The Tradition

The Full Kicking Horse Rafting Adventure

The trip that has it all. Marvel at the stunning scenery of the Kicking Horse River Valley, and crash through the biggest and best rapids in the Canadian Rockies.

Price:

Adults: $195

Duration:

5 Hours

Age & Weight:

Ages 12+ & 90lbs (41kg)

Rapids:

Up to Class IV+
You will get soaked!

Location:


River Base Day Lodge

Departure Time:

Daily
8:45 am

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DESCRIPTION

Travelling all 24kms of raft-able river on the Kicking Horse, rafters warm up with bouncy and splashy introductory whitewater found along the remarkably scenic Upper Canyon, and finish with the BIG, wild whitewater of the Middle Canyon. The cherry on top? Rafters are treated to a hot, delicious barbecue lunch upon return to the River Base. A perfect trip for those looking to spend more time on the river.

Highlights

  • Exclusive starting point inside the Yoho National Park boundary
  • Portage & Shotgun – 1km of continuous Class IV/IV+ whitewater
  • Exciting rapids like Hopi’s Hole, Rollercoaster and Twin Peaks
  • Stunning views of the Kicking Horse River Valley
  • Gourmet BBQ Lunch

ITINERARY

Get ready for an extraordinary trip! Grab your swimsuit, towel, and sense of adventure, and meet us at our River Base, nestled near the beautiful Golden, BC. When you arrive, you’ll be welcomed with open arms, with our happy crew getting you checked in and guiding you through the waiver process.

After everyone’s arrived, our dynamic guides start the experience with a quick intro and gear rundown. Then, it’s into our changerooms to gear up in the latest river fashion. Fun fact: we wash, sanitize and dry all gear after each use, so it’s prepped for the next round of action.  

Next, walk the rafting runway to our bright yellow buses, and we’ll bring you down to the river put-in, 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 the first few minutes, you’ll dive right into the action with the river’s wake-up call – the invigorating Class III rapid Alarm Clock – to energize you and kickstart your whitewater adventure. The first half of this river journey winds through tranquil waters with breathtaking scenery and dips your toes into introductory Class II to Class III whitewater. This is your training ground, where you’ll perfect your paddling, master the rafting commands, and get in sync with your guide, building up the confidence to face the excitement that lies ahead. Maybe you’ll even summon the courage to brave the water and take a refreshing dip at the swimming spot!

Following a quick pit-stop at the halfway point, you’ll plunge into the rafting big leagues. Get ready to tackle the bigger, wilder, and more continuous Class II to Class IV+ whitewater, putting all that you’ve practiced to good use. You and your fellow rafters will be a paddling powerhouse, working in harmony with your guide to conquer the most exhilarating rapids in the Canadian Rockies.

Finally, as you reach the river take-out after an action-packed 24 km over 2 and a half hours, the bus will whisk you back to our River Base for some well-deserved refueling.

Back at the River Base, it’s time to wrap up your incredible journey. Head into our cozy heated changerooms, where you’ll peel off your river gear, and sport your dry, comfy clothes once again.

Now, it’s time to satisfy your appetite. Head outside and over to the cook shack, where your gourmet BBQ lunch awaits you.

Our talented caterer has been grilling up a storm and is ready to serve up your choice of a zesty lime-marinated chicken breast, a mouthwatering salmon filet, or a hearty black bean veggie burger straight from the BBQ. Dress it up with your favourite condiments and nestle it within freshly baked bread. But that’s not all – your gourmet lunch includes a trio of delectable salads – the classic Caesar salad, a honey and grainy mustard coleslaw, and the all-comforting potato salad – along with munchie mix and slices of fresh watermelon. And don’t forget about dessert! We have freshly baked chocolate chip cookies that are sure to satisfy your sweet tooth.  Wash it all down with an assortment of hot and cold beverages to quench your thirst.

As lunch winds down and you’ve savoured every bite, you’ll have the chance to browse the trip photos on display, reliving the adventure and spotting yourself in action. Wander through our gift shop to find the perfect souvenir to commemorate this unforgettable journey (and remind you to plan your next visit!). And of course, you can socialize with fellow rafters and guides, sharing stories and laughter, reminiscing on the fun and excitement you had on the river. It’s the perfect way to round off 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.

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 (coleslaw, potato, Caesar), munchie mix, watermelon, and freshly baked chocolate chip cookie.

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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