Gentle

The Perfect Introductory Whitewater Adventure

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: $112 | 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 8:45 am
Sunday & Thursday 1:45 pm

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DESCRIPTION

Kicking off within the Yoho National Park boundary, rafters begin with a wake-up call through Alarm Clock rapid. Next, wind through the braids and marvel at the Rocky Mountain scenery, while our guides speak to the history, nature, and wildlife of the river. 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
  • 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 quick bus ride to the river put-in, you’ll hop off the bus and gather around for the safety talk; you’ll get all the intel you need to conquer the wild water! Then comes the fun part. You’ll be grouped into rafts and away you go!

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

Our rafts seat up to 8 guests. The guide sits in the middle, with 4 guests in the front and 4 guests in the back. Private rafts are available for groups of 4 to 8 rafters. Click here for more information.

Our River Base 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 day lodge boasts heated change rooms, 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 day lodge while guests have fun on the river.

For any morning departures, guests have the option to add-on a gourmet barbecue lunch. The menu consists of a choice of a Mediterranean-marinated chicken breast, salmon filet, or black bean veggie burger, paired with freshly baked bread, three different salads, munchie mix, watermelon, and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. For more information, give our friendly Reservations specialists a call at 1-888-647-6444.

Absolutely! Our talented Drivers / Trip Photographers will be on scene to capture all the action. Trip photos are available for purchase after your trip directly with our Guest Services Crew, or through our online store here.

As with any adventure activity, there are always inherent hazards and risks. However, we do all that we can to mitigate those hazards and risks. More information about our safety policies and protocols can be found here.

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.

All you need to bring is a swimsuit and towel! We provide the rest of the gear that you’ll wear on the river—wetsuits, neoprene booties, polar fleece sweaters, hooded spray jackets, helmets and life jackets. Any valuables, like phones, wallets and jewelry can be safely stored in our locked change rooms, or in your locked personal vehicle.

For full details about our Terms and Conditions, visit our Booking Policies page.

 

Cancellation Policy:

 

Individual Booking (up to 7 participants):

 

Reservations are fully refundable, or changeable, up to 48 hours prior to trip departure. Once within that final 48-hour window, reservations are non-refundable.

 

Group Booking (8 or more participants):

 

Reservations are fully refundable, or changeable up to 7 days prior to trip departure. Once within that final 7-day window, reservations are non-refundable.

 

WAIVER, 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 and will be attached to the confirmation email. The waiver is also available in French, Spanish, German and Dutch.

 

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

Yes it is! We have partnered with TuGo, one of Canada’s top travel insurance providers. For more information, please visit our Booking Policies page.

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