Policies
Booking Information – Policies
Rates
Prices quoted are per person in Canadian Dollars.
Please click on currency converter beside the holiday package description to view price details in the currency of your choice.
Discounts are available on specialty packages (Wild West Spa Escape and Chicks in the Sticks) for groups and bookings of more than 5 persons and on Bring Your Own Horse (Outpost Escape and Bed, Bale ‘n’ Grub) for groups and bookings of more than 10 persons. One person must represent the party and handle all correspondence as well as payment to be eligible for the group discount. For group, tour, F.I.T. and travel agent inquiries please call our office directly at 403-762-2767 for net rates or commission discounts. You may also email us at info@outpostatwardenrock.com.
To truly appreciate our backcountry treasure, all inclusive packages have a minimum 3 day stay unless stipulated. Shorter duration stays are possible on certain packages and at certain times of the year. Please check with us for availability.
Making a Reservation
To make a reservation, please contact us by email (for quickest response), phone or mail and indicate the dates you wish to book. To fill out a reservation form Click Here » We will let you know if the space is available, and indicate what we require to confirm your reservation.
Confirmation of Reservation
For all inclusive packages, we require a non-refundable deposit equivalent to one day per person to confirm the reservation. The balance must be paid in full 60 days prior to arrival for all guided riding packages. For bookings made within 60 days of arrival date, full payment is due at time of booking.
Change/Cancellation Policy
If you need to change your all inclusive holiday reservation to a later date within the same season even if you have paid for all or a portion of your trip, you may do so with 30 days advanced notice to our office, providing space is available and payment of a $75 administration rebooking fee. If the package you move to is of lesser value, we will refund the difference, and if the package you move to is of a greater value, you will be charged the difference. Should you need to cancel your reservation, we must receive cancellation by telephone as well as confirmed in writing in our office at least 30 days before your booked arrival date. Deposits are always non-refundable, but can be transferred to another booking within the 2024 season, provided space is available. If space is unavailable, the deposit is forfeited. Deposits are non-transferable to another person already with a confirmed booking. If cancellation is received 30 days prior to the package start, the remainder of the money received will be refunded. After this date, all monies received by us are 100% non-refundable. Up to 15 days prior to the package start date that you are cancelling, you are permitted to find a replacement and any money received will be transferred to your replacement or be transferred to a later package date within the 2024 season as long as the space is available. Our change and cancellation policy is non-negotiable, and for this reason we strongly recommend you purchase trip cancellation insurance from your vacation or insurance provider.
For daily getaways, changes may be made up to the booking up to 15 days prior to the activity booked. Should you need to cancel, we require at least 15 days telephone and written notice, for a full refund of any money paid. Bookings cancelled within 15 days of the reserved date, are 100% non-refundable.
Refunds will not be given for all inclusive packages and daily getaways, once the booking has commenced.
Surcharges
5% G.S.T. (Goods and Services Tax) will be added to the total amount of your booking.
Our prices are determined a year in advance. Our remote business is greatly affected by rising and fluctuating fuel costs. It may be necessary to add a fuel surcharge to your booking at final payment. We will notify you should this be necessary.
For all inclusive holidays a 4% Tourism Levy (formerly Alberta Hotel Tax) will be added to the package price (based on the accommodation portion of your booking only), and is equivalent to $3.00 per person per day.
Backcountry User & Entry Fee of $11 per person per day up to a maximum of $55 will be added to all Stagecoach & Guided Horseback Holidays, Hiking Stays and Bring Your Own Horse packages unless you provide proof of your own Banff National Park Discovery Pass. This daily fee provides access into the backcountry and supports Parks Canada’s trail maintenance, resource conservation management and public safety initiatives in Banff National Park. The fee charged will be based on the number of trips into Banff National Park. You will be entitled to a refund for any portion of the fee charged and not used. You may also consider allowing us to donate your refunded amount to Friends of the Eastern Slopes Association (FOESA). The FOESA is a non-profit volunteer organization responsible for the maintenance of tie stalls and washrooms at the Bighorn campground and trail maintenance and upgrading in the Ya Ha Tinda area. For more information about the Friends of the Eastern Slopes Association please visit their website at http://www.foesa.org .
We will charge for additional wagon trips made to and from the Bighorn Campground on your behalf i.e. for a missed, scheduled wagon pick up or an early departure and drop off.
Payment
We accept cheques, bank drafts, e transfers (Canada only) and money orders made payable to Warden Rock Ltd. in Canadian funds. Visa and MasterCard are accepted for individuals on all inclusive holidays or daily getaways.
Groups and tours paying net rates should pay deposits and final payments with company cheque or bank draft.
Travel agents given commissionable rates should deduct their final commission from final payment and remit the balance with company cheque.
Indemnities
As we are in a remote, backcountry location, we strongly recommend that all guests purchase travel, health and trip cancellation insurance when booking their vacation. You should carry proper insurance in the event that you must cancel due to an accident or illness. We recommend that you carry insurance to cover hospital expenses and helicopter evacuation if necessary. The lodge has a satellite phone system with access to rescue and emergency services and the outside world. Guides travel with a satellite phone, SPOT transmitters and radios in case of emergency.
Each guest will be required to sign a waiver prior to departure from the Bighorn Campground, releasing Warden Rock Ltd. from all risks involved in participation and indemnifies Warden Rock Ltd. against injury suffered by the guest.
For guests bringing in their own horse(s), we require proof that you have liability insurance covering you for horse-related activities:
For safety we recommend both helmets and riding boots (i.e. narrow-heeled boots that will fit comfortably in the stirrups).
Substitution of Service
We reserve the right to substitute services or vary the itinerary e.g. in the case of extreme weather, fires and floods, and issues of safety in the backcountry. Full refunds may be issued or deferred to alternate dates. In the event of our cancellation our liability will be limited to the purchase price only.
Force Majeure
We shall not be liable for any claims, losses, damages, costs, expenses, delays or loss of enjoyment, of any kind whatsoever to persons from events beyond our reasonable control including but not limited to acts of God, wars, earthquakes, weather conditions, floods, and wild or prescribed fires. We are not responsible for delays or cancellation due to poor access conditions, roads or weather as well as restrictions on trail access.
Right to Refuse
We reserve the right upon reasonable grounds to refuse any persons any part the services offered i.e. in the case of potential injury to other person, or to livestock. We have described the experience, services and packages at The Outpost as accurately as possible. By purchasing our packages all persons have deemed to have made all reasonable inquiries about the services offered.
Incidental Charges
If you would like to try fishing while staying with us, you must purchase licences for both Banff National Park (BNP) and Alberta Environment and Parks (AEP), prior to your arrival. Please ensure you bring your own fishing gear, as we have limited tackle on hand. Additional information with regards to rules, regulations and fees are available for Banff National Park fishing regulations through Banff Tourist Information and Parks Canada Information Centers including Hot Pools and Campground Kiosks or by clicking this link http://www.pc.gc.ca/pn-np/ab/banff/activ/activ5_E.asp ).
Most sporting goods stores and gas stations in Alberta will have the provincial licences for sale, and you may also purchase online from http://www.albertaelm.com. For more information on provincial regulations in our zone ES2, please visit https://www.myalberta.ca/buy-licences/fishing-licences-fees/ Fees range from $25-50 depending on nationality and age and will include a WIN (Wildlife Identification Number) along with the sportfishing fee.
Both Banff National Park and Provincial Fishing regulations require barbless hooks. Children are free.
Gratuities,
Gratuities are customary and are a welcomed reflection of the quality of services rendered.
Other Important Information
We regret, no pets please.
Smoking is permitted outside only, and not in the vicinity of the barn and the hay!
We are not licensed to sell alcohol, but personal alcoholic beverages are permitted.
At time of booking, please advise us of any allergies, vegetarian or special meal requirements. We will endeavour to meet your needs. We will add a 15% surcharge per person on gluten free, diary free and organic requests.
Due to the nature of the activities and the unique backcountry location of The Outpost, persons must be at least 12 years of age to book any of our overnight packages. We welcome children on the daily getaways and the Outpost Overlander at least 8 years of age.
If you require communication with your family while at The Outpost, please arrange to rent or purchase a satellite phone or SPOT device, prior to your stay with us. Cell phones do not work at The Outpost. Our satellite phones are charged and ready in case of emergency and for communication with our office when needed.
We have horses for all levels of riders and riding experience, and we can find suitable saddle mounts for just about anyone. Many factors contribute to the weight a mule or horse can carry. In the interest of the health and safety of our working livestock, we restrict rider weight at time of booking to approximately 250 lbs. It may vary slightly due to several factors including your e.g. weight distribution, muscle to fat ratio, fitness level and athletic ability as well as riding experience. Upon commencement of your holiday, if excess weight becomes detrimental to the well-being of our livestock, we reserve the right to alter ride duration, terrain travelled, and daily amount of riding. We may find it necessary to substitute horseback riding with driving activities.
As we return to The Outpost each afternoon (as opposed to having to travel and set up a new campsite each day in a different location), we have flexibility in the design of our trail riding excursions. We often utilize gaited horses for experienced riders and supply the complete novice rider with a horse that will “look after them”. Our guided trail rides can be adjusted according to level of experience, ability, weather, and likes and dislikes, with regards to terrain and length of excursion.
Making Travel Arrangements
If you are flying into Calgary or Edmonton International Airports, you should plan your trip so that you arrive a day before you are scheduled to be picked up by our stagecoach at the Bighorn Campground. Most guests rent or drive their own cars, vans, or motorhomes to our staging site. If you need to rent, most car rental agencies have offices and vehicles at both airports. Van transfers from our staging site to and from Calgary International Airport, can be arranged through us. Please note however, that due to our remote location, van transfers are generally more expensive than car rental as they operate from Banff, Canmore or Calgary. Information on helicopter transfer is also available. Please let us know if we can help with these arrangements.
Shuttle service is available from Calgary International Airport to Banff. Please visit www.brewster.ca or www.banffairporter.com .
Approximate Driving Times
Calgary to Bighorn via Hwy 2 north, 2.5 hrs
Edmonton to Bighorn via Hwy 2 south 4.5 hrs
Banff to Bighorn via Hwy 40 north, 2.5 hrs
Banff to Bighorn via Hwy 22 north, 3 hrs
The times above may vary due to weather, road and traffic conditions. The Coal Camp Road to the Mountain Aire Lodge, and the Forestry Trunk Road to the Mountain Aire Lodge and the Bighorn Campground are gravel roads for most of the way. Please arrive at the Bighorn Campground ON TIME. Due to our remote backcountry location, we allow for only one stagecoach departure from the Bighorn to The Outpost daily. We are not responsible for missed connections at the Bighorn and we will charge a transport fee if additional pick up arrangements need to be arranged. There is no phone coverage in the Bighorn or on any of the gravel roads in. The last fuel stops are in Sundre and Canmore (15 miles east of Banff).
If you are travelling by car or van, free parking is available at our staging site at the Bighorn Campground for the duration of your stay. We are tucked in behind the washrooms just past the one way road sign as you drive into the campground. Look for the wagons and stagecoach! We haven’t lost anyone yet!
Banff is our home in the off season and our office location year round. If you are interested in combining a visit to The Outpost with a holiday in Banff National Park, The Calgary Stampede or Sundre’s beautiful West Country, we are happy to provide information on how you may book accommodations (hotels, campgrounds, bed & breakfasts) and local activities and sightseeing opportunities.
For hotel bookings in Banff please contact Banff Accommodations and Reservations at 1 877 226 3348 or www.banffinfo.com . You can also visit www.deervalleyalberta.com and www.rustlers-lodge.com in Sundre and www.banffbedandbreakfast.org in Banff for a list of our favourite Bed and Breakfast stays.
For local activities, sightseeing and fun things to do please contact Banff Lake Louise Tourism at www.banfflakelouise.com or Banff.com at www.banff.com . If you are wishing to camp in Banff (tent or RV), try Tunnel Mountain 5 minutes from downtown Banff. You can reserve a site in advance at Tunnel Mountain by calling 1-877-RESERVE or book it online at www.pccamping.ca. Two Jack Lake 15 minutes outside the Banff townsite is available on a first come first serve basis, and no advanced reservations are permitted. If you are looking for hotel and provincial recreation areas and campgrounds closer to our staging site at the Bighorn Campground, we recommend you visit www.sundrechamber.com .
Why not combine a holiday with us and the largest outdoor rodeo in the world. Please visit, www.calgarystampede.com and www.creativewestern.com for further info.
For a full list in one place of things to do, see, visit and stay, please visit our links page.
