Outside of the hustle and bustle of Banff during the summer, you’ll find the small mountain town of Golden, BC. But Golden’s not a quiet town. It’s full of people who love to get out and enjoy the outdoors, which is easy to do given there are so many adventurous activities available.  This is why Golden is the perfect place that thrill-seekers should add to their Canadian Rockies holiday itinerary.  Here’s a list of our favourite adventures in Golden, from sky high to river below.

1. Skydiving

Get ready to marvel at the mountains and rivers of Golden from a truly unique viewpoint – 13,000ft in the air! Our friends at Skydive Extreme Yeti offer the highest tandem skydiving experience in Canada. Feel the rush of adrenaline while freefalling at 120 MPH, then soak in all the views while floating back down to the ground.

2. Paragliding

Prefer taking a running start before soaring over mountains and valleys? Paragliding’s for you! Golden is home to a vehicle accessible launch site, atop the well-known Mount 7. Altitude Adventures offers exciting tandem paragliding flights, flying up to 12,000 ft above sea level.

Even if you’re not feeling brave enough to take the leap, visiting the launch site is a bucket-list item, especially at sunset, for a stunning bird’s eye view of the town of Golden!

3. Via Ferrata

Challenge yourself with a Via Ferrata, an assisted climbing experience featuring a suspension bridge and iron rungs that function like a ladder, and be rewarded with incredible mountain views! Kicking Horse Mountain Resort offers three routes along Terminator Peak, from introductory to one of the most technical routes in North America.

4. Mountain Biking

Golden has it all when it comes to mountain biking – from adaptive to expert level trails (think the iconic Psychosis race that returned in 2024), so it’s no surprise that it’s one of the most popular summer activities in town. There are exhilarating downhill trails on Mount 7 or at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, and 185 km of cross-country trails to explore.

5. Whitewater Rafting

Saving the best for last (though we may be a bit biased), is whitewater rafting on the Kicking Horse River. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of digging your paddle into waves and crashing through glacial rapids with your crew. And that’s all while basking in mountainous river valley and canyon views that you wouldn’t see otherwise! We have experiences to suit every level of adventurer, from mild to wild whitewater trips. You can check out our trip roster here.

The little mountain town of Golden, BC is a mecca for all things adrenaline-inducing. It’s definitely not a spot to miss on your Canadian Rockies vacation! If you need more recommendations on things to do, places to see, or activities in Golden, our Sales & Reservations team are here to help. Send us a message at info@wildwater.com, or give us a call at 1-888-647-6444.