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Our Kicking Horse River Rafting Blog

Activities in Golden, BC, are varied and plentiful, even on a rainy day. One may think of Golden as an extremely picturesque, yet sleepy, small town nestled between the Rocky and Columbia mountain ranges. When Mother Nature decides to test human patience on a rainy day, however, there is no shortage of rewarding and enjoyable options from which to choose. 1. Start With A Hearty Breakfast Rainy day activities in Golden, BC start at the breakfast table. There is nothing like inclement weather to make the tummy rumble. Head over to one of the many local digs for mouth-watering dishes sure...

River rafting in British Columbia has a long and well-established history.  Companies offering both multi-day wilderness expeditions and action-packed day trips have run guests down a multitude of BC rivers for close to 50 years.  The first commercial rafting outfit in British Columbia, in fact, Canada, was Canadian River Expeditions, founded in 1972 by Big John Mikes.  CRE specialized (and continues to specialize) in multi-day wilderness rafting expeditions in remote pockets of the province and territories.    The first-ever day-tripping company was none other than Kumsheen in 1973, setting up shop on the banks of the Thompson River.  This rafting destination remains a...

The Kicking Horse River, without question, offers the best whitewater rafting in the Canadian Rockies. It also is the most convenient river to get to given its proximity to our nation’s number one transportation artery: the TransCanada Highway (or, TCH for short). Even better, Wild Water Adventures’ RiverBase is steps away from the TCH. If driving east or west between Alberta and British Columbia, you’ll pass right by our front doorstep!  The big talk around the RiverBase is the Kicking Horse Canyon highway construction project. Over the past decade or more, the TransCanada Highway, between Calgary, Alberta and Kamloops, BC, has been expanded and upgraded. One of the last remaining sections...

It is 2021 and COVID-19 is still a hot topic. Every day we all continue to keep our distance, wash our hands frequently and wear increasingly colourful face coverings. We have all done a tremendous job ...

British Columbia staycations offer endless possibilities for summer fun and adventure. Beyond Vancouver and the BC Interior are the towering mountains, high alpine trails and turquoise-hued rivers and lakes of the Rocky Mountains. This seemingly far-off region of BC is actually not that far off. Within a day’s drive of the Lower Mainland, summer road-trippers can easily be in this stunning region, taking in new and exciting experiences.  Top of the list of summer things to do in the Rocky Mountains is whitewater rafting. What is the most exciting river in British Columbia, with the biggest and wildest waves and rapids? The answer is the infamous Kicking Horse River, near Golden, BC. During high water season (late May to early July), this river truly ‘kicks’ with Class 2 through Class 4+ wild whitewater. Class 2, 3 and 4...

Staycation adventure road trips in the Rockies are ideal. A change of scenery from the city, mixed in with a boost of adrenalin, is just the ticket to break free of your daily routine. The Golden Triangle connects Calgary with Radium, Invermere, and Golden via Highways #1, #93, and #95....

Happy Holidays from Wild Water Adventures! 'Tis the season to be jolly, and to be planning activities for next summer. For a limited time only, guests can book their 2021 Kicking Horse rafting trips and save 20%. Make your reservation, before January 4th, either via our website or by calling us directly at 1-888-647-6444.  Simply use the code HolidayBonus2020. Early Booking Bonus  The holiday bonus applies to rafting fares on our Whitewater Exciter, Tradition, Gentle and Maximum Horsepower trips.  The bonus does not extend to the optional BBQ lunch on morning half-day trips, nor to packaged options such as Up The Mountain Down The River. Other...

To All Our 2020 River Rafting Guests, Thank you for joining Wild Water Adventures on the Kicking Horse River this summer. Based on trip feedback from guests, 2020 was a wildly successful season and we appreciate everyone choosing to share their whitewater adventure with us. The summer of 2020 was less than typical and presented unique challenges.  We do have to say, however, that all our guests rose to the occasion and made it incredibly easy to comply with provincial health regulations. We greatly appreciate how everyone adhered to our protocols while still maintaining both their sense of adventure and sense of humour. Winter Adventure...

Outdoor adventure, in this time of COVID-19, is exactly what people crave this summer. Everyone wants to put a smile on their face and a spring back in their step. Being outside in the sunshine and fresh air will do just that. With the Rocky Mountains so close to Calgary, a day-trip full of adventure is as easy as 1-2-3! When planning an adventurous day-trip from Calgary, consider the following suggestions: 1. Rock-Climbing with Yamnuska Mountain Adventures [caption id="attachment_4577" align="alignright" width="195"] Photo Credit: Shaun King[/caption] As children, we loved climbing and scrambling over and under all sorts of things in the great outdoors; boulders,...

Looking for the biggest and best Calgary rafting adventure with the most whitewater action to be found in the Rockies?  Look no further than Wild Water Adventure's Maximum Horsepower rafting trip on the Kicking Horse River. The MHP, as we like to call this particular trip, definitely lives up to its name.  It is not one, but TWO runs down THE best section of whitewater the Kicking Horse River has to offer.  Rafters experience 24 exhilarating rapids and cover a total of 24 kilometres of river distance (the longest possible whitewater trip near Banff National Park!) But the adrenaline rush does not...

The 2020 Kicking Horse rafting season has ‘kicked’ off!  The Wild Water crew is so happy to be back on the river welcoming guests from British Columbia and Alberta, as well as other Canadian provinces. This year marks Wild Water Adventure’s 29th year of operations. We could not be more proud of all that has been achieved over the past three decades.  Protocols for safety and hygiene are so well entrenched that even COVID-19 could not stop us! Our 2020 rafting roster continues to offer daily departures on the half-day Gentle and Whitewater Exciter trips, as well as the full-length...

THE 2020 RAFTING SEASON 'KICKS' OFF ON SATURDAY, JUNE 27TH! Thank you for your patience. We are so excited to welcome everyone back to the Kicking Horse River, for the best whitewater in the Rockies!  In this time of COVID-19, the river truly is the place to be. With naturally wild landscapes and waterways, who wants to be indoors when there is so much fun to be had outdoors?  At Wild Water Adventures, safety has always been the #1 priority. COVID-19 will not change that in the slightest. Our crew will be in full compliance with provincial health protocols and guidelines.   Guests, as well, will kindly be required to adhere to these new protocols. We...

OPENING DAY:  SATURDAY, JUNE 27TH! Whitewater rafting on the Kicking Horse River, near Banff National Park, might just be the best outdoor activity to enjoy in the coming months. Once everyone gets the green light to move about more freely in our COVID-19 world, the river will be the place to be. High on everyone’s minds are three critical questions: ‘Where do we go? What do we do? And, is rafting a good activity in the time of COVID-19?’. Question #1: Where Do We Go? Staying relatively close to home, and exploring further into our own provincial backyard, is the message from our health...

Canadian Rockies adventures, like the world itself, are varied and diverse. In common with each is the ability to offer a unique vantage point in which to soak in the majestic mountain habitat.  At times, a lakeside stroll, on your own, is ideal. The natural wonder of the landscape breathed in and enjoyed at your own pace, and in your own way. At other times, having an expert alongside offers evolutionary insights and interpretations, truly making Canadian Rockies adventure experience so much more....

The big talk around the RiverBase is the upcoming highway construction project. Over the past decade or more, the TransCanada highway, between Calgary, Alberta and Kamloops, British Columbia, has been expanded and upgraded....