Book Now
Book Now

Gentle

Family White Water Rafting Near Banff

Ideal for families and the mildly adventurous. Experience the stunning views of the Kicking Horse River Valley, paired with some fun, splashy whitewater on our gentle rafting trip near Banff.

 

Price:

Adults: $115 | Child: $89

Duration:

3 Hours

Age & Weight:

Ages 8+ & 50lbs (23kg)

Rapids:

Up to Class III
You will get wet!

Location:


River Base Day Lodge

Departure Time:

Daily 8:45am
Sunday & Thursday 1:45pm

Book Now
Book Now

DESCRIPTION

Kicking off within Yoho National Park, rafters begin with a wake-up call through Alarm Clock rapid. Next, wind through the braids and marvel at the stunning Rocky Mountain scenery, while our guides speak to the history, nature, and wildlife of the area. Finish off the trip with some exciting rapids, like Equalizer and Hopi’s Hole. It’s the ideal introductory whitewater trip near Banff for families, or those looking for a milder river journey. 

Highlights

  • Exclusive starting point inside the Yoho National Park boundary
  • Exciting Class II – III rapids, like Alarm Clock, Equalizer, and Hopi’s Hole
  • Stunning Rocky Mountain scenery
  • Longest introductory whitewater trip on the Kicking Horse River
  • Optional BBQ lunch upgrade for morning departures

ITINERARY

Get ready to set off on an exciting experience! Grab your swimsuit, towel, and sense of adventure, and meet us at our River Base, nestled near the stunning Golden, BC. When you arrive, you will be warmly welcomed by our lively crew, who will get you checked in and guide you through the waiver process.

After everyone’s checked in, our cheery guides kick off the experience with a quick intro and gear rundown. Then, it’s off to our changerooms to suit up in our river attire. Fun fact: we wash, sanitize, and dry it all after every use, so it’s ready for the next adventure.

Now, hop aboard our bright yellow buses, and we’ll shuttle you down to the river’s doorstep, where the real adventure begins!

After a short ride to the river put-in, you’ll step off the bus and gather for the safety briefing, where you’ll get all the essential intel to take on the wild water.

Within minutes of paddling off from shore, you’ll meet the river’s natural wake-up call: Alarm Clock, an exciting and splashy Class III rapid that is sure to leave you energized and ready for your adventure. As you journey downstream, the river mellows and braids, unveiling a stunning panorama of mountain and river valley views. Meanwhile, your guide turns into the ultimate entertainer, sharing stories, telling jokes, and throwing in fascinating facts about the local area.

After the braids, the river cranks the energy back up, rounding out your adventure with more thrilling Class II to Class III whitewater. All in all, you’ll spend about 1 hour and 20 minutes on the river, tackling a total of 6 exciting rapids – an ideal introduction to the world of whitewater rafting!

Finally, as you reach the river take-out, you’ll bid farewell to your raft and hop back aboard the bus for the short and sweet ride back to our River Base.

Back at the River Base, it’s time to complete your amazing tour. Head into our comfortable heated changerooms, where you’ll shed your wet river attire, and don your dry, comfy clothes.

Out on our covered deck, with views of the beautiful Kicking Horse Valley, we have a selection of piping hot and refreshingly cold beverages for you to savour and enjoy!

As you unwind on the deck, check out the trip photos on display, where you can see yourself in action and reminisce on the experience. If you’d like to treat yourself to a little something to memorialize this unforgettable experience (and remind you to plan your next visit!), wander through our gift shop to find all of the goodies! And of course, you can chat and laugh with fellow rafters and guides, reveling in the fun and excitement you had on the river. A perfect ending to an extraordinary day!

REVIEWS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Yes. The Gentle is specifically designed for families and is the most family-friendly rafting trip on the Kicking Horse River. The minimum age is 8 years old and 50 lbs, making it one of the lowest age minimums of any whitewater rafting trip in the Canadian Rockies. All gear is provided, guides are trained professionals, and every trip includes a full safety briefing before entering the water. The trip has been enjoyed by guests ranging from young children to grandparents in their 80s.

The Gentle trip runs Class II to Class III whitewater. The Gentle trip runs 6 rapids over approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes on the water. Rapids range from Class II to Class III and include Alarm Clock (a splashy Class III rapid at the start of the trip that acts as a natural wake-up call), Equalizer, and Hopi’s Hole (Class III+, one of the most technical rapids on the river with waves up to 10 feet at high water). Between rapids, the river braids through a scenic valley with 360-degree mountain views.

The Gentle trip runs Class II-III rapids on the upper section of the Kicking Horse River, starting inside Yoho National Park, and is suited to ages 8 and up. The Whitewater Exciter runs Class IV+ rapids on the more challenging middle canyon section and requires participants to be at least 12 years old. The Gentle covers 6 rapids and focuses on scenery alongside excitement, while the Exciter runs 14 rapids with a focus on maximum whitewater. Both trips are 3 hours long and depart from the same River Base.

All gear is provided. Wild Water Adventures supplies a wetsuit, neoprene booties, polar fleece sweater, hooded spray jacket, helmet, and life jacket. The trip also includes a certified professional guide, bus shuttle to and from the Yoho National Park put-in, hot and cold beverages at the River Base after the trip, and access to heated change rooms and a covered deck overlooking the Kicking Horse River Valley. An optional gourmet BBQ lunch upgrade is available for the 8:45am morning departure.

The Gentle is a 3-hour trip in total. Rafters spend approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes on the water. The remaining time includes check-in and gear up at the River Base, a bus shuttle to the exclusive Yoho National Park put-in, a safety briefing at the river, and time on the covered deck after the trip for beverages and trip photos.

Yes. Wild Water Adventures has trip photographers on the river and at key rapids to capture the action. Photos are available to purchase after your trip through the guest services team at the River Base or via the Wild Water Adventures online store. Trip photos make a great souvenir and are ready shortly after your return to the River Base.

The BBQ lunch upgrade is available for the 8:45am morning departure only and is a popular add-on. The menu includes your choice of Mediterranean-marinated chicken breast, salmon filet, or black bean veggie burger, served with freshly baked bread, salads, munchie mix, watermelon, and chocolate chip cookies. It is a great way to refuel after the trip and extend the River Base experience before heading out.

Each raft holds up to 8 guests, with 4 in the front and 4 in the back. The guide sits in the middle and controls the raft throughout the trip. Private rafts are also available for groups.

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 River Base. Please do not arrive at the River Base 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. The waiver is also available in French, Spanish, German and Dutch.

Individual bookings of up to 7 guests are fully refundable or changeable up to 48 hours before departure. Group bookings of 8 or more guests are fully refundable or changeable up to 7 days before departure. Within those windows, reservations are non-refundable. Cancellation insurance is available through Wild Water Adventures’ partner TuGo. For full details about our Terms and Conditions, visit our Booking Policies page.

Explore other Trips