Whitewater Exciter
Biggest Whitewater Trip In The Canadian Rockies!
The Best Half-Day Kicking Horse Whitewater Trip … Hands Down!
Never been rafting before and looking for great whitewater? Been rafting before and want something more? The BIG waves of the Whitewater Exciter are sure to please! Our flagship half-day trip, since 1992, has seen more than 120,000 guests raft down the biggest whitewater section in the Rockies. It is non-stop, world-class rafting action from start to finish.
Departures are offered twice daily, morning and afternoon, throughout the entire rafting season (mid-May through mid-September). For safety, rafters must be at least 12 years of age and weigh at least 90 pounds (41kg). Our oldest rafter on record is 88 years! The Whitewater Exciter is just right for so many rafting enthusiasts.
2023 Departures
May 20 – June 2, 2023 – Departures at 1:45 PM
June 3 – September 3, 2023 – Departures at 8:45 AM and 1:45 PM
September 4-10, 2023 – Departures at 1:45 PM
Private Rafts
Enjoy the Kicking Horse River on your exclusively private raft! For those wishing to have only their own family or friends on board, our Build Your Own Boatload special (or, BYOB) is perfect. Feel more at ease on the river with your own guide and raft, while still being part of a larger flotilla. All it takes is 4 to 8 guests to have your own boat on a regularly-scheduled Whitewater Exciter departure. Simply give us a call at 1-888-647-6444 to chat further.
As with all Wild Water Adventure trips, guests meet at our RiverBase Daylodge; all our Golden, BC rafting trips depart from here. It’s easy to find your way to us with our downloadable self-drive map of the Banff area, and we have loads of secure parking on site for vehicles of all shapes and sizes.
At Wild Water, we place a strong emphasis on safety and guest satisfaction. Our team of river rafting professionals, or ‘guides’, will size everyone up for Canada rafting equipment, (all clean, dry, sterilized … and FREE!). Guests comfortably change into provided gear in heated changing rooms before being shuttled to the river. An easy-to-understand safety briefing will be delivered covering proper seating and paddling techniques.
Once on the river, guests experience over 14 sets of named rapids during the 1½ hour whitewater adventure (the entire trip, from ‘greetings to goodbyes’, takes about 3 ½ hours.) The named rapids range from Class II (easy, fun) to Class IV (very splashy, challenging, and wet!) and there is plenty of fast-moving water and smaller waves to enjoy while rafting past breathtaking scenery and towering canyon walls.
Rapids such as Roller Coaster, Hopi’s Hole, Goat Rapid, and Twin Peaks produce big smiles. The most famous rapid is Portage and Shotgun (cue dramatic music!). Long, continuous, quick, and tricky, this section of this river is, without question, the most popular and memorable section of true Class IV to IV+ rafting in the Canadian Rockies. Don’t miss it!
Back at the RiverBase, after the trip, in warm, dry land clothes once again, guests refuel with fresh baked cookies, fresh fruit, and a selection of hot and cold beverages on our spacious deck overlooking the Kicking Horse Valley. This is the time to share more laughs with the crew and fellow rafters, check out the trip photographs, and, maybe, start planning your next Kicking Horse rafting adventure (different water levels, at different times of the season, do make for an entirely different experience!).
FUEL UP!
Fuel up for your afternoon Rocky Mountain adventures! Guests joining us for morning Whitewater Exciter departures (8:45 AM) can upgrade to enjoy a delicious post-trip gourmet BBQ lunch at the RiverBase. The cost per person is $27 + 5% GST.
The delicious menu consists of your choice of 3 BBQ items: Salmon fillet, Mediterranean-marinated chicken breast, or premium quality plant-based burger. Accompanying the main dish are three different salads, vegetable condiments, watermelon, fresh-baked bread, fresh-baked cookies, and a selection of hot and cold beverages. Please give us a call at 1-888-647-6444 for further details.
Reviews
Photo Gallery
One of the best half day Kicking Horse Rafting Trips…hands down!
Our flagship trip since 1992, over 120,000 rafters have enjoyed this exceptional stretch of whitewater on the Kicking Horse River that we offer twice daily. Perfect for ages 12 to…well…our current record is 88! Not too long and not too short, to quote from Goldilocks and the Three Bears…“This trip is JUST right!”
Never been rafting before but want a fun trip? BEEN rafting before and want something more? The Whitewater Exciter is one of our flagship Kicking Horse Rafting Trips and is sure to satisfy whether this is your first or fifteenth trip.
2023 Departures
May 20 – June 2, 2023 – Departures at 1:45 PM
June 3 – September 3, 2023 – Departures at 8:45 AM and 1:45 PM
September 4-10, 2023 – Departures at 1:45 PM
Private Rafts
Enjoy the Kicking Horse River on your exclusively private raft! For those wishing to have only their own family or friends on board, our Build Your Own Boatload special (or, BYOB) is perfect. Feel more at ease on the river with your own guide and raft, while still being part of a larger flotilla. All it takes is 4 to 8 guests to have your own boat on a regularly-scheduled Whitewater Exciter departure. Simply give us a call at 1-888-647-6444 to chat further.
As with all our trips, you’ll meet at our RiverBase Daylodge. You may take our bus from Lake Louise or take your car. (It’s easy to find your way to us with our downloadable self-drive map of Banff area, and we’ve got loads of secure parking on site.)
You’ll meet your team of river rafting professionals, or “guides”, that will help you get the proper fit for all your Canada rafting equipment (all clean, dry…and FREE!) and deliver easy-to-understand safety briefings and proper seating and paddling techniques.
You’ll experience over 14 sets of named rapids during your 1½ hrs. of fun on the river. (The whole trip, “greetings” to “goodbyes”, takes about 3 to 3 ½ hours.) The named rapids range from class II (easy, fun) to class IV (very splashy, challenging and wet!) and there is plenty of fast moving water and smaller waves to enjoy while you float through breathtaking scenery and past towering canyon walls.
There are numerous rapids, such as, “Roller Coaster”, “Hopi Hole”, “Goat Rapid” and “Twin Peaks” that are certain to leave you with big smiles. The most famous rapid is known throughout the area…the “Portage” and “Shotgun” rapids! (Cue dramatic music!) Long, continuous, quick and tricky, this section of river is, without question, the most popular and memorable section of true class IV to IV+ rafting in the Alberta area. Don’t miss it!
At the rafting trip’s end, back in your own dry clothes, hair dried and adrenalin levels back to normal, you’ll share cookies, fresh fruit, hot and cold beverages on our spacious deck overlooking the Kicking Horse River valley with your river rafting guides and fellow adventurers and exchange your tales of the day…and maybe even start planning one of your next Kicking Horse Rafting Trips!
Photo Gallery
More Rafting Trips
The Tradition
Maximum Horsepower
The Premium
