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The Tradition

The Full Kicking Horse Rafting Adventure

Unlike our half-day trips, The Tradition runs all 24km of raftable river, both the scenic Upper Canyon and the Class IV+ Middle Canyon, making it the most complete Kicking Horse rafting experience available.

Price:

Adults: $199

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 town of Golden, BC. When you arrive, you’ll be welcomed with open arms, by our happy crew who will get you checked in and guide you through the waiver process.

After everyone’s arrived, our enthusiastic 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. After this energizing rapid the 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

The Tradition is Wild Water Adventures’ most complete rafting experience on the Kicking Horse River near Banff and Lake Louise. It covers all 24km of raftable river over 5 hours, starting exclusively inside Yoho National Park and finishing through the Class IV+ rapids of the Middle Canyon. The trip includes a gourmet BBQ lunch upon return to the River Base.

The Tradition covers all 24km of raftable Kicking Horse River, running rapids from Class II through Class IV+. Starting inside Yoho National Park, the trip begins with Alarm Clock (Class III), winds through the scenic Braids section, then builds to the biggest water on the river in the Middle Canyon. Key rapids include Hopi’s Hole (Class III+, waves up to 10 feet at high water), Rollercoaster (a 500m Class III+ wave train through a tight canyon), Twin Peaks, and Portage and Shotgun, which is 1km of continuous Class IV+ whitewater dropping 110 feet of elevation and is considered the best rapid in the Canadian Rockies.

The Tradition is a 5-hour trip in total. Rafters spend approximately 2.5 hours on the water covering all 24km of raftable Kicking Horse River. 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 a gourmet BBQ lunch on the River Base deck after the trip.

Yes. Despite running Class IV+ rapids, The Tradition is well suited to first-time rafters. The trip is structured to build confidence gradually, starting with gentler Class II-III whitewater in the Upper Canyon before reaching the bigger rapids of the Middle Canyon. Every trip begins with a full safety briefing, all gear is provided, and guides are certified professionals. The minimum age is 12 years old and 90 lbs. No prior rafting experience is required.

Everything 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, a gourmet BBQ lunch on the River Base deck after the trip, hot and cold beverages, and access to heated change rooms. Just bring a swimsuit and a towel.

A gourmet BBQ lunch is included with every Tradition trip. The menu features a choice of Mediterranean-marinated chicken breast, salmon filet, or black bean veggie burger, served with freshly baked bread, Caesar salad, honey mustard coleslaw, potato salad, munchie mix, watermelon, and freshly baked chocolate chip cookies. Hot and cold beverages are also included.

Just a swimsuit and a towel. All river gear is provided including a wetsuit, neoprene booties, fleece sweater, spray jacket, helmet, and life jacket. Wear or bring secure footwear such as sandals with a heel strap or athletic shoes, worn under the neoprene booties provided. Avoid cotton base layers as they stay cold and wet. Leave jewellery, loose valuables, and your phone in the locked change rooms at the River Base before heading to the river.

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.

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.

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