Frequently Asked Questions

All rafting trips depart from our RiverBase (2750 Beaverfoot Road, Golden BC), conveniently located on the TransCanada Highway #1. The RiverBase is halfway between the towns of Field and Golden, BC, and an easy 45-minute drive west of Lake Louise. Trips do NOT depart from Lake Louise. While we do have a sales office in Lake Louise, the rafts and crew are at the RiverBase! For accurate directions on Google Maps, simply enter ‘Wild Water Adventures RiverBase’ or click here.

Guests for morning departures are to be at the RiverBase at 8:45 AM (MST). For afternoon departures, please arrive at 1:45 PM (MST). Guests are required to check-in upon arrival at the RiverBase.

Yes! Because of the whitewater elements of the Kicking Horse River, all outfitters adhere to the same safety standards. Your safety is, after all, our number one priority. Please be sure to reserve the appropriate trip to avoid disappointment at the RiverBase. We do have a scale and are not afraid to use it! Please Note: Rafters must meet both age and weight requirements. No exceptions. Think of the signs at Disneyland: You must be this tall to go on this ride!

• Gentle Introduction to Whitewater: Minimum 8 years of age and 50 pounds (23kg)
• Whitewater Exciter: Minimum 12 years of age and 90 pounds (41kg)
• Tradition: Minimum 12 years of age and 90 pounds (41kg)
• Maximum Horsepower: Minimum 16 years of age and 100 pounds (45kg)
• Evening Float: Minimum 6 years of age and 50 pounds (23kg)

Wild Water Adventures runs its trips like clockwork, and there is a reason for that. Morning trips have to be on time so afternoon trips can run on time as well. We also fully appreciate that guests have other activities to enjoy either before or after their time with us. Those who arrive at the RiverBase on time expect us to run on time as well. We kindly ask all guests to ‘know before you go’ how long it will take to drive from your location to the RiverBase and to take into account any potential highway delays or time changes. It is always wise to look at DriveBC and Alberta511 for road conditions the night before, and the morning of, your trip.

Email notices are sent to all guests, 48 hours prior to every departure, reminding everyone of road conditions and the RiverBase location. In other words, there really is no excuse to be late!

While we do appreciate that some delays simply cannot be avoided, please give us a call at 1-888-647-6444 to keep us up to date on your location.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

We understand that sometimes plans may change, or unavoidable situations arise, that necessitate having to cancel or change a trip plan. However, please understand that once your trip is booked, we reserve your space and assign staff and resources to ensure your trip runs smoothly. These costs are not recoverable at the last minute.

Should you need to cancel your trip, the following cancellation policy applies:

Individual Booking (up to 7 participants):

Reservations are fully refundable, or changeable, up to 48 hours prior to trip departure.  Within the final 48 hours, any changes or cancellations, or no-shows on the trip date, are non-refundable.

Group Booking (8 or more participants):

Reservations are fully refundable, or changeable up to 7 days prior to trip departure. Within that final 7-day window, any changes or cancellations, or no-shows on the trip date, are non-refundable.

We understand that unavoidable delays may happen while travelling to the River Base. However, we do make a commitment to all guests to run our trips on time. If you miss your trip due to a late arrival at the River Base, the trip fares are non-refundable.

If you have purchased cancellation insurance from TuGo or another insurance provider, please refer to the terms of that policy. Some credit card providers have policies in place for losses arising from unforeseen events. Please check with your credit card provider if this insurance policy exists.

As per British Columbia rafting industry safety standards, minimum participant numbers are required for all commercial departures.  In the unlikely event that Wild Water Adventures must cancel a trip, either a full refund or an alternate date will be offered.

EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY & ASSUMPTION OF RISKS: Whitewater rafting involves many risks, dangers and hazards, which are outlined in our release of liability, waiver of claims, assumption of risks and indemnity agreement. Each participant will be required to read and sign the Wild Water Adventures waiver of liability prior to commencing the trip. A sample copy of the waiver can be downloaded here or will be attached to the confirmation email.

Photo/Video Release: I consent to photographs and/or video taken of being used for advertising, promotional or marketing purposes.

Rafting trips depart rain or shine. Guests will get wet from the river anyway, so a little rain won’t make any difference! We provide lots of gear to help keep everyone warm, comfortable and content. If ‘thermally challenged’, pack along more synthetic polar fleece layers to help stay happy. Remember, mountain water is very refreshing!

Yes. As with all adventure sports, guests are required to read, complete and sign a waiver in order to raft. Waivers must be signed and witnessed only at the RiverBase. Please do not arrive at the RiverBase with pre-printed waivers; we will only ask you to complete and sign the form again.  Guests under the age of 18 are required to have a parent signature on their behalf.

All rafters are provided with top-quality wetsuits, neoprene booties and gloves, polar fleece sweaters, spray jackets, life jackets and helmets. All individual pieces of gear are cleaned and sanitized after every use (which we always did, even before COVID-19!).

All rafters are kindly requested to bring just a few items:

• Bathing suit (to wear under the wetsuit) – It is helpful to have your bathing suit on already, under your clothes, upon arrival at the RiverBase.
• Towel (for changing afterwards back into warm, dry land clothes)

More and more visitors to the region are travelling with their dogs. While at the RiverBase, safe and friendly dogs can remain in their owner’s vehicle at your own risk and discretion. As our guest parking area is fully exposed to the sun, please ensure your pet has plenty of water and that the windows/sunroof are left open to allow for ventilation. Leaving doors unlocked in the event of an emergency is recommended. If travelling with an RV, please consider leaving the air conditioning running. While not a doggie daycare, our crew is happy to quickly check through the window to make sure your dog is not in distress. Please let us know when making your rafting reservation that your dog will also be arriving at the RiverBase.

In order to respect the comfort level of all our guests, we kindly ask that only humans wander about in our common green areas. Dogs, on a leash, are welcome to stretch their legs in the parking area. Please keep our RiverBase tidy by cleaning up after your pet.

Due to the refreshing temperature of the river, and the amount of bouncing and jostling about in the rafts, we recommend pregnant ladies remain on land and raft with us at a future time. The river isn’t going anywhere and neither are we!

At Wild Water Adventures we pride ourselves on fostering a friendly team, from reservations, Base Managers, Drivers and Guides. Our staff are the folks that make an amazing river even more enjoyable. Our guiding team is a diverse group of rafting professionals who love being on the river and even more so making it a unique experience for our guests.

The guiding team consists of men and women who possess a wealth of experience from rafting and leading a variety of outdoor pursuits around the world. Combined, our guides have professionally guided rafts on nearly every continent, 21 countries, 116 rivers, and enough river miles to easily go around the world TWICE (at the equator!).

To become a Wild Water guide, a minimum of three to five seasons of previous whitewater experience is required. We have very high standards. All guides meet or exceed industry standards and in-house training is ongoing along with daily safety meetings. All guiding staff are BCROA (British Columbia River Outfitters Association) certified, have current wilderness first aid qualifications and Swift Water Rescue certification. Our guides work as a team on the river, and we have rotating Trip Leader roles taken on by our senior guides and overseen by our River Operations Manager.

Our guests consistently comment on our guides’ enthusiasm and cheerfulness for what they do, and the professionalism with which they do it.

Swimming ability (and overall good health) is recommended. It is, however, a personal choice to raft if any guest is a weak swimmer or doesn’t swim at all. Those with minimal swimming experience are best to let their guide know.

Rivers, in general, move quickly and the Kicking Horse River moves extremely quickly. Being comfortable in such a dynamic situation is strongly recommended. A comprehensive safety talk is conducted prior to every trip before guests board the rafts. All rafters are given the knowledge of what to do in possible, but rare, situations. One can never be too safe on a raft!

Cameras and cell phone can become a safety issue as in some of the rapids you will be holding on tight with both hands. Personal cameras and cell phones are to be left, safe and dry, in your vehicle back at the RiverBase. Trip photographers will be snapping pictures at various spots along the river, capturing splashes, laughs and smiles. These photos will then be on display for purchase after the trip.

We do have GoPro cameras for rent and Helmets with Gopro mounts for a hands-free video experience.

The choice is yours! To be more active, help yourself to a paddle and assist the guide as the raft moves downstream through the waves and rapids. If you prefer to sit back and hold on, that’s okay, too. Mix it up and do a bit of both. Guests are encouraged to participate at a level that is comfortable for them.

Later in the season, when river levels drop, ‘All Paddle’ rafts can be arranged, for either Gentle or Whitewater Exciter departures, so that everyone can paddle the entire trip. Simply give us a call to find out more.

Our standard rafts are 16-foot, oar-rigged, self-bailers. The guide sits in the middle of the raft, at the oars, for maximum control. Up to 4 guests sit in the section in front of the guide, and up to 4 guests sit in the section behind. Each raft holds a maximum of 8 guests plus 1 guide. Some guests are able to assist with paddles, while others hold on. These rafts are used for our Gentle, Whitewater Exciter and Tradition trips, as well as the first of two runs on the Maximum Horsepower (the second run being on smaller 14-foot, all-paddle rafts).

Our RiverBase is located on a picturesque 13-acre property, overlooking the Kicking Horse River. It is the ideal place to meet and prepare for your trip. The DayLodge boasts heated change rooms (one for ladies, one for gentlemen), hot and cold running water, proper washroom facilities and a large covered deck area to enjoy before and after rafting. Personal items remain dry and secure inside the DayLodge while guests have fun on the river.

Wild Water Adventures is the closest Kicking Horse river outfitter to Calgary. We are located 20 minutes before the town of Golden, saving guests 40 minutes of driving time!

From Calgary, the RiverBase is approximately 2 hours 30 minutes due west on TransCanada Highway #1. From Canmore, 1 hour 40 minutes; from Banff, 1 hour 20 minutes; from Lake Louise, 45 minutes. From Golden, the RiverBase is 20 minutes east on Highway #1; from Invermere, 1 hour 20 minutes north on Hwy 95 and then 20 minutes east on Hwy 1.

The 2023 season kicks off on Saturday, May 20th. Reservations are already being accepted. As trips do sell out (especially weekends in July and August), it is always best to book sooner rather than later. To make a reservation, simply click the yellow ‘Book Today’ button on any Wild Water Adventures website page or call us directly at 1-888-647-6444.

Yes! With 8 to 15 rafters in your reservation, a 10% discount will automatically apply to all rafting fares. With 16 or more rafters, the discount is 15%.

If eyeglasses are needed while on the river, please bring a safety strap for the trip. Alternatively, safety straps are available for purchase at the RiverBase. Sunglasses are best left in your vehicle for after the trip.

We have a limited amount of GoPro Hero 10 cameras for rent. Each camera rental comes with a 64gb micro card which you keep to download your video back at your own basecamp.

If you want bring your own GoPro, we have helmets with GoPro mounts for rent.

Please let the Base Manager know when you arrive or as we have limited rentals call ahead to book your GoPro.

Yes. Trip photographs will be on display back at the RiverBase after the trip. Simply chat to a Base Manager to purchase the collection or purchase directly from the website by clicking the ‘Buy Photos’ button at the top of any Wild Water Adventures website page.

Full-Length Trip (Tradition): Back at the RiverBase, after rafting, a delicious gourmet BBQ lunch is served along with hot and cold beverages.

Half-Day Trips (Gentle, Whitewater Exciter, Maximum Horsepower): Back at the RiverBase, after rafting, a selection of hot and cold beverages are available on the deck.

*** Optional Gourmet BBQ Lunch upgrade is available for guests on the morning (8:45 AM) Gentle and Whitewater Exciter departures.

Safety is our priority on the river and we all depend on each other to be alert and tuned in to everyone’s safety and well being. Wild Water Adventures has a strict, zero-tolerance policy regarding drugs and alcohol. Any guest suspected of intoxication or impairment upon arrival will not be allowed to raft and their fare will NOT be refunded.

No. Wild Water Adventures, unlike other Golden-based operators, is located east of the Kicking Horse Canyon. Guests driving from Lake Louise, Banff or Calgary should be able to avoid canyon road construction altogether. The RiverBase, put-in and take-out locations are all before the construction area. For more information, please refer to our recent blog.

For those driving from Calgary, Banff, or Lake Louise, there is NO NEED TO DETOUR through Kootenay National Park and Radium on Highway 93-South. PLEASE DRIVE DIRECTLY TO THE RIVERBASE VIA HIGHWAY #1 WESTBOUND towards Golden, BC.

Remember, we are the closest Kicking Horse operator to Calgary. There is no need to drive all the way into Golden to join our trips!

Possibly. Bears, wolves, elk, cougars and other creatures do live and move throughout the area. Keep your eyes peeled and maybe something will make an appearance!

Because we are the best! Even TripAdvisor ranks us as the #1 Activity in the Canadian Rockies. Since 1992, Wild Water Adventures has offered premium rafting experiences on the Kicking Horse River. After three decades of creating incredible memories for thousands and thousands of rafters, we continually strive to show our guests the best time possible on the river, while being as safe as possible, too. Don’t just take our word for it, check out what guests had to say after spending time on our rafts.