Go beneath Grotto Mountain to experience Rat's Nest Cave with an expert guide. This 4.5-hour tour mixes a mountain approach with 2+ hours of crawling, climbing, and exploring underground formations and prehistoric bones.
More ways to explore the area's outdoor wonders
The entrance gapes at the base of a limestone cliff and the mountain exhales cool, damp air that immediately changes your pace. A short uphill hike through subalpine scrub leads you to the cave mouth; once inside the world narrows to beam light, the scrape of boots, and the slow, deliberate progress of the group. For about 2–2.5 hours of this 4.5-hour outing you'll crawl, squeeze, and climb through passages that hold Pleistocene bones and delicate flowstone that grew drip by drip over millennia.
Difficulty
challenging
Duration
4–5 hours
Fitness Level
Good cardiovascular fitness, comfortable with scrambling, crawling, and sustained bent-over movement; not suitable for those with serious back or heart issues.
Wildlife
History
Rat's Nest Cave contains Pleistocene-era bones and has attracted scientific excavation; local guides also reference Indigenous and early European use of the valley in interpretive notes.
Conservation
The cave is ecologically sensitive: formations take thousands of years to form and interior zones can host bat populations; follow decontamination and no-touch rules to limit impacts.
Reserve your spot on the Canmore Caving Explorer Tour today and enjoy a trusted, highly rated experience designed to help you make the most of your adventure.
Expect cool, constant temps
The cave stays much colder than the surface—bring an insulating mid-layer even on warm days.
Sturdy footwear is essential
Wear ankle-supporting, grippy hiking boots for the uphill approach and slippery cave rock.
Know the physical demands
You should be prepared to hike 30–40 minutes uphill and to crawl and squeeze in confined spaces.
Protect the cave environment
Do not touch formations and follow guide instructions to minimize impact on fragile speleothems and wildlife.
Sturdy hiking boots
Provide grip and ankle support for the uphill approach and wet cave surfaces.
Lightweight insulating layer
Keeps you warm in the cave where temperatures are cool year-round.
Work or leather gloves
Protect hands from rough rock during crawling sections; improves grip.
Small daypack with water
Carries water, snacks, and a spare layer for the surface hike and post-cave changeover.