Kayak rentals in Golden, British Columbia. Golden River Adventures offers kayaking rental opportunities suitable for adventure seekers with or without experience.
GOLDEN, British Columbia – British Columbia and Alberta offer many adventures, however the newest and most exciting opportunity in the Canadian Rockies this season is the chance to get out on an Inflatable Kayak.
Golden River Adventures, in affiliation with Alpine Rafting have teamed up to offer Inflatable Kayak rentals to help you have an exciting day in or around Golden, BC.
There are many lakes and rivers in the area for you to explore, and we can help point you in the right direction. If you’re new to paddling, we recommend starting on one of our beautiful alpine lakes. Flat water is much easier to learn on than the continuous flow of a river.
History of Some of the Rivers in the Area
The Kicking Horse was the first river in British Columbia designated as a Canadian Heritage River. The Kicking Horse River starts within Yoho National Park, one the Canadian Rocky Mountain’s National Parks. Established in 1886 as one of Canada’s First Showcase Parks “Yoho” is a cree Indian word that expresses ‘awe’. Many famous explorer icons have travelled this route such as the Palliser Expedition and James Hector in the mid 1800′s. Prior to that, these waterways served of historic importance to the Indigenous people that lived in the area.
WAPTA FALLS – A Paddling option for EXPERIENCED Paddlers Only
Today, we can travel these routes and imagine the hardships that must have been endured on these shorelines mountain passes and trails. The result is one of the most unique river trips in the Canadian Rockies, travelling the historic trade routes. Beginning at the Beaver River, you’d travel to the confluence of the Beaver and Kicking Horse Rivers. From there, in true Canadian fashion, you’d engage in a short portage along one of the original portage routes of the Canadian West. Natives and explorers alike travelled these exact waterways and trails centuries ago. Highlights include paddling to the base of Wapta Falls, the most photographed waterfall in the Rockies.
From there you’d continue down Class 1 Whitewater. Most of this tour occurs within Yoho National Parks, and at any point participants can glance up for sweeping views of Mount Chancellor, the Canadian Rockies peak over 10,000 feet that straddles the Western Flank of this world-renowned Mountain Range. The trip is 5 hours in length from start to finish and you must be comfortable on the water to attempt this trip.
COLUMBIA VALLEY EXPLORER
The Kicking Horse & Columbia River waterways through the town of Golden boast a historical significance to the Columbia area. With the stunning backdrop of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort and the the Purcell Mountain Range, this trip is shorter and more accessible to newer paddlers than the option listed above.
You will see remnants of the old docks of a bygone area that were at one time a lifeline for the residents of Golden to accessing goods. You’ll travel under the Kicking Horse Pedestrian Bridge, the longest covered timber bridge in Canada. Once you come to the terminus of the Kicking Horse River you will travel the Columbia River for a short while. This is a good time in the evening to catch a glimpse of beavers, otters or a black bear near the water’s edge, although it is not guaranteed.