Canmore Cave Tours

Canmore Cave Tours Join us for a tour in Rat's Nest Cave today! Canmore Cave Tours provide experiences of a lifetime!

Everything from educational natural history tours, to heart pounding adventures, we do it all.

02/13/2025

We lean into our fears because that’s where growth happens.

Just to say it again for those in the back:

📣WE LEAN INTO OUR FEARS BECAUSE THAT'S WHERE GROWTH HAPPENS!! 📣

Fear isn’t a stop sign—it’s a signal that we’re stepping outside our comfort zone, pushing boundaries, and discovering what we’re truly capable of.

The stuff nightmares are made of!! 🧟🕷️A newly discovered species of fungus takes control of cave-dwelling spiders in Ire...
02/11/2025

The stuff nightmares are made of!! 🧟🕷️

A newly discovered species of fungus takes control of cave-dwelling spiders in Ireland and Northern Ireland, similar to the exploding zombie ant fungus that inspired The Last of Us.

Full the full article from CBC head to:⬇️

https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/zombie-spider-fungus-1.7455559

Krubera Cave, also known as Voronya Cave, is the deepest known cave on Earth, plunging to a staggering depth of 2,197 me...
02/10/2025

Krubera Cave, also known as Voronya Cave, is the deepest known cave on Earth, plunging to a staggering depth of 2,197 meters (7,208 feet) beneath the surface. Located in the Arabika Massif of the Western Caucasus in Georgia, this abyss is a realm of perpetual darkness, extreme cold, and narrow, water-filled passages that challenge even the most experienced cavers. Descending into Krubera is not just a physical test—it is a psychological one. The crushing isolation, confined spaces, and complete absence of natural light make it a place where fear can take hold. The journey requires technical expertise, with sections that demand ropework, cave diving, and navigation through near-freezing subterranean pools. One wrong move in its labyrinthine passages could mean entrapment, hypothermia, or worse.

Beyond the physical dangers, Krubera harbors an eerie, alien-like ecosystem that thrives in its eternal darkness. Microscopic crustaceans, such as amphipods and copepods, inhabit the cave’s subterranean lakes, having evolved without eyes to navigate their lightless world. The cave is also home to the Troglocaris shrimp, a blind species adapted to the extreme environment, and Pseudolimnocythere hypogea, an ancient type of ostracod that has survived in the cave’s isolated ecosystem for millennia. These creatures exist in a place where no sunlight ever reaches, relying on the sparse nutrients carried by dripping water from above.

For those who dare to explore Krubera, the psychological toll can be just as formidable as the physical challenges. The deeper one ventures, the more oppressive the environment becomes—oxygen levels drop, claustrophobic tunnels tighten, and the sheer weight of the Earth above feels suffocating. Divers must navigate sumps—fully submerged passageways with no immediate escape—where the water is icy, the currents are unpredictable, and visibility is near zero. Any mistake here can be fatal. Krubera is not just a cave—it is a journey into one of the most extreme and unforgiving places on the planet, where fear is not just an emotion but a survival instinct.

🗺️In this INTRO TO CAVE SURVEY course, we will introduce you to the process of surveying in a cave, specifically with re...
02/08/2025

🗺️In this INTRO TO CAVE SURVEY course, we will introduce you to the process of surveying in a cave, specifically with regards to collecting and managing the survey data.

You will learn both analog and digital measurement techniques, and well as how to accurately record and sketch the collected data. At the end of this course you will be able to confidently join a survey team and have a good understanding of the survey process.

For more information on this, or any of the caving courses we offer, head to the link⬇️in the first comment.

When was the last time you Faced your Fear??Thank you .m.jamieson for sharing your adventure with us!! Facing your fear ...
02/05/2025

When was the last time you Faced your Fear??

Thank you .m.jamieson for sharing your adventure with us!! Facing your fear doesn't always "cure" it, but it allows us to see that we are STRONGER than it! 💪

"This was one of my best photographed moments of 2017. No make up, dorky red coveralls and living in the moment! 👷🏼‍♀️🕷🦇🏔🐀🙈☀️❄️❤️ We hiked up a steep snowy mountain before entering a deep cave for 4+ hours. I definitely preferred the beautiful sunny hike, underground crystal clear pools of water and crawling through the tight “laundry chute” pinch to repelling down the slippery dark cave wall 60ft, as I’m beyond petrified of heights (this didn’t cure it 😳 thank heavens Troy was at the bottom to talk me through ❤️). Truly the whole day was an amazing adventure I never thought I’d be brave enough to do. Big thanks to Brent with for quite the day... and all the cool cave info!"

Looking for a Valentine's Day adventure that's out of the ordinary? 💝Join us for an underground screening of "The Descen...
02/03/2025

Looking for a Valentine's Day adventure that's out of the ordinary? 💝

Join us for an underground screening of "The Descent" while exploring Rat's Nest cave - a cult classic horror movie experience you won't want to miss.

Tickets are available for a Friday, Feb 14 event at 2pm.

For more details or to book, use the link ⬇️below!!

https://www.canmorecavetours.com/the-descent

🐛Creepy Crawly Cave Critters 🦇Cave ecosystems, known for their unique and isolated environments, are home to a variety o...
02/02/2025

🐛Creepy Crawly Cave Critters 🦇

Cave ecosystems, known for their unique and isolated environments, are home to a variety of specialized fauna.

Whether they are full-time cave dwellers or only part-time cave visitors, one thing is known for sure..., these critters tend to give some human explorers the heebie-jeebies!!🐀

🌋Lava tubes are a type of volcanic cave formed during eruptions when molten lava flows beneath a solidified crust. These...
01/31/2025

🌋Lava tubes are a type of volcanic cave formed during eruptions when molten lava flows beneath a solidified crust. These tunnels form as the surface of a lava flow cools and hardens, while the molten lava beneath continues to flow. When the lava supply is cut off, it drains out, leaving behind hollow, tube-like structures. This process creates a primary cave, meaning it forms at the same time as the surrounding rock, distinguishing it from caves carved by erosion or dissolution over time.

Inside these lava tubes, unique geological and mineralogical features can be found. Silica deposits may precipitate to form delicate stalactites, while calcium carbonate and gypsum can accumulate under specific chemical conditions. The smooth, streamlined walls of lava tubes are a direct result of the molten lava’s movement, offering a glimpse into the dynamics of volcanic processes. These caves often remain relatively shallow and accessible, with roof collapses creating natural entrances.

Famous examples include Kazumura Cave in Hawaii, stretching over 65 kilometers, and the Manjanggul Lava Tube on Jeju Island, South Korea, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Lava tubes provide valuable insights into volcanic activity and are a unique contrast to other caves formed by water erosion or chemical dissolution. Have you explored one of these geological wonders? 🌋

Trogloxene - Part-time cave resident, full-time cave curiosity! Who knew??Welcome to the club Trogxy friends!! 😁        ...
01/30/2025

Trogloxene - Part-time cave resident, full-time cave curiosity! Who knew??

Welcome to the club Trogxy friends!! 😁

01/25/2025

How our guides get ready for a tour!!

Solution caves, also known as karst caves, are the most prevalent type of cave, typically forming in soluble rocks such ...
01/22/2025

Solution caves, also known as karst caves, are the most prevalent type of cave, typically forming in soluble rocks such as limestone, dolomite, marble, and gypsum. These caves develop through a process called chemical weathering, where acidic water dissolves the surrounding rock over extended periods.

They continue to evolve as long as water flows through them. The introduction of new acidic water maintains the dissolution process, while sediment-laden streams contribute to mechanical erosion. Additionally, secondary mineral deposits known as speleothems often form. These include stalactites, stalagmites, flowstones, and columns. Speleothems develop when mineral-rich water drips or flows through the cave, depositing minerals like calcium carbonate.

Solution caves also support unique ecosystems, hosting species that have adapted to their dark, nutrient-scarce environments. Troglobites, like blind fish and cave-dwelling invertebrates, have evolved to rely on heightened senses such as touch and smell. Many of these species are endemic to a single cave system, making solution caves critical for biodiversity and scientific study. 🦇

Continuing on our "Sporting" jargon journey, LET US KNOW if there are any particular or peculiar speleological specific ...
01/20/2025

Continuing on our "Sporting" jargon journey, LET US KNOW if there are any particular or peculiar speleological specific sayings you would like to know about!! (say that one 10 times fast!!)

01/18/2025

The exact shade of blue can vary depending on the light source, ice thickness, and the presence of impurities. This mesmerizing blue hue is one of the most striking features of glacier caves, making them visually stunning and scientifically fascinating.🧊

❄️ Glacier caves are incredible formations carved into glacial ice. They primarily form through the action of meltwater....
01/16/2025

❄️ Glacier caves are incredible formations carved into glacial ice. They primarily form through the action of meltwater. During warmer periods, surface ice melts, and the resulting water flows through cracks and crevasses in the glacier. This water can enter the glacier via vertical shafts known as moulins and travel through internal channels, eventually exiting at the glacier's snout. The heat carried by the flowing water melts the surrounding ice, gradually enlarging these passages into sizable caves.

In regions with volcanic activity, geothermal heat can also contribute to the formation of glacier caves. Heat from volcanic vents or hot springs beneath the ice causes melting, creating cavities that evolve into glacier caves. Both of these natural processes create stunning, temporary structures that are constantly changing.

One well-known glacier cave is the Paradise Ice Cave on Mount Rainier; once a sprawling system of icy tunnels, now completely gone since the 1990s, coinciding with the retreat of the glacier. Another is the glacier cave on Mount Meager in British Columbia, was formed by volcanic heat. The Mount Meager cave is especially unique, with fumaroles emitting gases that create an acidic, sulfur-rich environment, home to specialized microbes. 🌋

Glacier caves are fascinating and dynamic natural formations resulting from the interplay of melting and freezing within glaciers. Their transient nature and the unique processes involved in their formation distinguish them from other cave types. They are a great reminder of the power of nature—and how fleeting it can be. ❄️

Do you know your Troglobites from your Troglodytes? No prob! We are here to help illuminate things on some caving jargon...
01/14/2025

Do you know your Troglobites from your Troglodytes?

No prob!

We are here to help illuminate things on some caving jargon with our helpful thread of Common Speleological Words and Phrases. And maybe a few uncommon ones too! 😁

Join us every week in Jan (and maybe Feb too...there are a lot of words!) to learn some new fun caving words and phrases. 🔠🆒

Address

129 Bow Meadows Crescent, Unit 202
Canmore, AB
T1W2W8

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm
Saturday 9am - 6pm
Sunday 9am - 6pm

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