I've never been to Rafter Six Ranch, but people from Calgary sometimes hold weddings, corporate barbeques, and various other events there.
In looking at their website, I wasn't able to see their rates. Since they offer so many activities (horse back riding, rodeos, white water rafting, etc.), I would expect their rates to reflect more than just the cost of the room.
I would say it depends how you intend to use the property. If you want to avail yourself of several of its services (which do look to me as if they would be fun), it probably is a good place to stay.
If you want to use it as a base for sight seeing in the mountains without participating in Rafter Six's optional activities, I think Canmore, Banff townsite, Lake Louise and Jasper townsite would be more convenient (and perhaps more reasonably priced for equivalent accommodation -- but I can't say for sure since I don't know Rafter Six's rates).
Rafter Six Ranch's website states that it has a restaurant onsite, and maybe it's a very acceptable one, but it would be just about the only restaurant between there and Canmore.
In looking at their website, I wasn't able to see their rates. Since they offer so many activities (horse back riding, rodeos, white water rafting, etc.), I would expect their rates to reflect more than just the cost of the room.
I would say it depends how you intend to use the property. If you want to avail yourself of several of its services (which do look to me as if they would be fun), it probably is a good place to stay.
If you want to use it as a base for sight seeing in the mountains without participating in Rafter Six's optional activities, I think Canmore, Banff townsite, Lake Louise and Jasper townsite would be more convenient (and perhaps more reasonably priced for equivalent accommodation -- but I can't say for sure since I don't know Rafter Six's rates).
Rafter Six Ranch's website states that it has a restaurant onsite, and maybe it's a very acceptable one, but it would be just about the only restaurant between there and Canmore.
GMT2272, just in case Seebe sounds to you as if it's a town, it's what I would call a hamlet. I'm trying to visualize what's there and, from my recollection, from passing the place on the TransCanada Highway, there's a gas station and maybe a couple of other buildings.
The Elections Alberta website lists Seebe's population as 134 (compared with 10,843 for Canmore, 7,716 for Banff, 688 for Lake Louise, and 4,691 for Jasper townsite).
http://www.electionsalberta.ab.ca/st...fm?DIVISION=44
Okay, rather than trying to guess at all this, I called Rafter Six Ranch.
The woman who answered the phone told me that they were 2 kilometres from the TransCanada Highway. (I've seen the sign post to their place, but have never driven there.)
Their high season summer rates start with a C$149 bed and breakfast package for two people sharing a room in the main lodge, and go up from there. I was quite pleasantly surprised by that, as I was expecting their rates to be higher.
The woman confirmed my recollection that they were a rural location at the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains. Canmore is a 20 minute drive west of there, and Banff is 35 minutes west. Calgary is 45 minutes east of Seebe.
She said they were a good base for seeing the eastern part of Banff National Park as well as Kananaskis Country (Upper and Lower Kananaskis Lakes, Boulton Creek hiking area, Highwood Pass, etc.), which is to the south of Seebe on Hwy #40.
She said some of their guests stayed with them for a couple of days and then moved on to a location further west in the Rockies.
Other guests would stay for 5 or 6 days and spend part of their time touring the Rockies and part of their time participating in Rafter Six's activities.
She said it was rare for longer term guests (the 5 - 6 day kind) to stay there without participating in some of the activities.
The toll free number of 1-888-267-2624 is operational from the U.S., if you want to ask them more questions.
http://www.raftersix.com/index.html
I know this isn't as useful as a review by someone who has stayed there, but I hope it helps.
The Elections Alberta website lists Seebe's population as 134 (compared with 10,843 for Canmore, 7,716 for Banff, 688 for Lake Louise, and 4,691 for Jasper townsite).
http://www.electionsalberta.ab.ca/st...fm?DIVISION=44
Okay, rather than trying to guess at all this, I called Rafter Six Ranch.
The woman who answered the phone told me that they were 2 kilometres from the TransCanada Highway. (I've seen the sign post to their place, but have never driven there.)
Their high season summer rates start with a C$149 bed and breakfast package for two people sharing a room in the main lodge, and go up from there. I was quite pleasantly surprised by that, as I was expecting their rates to be higher.
The woman confirmed my recollection that they were a rural location at the eastern edge of the Rocky Mountains. Canmore is a 20 minute drive west of there, and Banff is 35 minutes west. Calgary is 45 minutes east of Seebe.
She said they were a good base for seeing the eastern part of Banff National Park as well as Kananaskis Country (Upper and Lower Kananaskis Lakes, Boulton Creek hiking area, Highwood Pass, etc.), which is to the south of Seebe on Hwy #40.
She said some of their guests stayed with them for a couple of days and then moved on to a location further west in the Rockies.
Other guests would stay for 5 or 6 days and spend part of their time touring the Rockies and part of their time participating in Rafter Six's activities.
She said it was rare for longer term guests (the 5 - 6 day kind) to stay there without participating in some of the activities.
The toll free number of 1-888-267-2624 is operational from the U.S., if you want to ask them more questions.
http://www.raftersix.com/index.html
I know this isn't as useful as a review by someone who has stayed there, but I hope it helps.
Judy, thanks for all the great information. I was actually thinking of just spending one or maybe two nights there after spending the day in Calgary and before continueing on to Banff/Lake Louise area. I really just wanted to see some of the Calgary area cowboy and ranch type areas. Another option is maybe to just visit the Bar U Ranch Historic Site? I just thought it might be interesting to see the ranch areas before heading off to the mountains.
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I've not stayed at the Rafter 6, but have been there for a barbeque and rodeo. I think it would be a great place to stay for a night or two before heading into the mountains as you propose.
I came across this ranch today and wanted to see if anyone on this forum has yet been a guest. Looking to possibly stay the week after Christmas after being in Edmonton for a few days.
Moneygirl, I would not stay at a property that is as out of the way as Rafter Six Ranch is in winter.
If you want to visit the mountains, I think you're better off staying in Banff townsite or possibly Canmore, which is 15 minutes or so east of Banff townsite.
I personally don't like spending more than a few hours in Banff townsite in summer, when the town is packed with visitors. Besides that, the more I can get out into nature in summer the better I like it.
But the tables are turned in winter. While people do go to Banff to ski in winter, the town is not as crowded in winter as it is in summer. In addition to that, when it's cold outside there is more in Banff to hold my interest for a reasonably extended period of time than there is in a small village like Lake Louise. Rafter Six Ranch isn't even a village like Lake Louise. It's a single, isolated property.
I have never been to Rafter Six Ranch, but I don't have to have been to it to know that I wouldn't use it as a winter base if I was travelling with kids aged 6, 4 and 1. Just my opinion.
If you want to visit the mountains, I think you're better off staying in Banff townsite or possibly Canmore, which is 15 minutes or so east of Banff townsite.
I personally don't like spending more than a few hours in Banff townsite in summer, when the town is packed with visitors. Besides that, the more I can get out into nature in summer the better I like it.
But the tables are turned in winter. While people do go to Banff to ski in winter, the town is not as crowded in winter as it is in summer. In addition to that, when it's cold outside there is more in Banff to hold my interest for a reasonably extended period of time than there is in a small village like Lake Louise. Rafter Six Ranch isn't even a village like Lake Louise. It's a single, isolated property.
I have never been to Rafter Six Ranch, but I don't have to have been to it to know that I wouldn't use it as a winter base if I was travelling with kids aged 6, 4 and 1. Just my opinion.
