White Water Rafting Calgary

There are plenty of things that you may wish to stop and explore en route to your Calgary white water rafting trip! If you plan on making any stops please ensure you add this to your travel time.

CANMORE: A fun and funky mountain town with plenty of shopping, hip and trendy restaurants and a vibrant downtown which is fun for wandering, window shopping, or people watching. Streetside cafes are a great place to enjoy on a nice summer’s day. Gas (petrol) stations are easily accessible just off the highway and the prices tend to be a bit more reasonable than Banff or Lake Louise. If you are looking for accommodations, there are plenty to choose from.

BANFF: Banff is one of the most popular tourist towns in North America and offers fine shopping, dining and sightseeing experiences. Please note that if you are stopping in Banff or Lake Louise you are required to purchase a National Park Permit.

LAKE LOUISE: If you have time, be sure to visit the icon view of Lake Louise and the famous Chateau Lake Louise (where you’ll also find Wild Water Adventures office kiosk in the lobby). You may also wish to visit Moraine Lake, another emerald-coloured mountain lake popular with visitors. In the village of Lake Louise, a small assortment of food and retail shops are there for you. If you are in the mood for a great breakfast Burrito, lunch or simply a latte, we highly recommend the Trailhead Café in the village of Lake Louise.

Between Lake Louise and our RiverBase, there are plenty of things worth exploring. The town of Field is fun, funky and eclectic with plenty of B and B’s, and local artisans. If looking for a quick bite, try the General Store for tasty sandwiches and yummy baked goods!

• EMERALD LAKE is a 15 minute drive off the Trans Canada Highway (TCH) and is well worth the drive. You can canoe on the lake or take a lovely walk around it’s perimeter.
• NATURAL BRIDGE is just off the TCH and on the way to Emerald Lake, you can see where the Kicking Horse River has slowly eroded the softer layers of strata to leave a “bridge” of erosion-resistant rock spanning the river.
• TAKAKKAW FALLS is Canada’s 2nd highest waterfall and is about 15 minutes off the Trans Canada Hwy. You can walk right to the base of the falls, or simply view the falls from the parking area. On the way to the falls, stop at “The Meeting of the Waters” where the Kicking Horse and the Yoho rivers converge. It is very interesting to see the two different coloured rivers meet and slowly merge together.
• SPIRAL TUNNELS is located off the TCH between Lake Louise and Field on the Big Hill. A great place to stop if you are a “train spotter”. You’ll see the engineering and design marvel created in 1909 that now has the trains “spiralling” through two tunnels as they head up or down the Big Hill. Restrooms are also located here, so it’s a great place for a fast pit stop en route from Calgary to our RiverBase.

When driving from Calgary to Wild Water Adventures RiverBase for your trip on the Kicking Horse River, allow approximately 2.5 hrs from Canada Olympic Park on the west side of Calgary (If coming from the South or SW of Calgary, allow 2.5hrs. If coming from Calgary International Airport area, allow 2.75 hrs.)

Heading west on the Trans Canada Highway #1, you’ll pass by turnoffs to Kananaskis Country and the towns of Canmore, Banff, Lake Louise and Hwy 93 to Jasper. If you need to stop en route for fuel or personal needs, Canmore offers plenty of gas stations and fast food options.

Approximately 20 minutes from our RiverBase, you’ll pass by the small town of Field on your left hand side. Continue along the Trans Canada Highway #1. You will be getting close to our RiverBase when you see the highway expand to four lanes and become divided with a concrete median. At this point, you will have left Yoho National Park. You’ll also see a number of large billboards on the left hand side of the highway. Watch for the Wild Water Adventures signs.

You’ll see a deceleration lane on the right. Take it and slow down to make the right hand turn off the highway. The road takes you to the right, over a small bridge with a cattle-guard on top. Continue along this road, under the highway and the bridge to the stop sign. Turn right. In approx. 200 yards, you’ll see the entry road on your left to our RiverBase. Park in the area on the right and c’mon in to say “Hello” to our RiverBase Managers and team and get your paperwork and payments finalized and get prepared for a magnificent day on the Kicking Horse River!