Finding Wild Horses in Canada
Return to Finding Wild Horses here for tips on visiting the range and to find herds in other areas
There are at least 5 wild horse herds in Canada. I am still working on getting additional information on these herds and will update this page as I can.
• Alberta Wildies, Alberta
• Bronson Forest, Saskatchwan
• Chilcotin Plateau, British Columbia
• Sable Island, Nova Scotia
• Yukon Wild Horses, Yukon
• Alberta Wildies, Alberta
• Bronson Forest, Saskatchwan
• Chilcotin Plateau, British Columbia
• Sable Island, Nova Scotia
• Yukon Wild Horses, Yukon
Alberta Wild Horses
aka the Alberta Wildies
From Calgary, take Hwy 2 north to the town of Olds. Exit at Olds and drive west through town, stay on main road going through town of Olds. This same main road will eventually be a highway and will take you all the way to Sundre approx. 36km from Olds.
Continue straight on main road through town of Sundre. Once you start getting out of town, you'll see a Tim Hortons on the left. Approx. 10 km from Tim Hortons you'll see a sign 'Coal Camp Road' aka Range Road 63 . Turn left onto Coal Camp Road which will turn into Township Road 324A then stay left onto Range Rd 64, this will take you along the Panther River. It will eventually turn into a logging road and you can start looking for wild horses! The river will be on your left and you can see horses anywhere along there or in the hills on the right. Go slow and keep your eyes open.
You can also explore any side roads. One of the better ones is to take a right onto Forestry Truck Road aka Yaha Tinda Rd aka TWP Rd 31-2a. This road goes quite far but if you stay on it for a while you might find some of the wildie Roans known to live along there.
Near that same intersection, you can also take a left onto Forestry Trunk Rd aka 40 which will take you to the other side of the river and past the Red Deer River South Campground. Explore other roads along there as well. Photos below are from my trip to the Alberta wild horses in May 2023.
aka the Alberta Wildies
From Calgary, take Hwy 2 north to the town of Olds. Exit at Olds and drive west through town, stay on main road going through town of Olds. This same main road will eventually be a highway and will take you all the way to Sundre approx. 36km from Olds.
Continue straight on main road through town of Sundre. Once you start getting out of town, you'll see a Tim Hortons on the left. Approx. 10 km from Tim Hortons you'll see a sign 'Coal Camp Road' aka Range Road 63 . Turn left onto Coal Camp Road which will turn into Township Road 324A then stay left onto Range Rd 64, this will take you along the Panther River. It will eventually turn into a logging road and you can start looking for wild horses! The river will be on your left and you can see horses anywhere along there or in the hills on the right. Go slow and keep your eyes open.
You can also explore any side roads. One of the better ones is to take a right onto Forestry Truck Road aka Yaha Tinda Rd aka TWP Rd 31-2a. This road goes quite far but if you stay on it for a while you might find some of the wildie Roans known to live along there.
Near that same intersection, you can also take a left onto Forestry Trunk Rd aka 40 which will take you to the other side of the river and past the Red Deer River South Campground. Explore other roads along there as well. Photos below are from my trip to the Alberta wild horses in May 2023.
Bronson Forest, Saskatchwan
This small herd only numbers around 35
In the Bronson Provincial Forest, about 100 kilometres northeast of the Alberta-Saskatchewan border town of Lloydminster, near Peck Lake and Bronson Lake in central western Saskatchwan. From a Horse Canada article: 'The horses are usually found nearby in one of their two meadows, on either side of the road, or in the grassy logged-out clear-cut blocks along the south east side of the lake. At times, the horses do disappear, withdrawing into the surrounding bush to escape the horseflies, or the harassing wolves when they become too oppressive."
This small herd only numbers around 35
In the Bronson Provincial Forest, about 100 kilometres northeast of the Alberta-Saskatchewan border town of Lloydminster, near Peck Lake and Bronson Lake in central western Saskatchwan. From a Horse Canada article: 'The horses are usually found nearby in one of their two meadows, on either side of the road, or in the grassy logged-out clear-cut blocks along the south east side of the lake. At times, the horses do disappear, withdrawing into the surrounding bush to escape the horseflies, or the harassing wolves when they become too oppressive."
Chilcotin Plateau, British Columbia
There are estimated to be between 800 and 1,000 wild or free-roaming horses in the Chilcotin and they are part of a large preserve created by the Xeni Gwet’in/Tsilhqot’in Nation. Most notable wild horses are the, approximately, 200 horses inhabiting the isolated Brittany Triangle, a harsh, isolated area about 120 kilometers southwest of the city of Williams Lake.
These wild horses can be found in the Brittany and Nemiah Valleys in British Columbia. June and July are the best times to see herds of wild horses in Nemiah Valley. They come down to the lower valley elevations to enjoy the fresh spring grass growing in the meadows. You can also check around Vedan Lake.
The Xeni Gwet’in community support a research and conservation-based approach to wild horse viewing for all visitors with a Xeni guide or ranger present, even though many of the wild horse herds will come down from the wilderness into the backyards of Nemiah’s community areas every summer. Photography from a distance is permitted, but people are required to give the herds ample space and freedom so they can remain wild. The area is part of the Eagle Lake Henry Qayus wild horse reserve created by the Xeni Gwet’in First Nations – the only wild horse preserve in western Canada.
There are estimated to be between 800 and 1,000 wild or free-roaming horses in the Chilcotin and they are part of a large preserve created by the Xeni Gwet’in/Tsilhqot’in Nation. Most notable wild horses are the, approximately, 200 horses inhabiting the isolated Brittany Triangle, a harsh, isolated area about 120 kilometers southwest of the city of Williams Lake.
These wild horses can be found in the Brittany and Nemiah Valleys in British Columbia. June and July are the best times to see herds of wild horses in Nemiah Valley. They come down to the lower valley elevations to enjoy the fresh spring grass growing in the meadows. You can also check around Vedan Lake.
The Xeni Gwet’in community support a research and conservation-based approach to wild horse viewing for all visitors with a Xeni guide or ranger present, even though many of the wild horse herds will come down from the wilderness into the backyards of Nemiah’s community areas every summer. Photography from a distance is permitted, but people are required to give the herds ample space and freedom so they can remain wild. The area is part of the Eagle Lake Henry Qayus wild horse reserve created by the Xeni Gwet’in First Nations – the only wild horse preserve in western Canada.
Sable Island
The current population of wild horses on Sable Island is about 450 as of 2024.
The Sable Island wild horses are only accessible by taking a plane or helicopter guided tour about 112 miles/300km off the coast of Halifax, Nova Scotia to the island they live on. There are a number of tours available but I can recommend Kattuk Expeditions, click here for more information. The island is also home to one of the largest grey seal colonies in the world.
You can read more about the Sable Island wild horses here.
The current population of wild horses on Sable Island is about 450 as of 2024.
The Sable Island wild horses are only accessible by taking a plane or helicopter guided tour about 112 miles/300km off the coast of Halifax, Nova Scotia to the island they live on. There are a number of tours available but I can recommend Kattuk Expeditions, click here for more information. The island is also home to one of the largest grey seal colonies in the world.
You can read more about the Sable Island wild horses here.
Yukon Wild Horses
aka Ibex Valley Wildies
These wild horses and semi-wild horses can be found in the Yukon Province of Canada, north of British Columbia. I haven't visited these horses and the best information I could get so far is that they are located in the Ibex Valley and along the Takhini River (and the Takhini River Road).
When looking for the Yukon wild horses, keep in mind that many people in the area let their horses roam free in the area.
aka Ibex Valley Wildies
These wild horses and semi-wild horses can be found in the Yukon Province of Canada, north of British Columbia. I haven't visited these horses and the best information I could get so far is that they are located in the Ibex Valley and along the Takhini River (and the Takhini River Road).
When looking for the Yukon wild horses, keep in mind that many people in the area let their horses roam free in the area.