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Whitewater Exciter

The Best Kicking Horse River Rafting Trip

Our most popular half-day trip. Experience some of the biggest and best whitewater in the Canadian Rockies!

Price:

Adults: $139

Duration:

3 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 & 1:45 pm

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DESCRIPTION

If you’re looking for thrilling whitewater, whether you’re a first-time rafter or experienced rafter, this trip is for you. Crash through 14 rapids from Class II to Class IV+ over 12km on your Kicking Horse River rafting trip. Rafters will then return to the River Base soaked and smiling. Once in warm, dry clothes, refuel with a selection of hot and cold beverages, while you reminisce about the good times you had!

Highlights

  • Our most popular trip
  • Exciting rapids like Hopi’s Hole, Rollercoaster, and Twin Peaks
  • Portage & Shotgun – 1km of continuous Class IV whitewater
  • Optional BBQ lunch upgrade for morning departures

ITINERARY

Get ready to embark on an incredible journey down the Kicking Horse River! Grab your swimsuit, towel, and sense of adventure, and meet us at our River Base, nestled near stunning Golden, BC. When you arrive, our cheery crew will give you a warm welcome, get you checked in and guide you through the waiver process.

After everyone’s accounted for, our lively guides kick off the adventure with a quick intro and gear rundown. Then, it’s off to our changerooms to suit up in our top-notch equipment. Fun fact: we wash, sanitize and dry it all after every use, so it’s ready for the next round of action.

Now, jump aboard our bright yellow buses, and we’ll whisk you away to the river’s edge, 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! For the next hour and 20 minutes, you’ll be in for a thrilling ride tackling 14 rapids ranging from Class II (fun and splashy) to Class IV+ (more challenging, with waves so big they’re guaranteed to leave you drenched). Get ready to paddle hard, hold on tight, and get down through the most exhilarating whitewater in the Canadian Rockies. But, it’s not just about the adrenaline rush. Along the way, you’ll also be treated to jaw-dropping views, from majestic mountains to towering canyon walls.

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 to our River Base.

Back at the River Base, it’s time to wrap up your epic adventure. Head into our cozy heated change rooms, where you’ll say goodbye to your river gear, and hello to your dry, comfy clothes.

Out on our spacious deck overlooking the picturesque Kicking Horse Valley, you’ll be treated to a selection of piping hot and refreshingly cold beverages to sip and savour – you’ve earned it!

As you relax on the deck, take a walk down memory lane and check out the trip photos on display, where you can relive the thrill of the river and spot yourself in action. If you need the perfect souvenir to commemorate this unforgettable journey (and remind you to plan your next visit!), hit up our gift shop – it’s a treasure trove of goodies! And of course, you can mingle with fellow rafters and guides, sharing stories and laughter, reveling in the fun and excitement you had on the river. It’s the perfect ending to an extraordinary day!

REVIEWS

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

The Whitewater Exciter is Wild Water Adventures’ most popular half-day rafting trip on the Kicking Horse River near Banff and Lake Louise. It covers 12km of river over approximately 3 hours, tackling 14 rapids ranging from Class II to Class IV+. Highlights include Hopi’s Hole, Rollercoaster, Twin Peaks, and Portage and Shotgun, which is 1km of continuous Class IV whitewater.

Yes. The Whitewater Exciter is designed for both first-time and experienced rafters. Every trip begins with a full safety briefing and all participants wear certified helmets, life jackets, wetsuits, and spray jackets provided by Wild Water Adventures. The minimum age is 12 years old and 90 lbs. Our guides are trained professionals who manage your safety throughout the trip, so no prior rafting experience is required.

The Whitewater Exciter runs 14 rapids over 12km, ranging from Class II to Class IV+. Key rapids include Hopi’s Hole (Class III+, featuring 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 the highlight of the trip and one of the best rapids in the Canadian Rockies at 1km of continuous Class IV+ whitewater dropping 110 feet of elevation.

Everything you need is provided. Wild Water Adventures supplies a wetsuit, neoprene booties, polar fleece sweater, hooded spray jacket, helmet, and life jacket. Your trip also includes a certified professional guide, bus shuttle to and from the river, hot and cold beverages at the River Base after the trip, and access to heated change rooms and a covered deck. An optional gourmet BBQ lunch upgrade is available for the 8:45am morning departure.

The Whitewater Exciter is a 3-hour trip. Rafters spend approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes on the water covering 12km of the Kicking Horse River. The remaining time includes check-in and gear up at the River Base, a bus shuttle to the river put-in, a safety briefing, and time on the 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.

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