first-timer easing into the Buffalo Loop or ready to tackle a half-day Ridge Ride with mountain views at every turn, each guided trail ride is a journey into Alberta’s frontier spirit. With pony rides for little wranglers, authentic backcountry pack trips, and unique combos like “Surf & Saddle” or “Woof & Hoof,” Boundary Ranch delivers a full summer of Rocky Mountain adventure, cowboy-style.
Boundary Ranch isn’t just a place to ride—it’s a place to connect with the land, the legends, and the lifestyle of the Rockies. Guests can spend the day exploring wildflower meadows and alpine trails on guided rides, watch mock gunfights and trick-roping shows, or join a signature pack trip into Banff’s backcountry. Add in BBQ lunches, rafting excursions, dog carting, and rodeo-style demos, and you’ve got a summer destination that’s as bold and varied as the Kananaskis landscape itself.
When the snow blankets the foothills of Kananaskis, Boundary Ranch comes alive with timeless winter charm. From cozy horse-drawn sleigh rides through frost-covered forests to dogsledding adventures with Indigenous-owned tour operators, the ranch offers visitors a true taste of Canadian winter. Whether sipping hot chocolate by a crackling fire or learning to mush your own dog team, every moment is steeped in the magic of the Rockies and Alberta’s rich outdoor traditions.
At Boundary Ranch, winter isn’t just a season—it’s a celebration. Families can bundle up for sleigh rides jingling through snowy meadows, while thrill-seekers can race through the wilderness on dogsleds led by local guides. On select days, even horseback rides continue along snow-lined trails, offering a rare way to explore the mountains in quiet, cold-weather beauty. With festive touches, warm hospitality, and adventures for all ages, Boundary Ranch turns winter into something unforgettable.
Boundary Ranch is a legendary western ranch experience set amid the spectacular natural beauty of Alberta’s Kananaskis Valley. It offers visitors an authentic taste of the “real west,” from guided horseback trail rides through mountain backcountry to old-fashioned cowboy hospitality. Just a short drive from Kananaskis Village on Highway 40, This four-season outpost connects guests to the adventure and serenity of the Canadian Rockies. By combining outdoor thrills with rich heritage, Boundary Ranch has become an iconic destination where scenic wilderness, Western culture, and family-friendly fun come together in the heart of Treaty 7 territory (traditional lands of the Stoney Nakoda, Tsuut’ina, and Blackfoot peoples).
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We acknowledge that the land on which we explore, Kananaskis, lies is the traditional territory of the Treaty 7 Nations of The Tsuut’ina Nation, the Stoney Nakoda Nation, comprised of the Chiniki, Bearspaw, Goodstoney and Wesley First Nations, and the Blackfoot Confederacy, including the Kainai-Blood Tribe, Siksika, Peigan-Piikani and Aamskapi Pikun. We recognize the Treaty 3 region of the Mètis Nation of Alberta and their historic connection to this land. We commit to the furthering of truth and reconciliation and honour and celebrate those who have lived, and continue to live, on this land.
Photos by Travel Alberta