Do you want to take your young family rafting but are unsure of which trip you'd be able to do? Are you, or someone else in your group, nervous about trying rafting? Or perhaps you’re just looking for a relaxing float through the nature of the Canadian Rocky Mountains? We have the perfect rafting trip for you! Our family rafting tour on the Kicking Horse River ticks each of these boxes.
Read on to learn more about the tour, it's highlights and what the experience will look like.
Thanks mom and dad - this is sooooo fun!
family rafting on the kicking horse river - everything you need to know
The Family Adventure rafts the upper canyon of the Kicking Horse River which is the calmest rafting there is near to Golden, BC. It’s 12 km of scenic rafting that starts at the boundary of Yoho National Park, and it's suitable for kids as young as 4 years.
You’ll be surrounded by high peaks, bright green forests and stunning mountain views. Take in the scenery and stories from your guide while the kids learn to paddle and have fun on the water.
The Family Adventure provides kids and nervous rafters a safe space to feel comfortable on the water
Our family rafting trip on the Kicking Horse River is also a great introduction for those who are nervous about rafting. It’s an excellent way to get comfortable in the raft and used to paddling on the river, without the added apprehension of bigger rapids.
Your trip starts by meandering down the Kicking Horse, flowing through an area known as the Beaverfoot Valley.
Wide valleys and beautiful peaks on the calm, upper canyon of the Kicking Horse River
gear we'll give you for family rafting on the kicking horse
The Kicking Horse is a glacial fed river, but we’ll bundle you up in lots of gear. We have wetsuits and neoprene boots, and extra jackets and layers if you want them.
With all this gear you’ll be quite comfortable, and you have the chance to hop in for a swim if you’re feeling up to it. On hot summer days it feels amazing, and swimming in a river is a really great experience for anyone who hasn’t tried it.
Going for a swim in the upper canyon
you'll experience a waterfall and some splashes
We’ll stop for a short hike up to a cascading waterfall, also known as the Fountain of Youth. The water is straight from the source and fresh enough to take a drink. If you’ve never had the chance to drink refreshing, mountain water, it’s definitely worth going in for a big gulp.
Cooling off in part of the waterfall known as the Fountain of Youth
While there isn't any big whitewater on this family rafting tour, the upper canyon of the Kicking Horse does offer some splashy sections. We like to call it a fast paced float, as you will get wet but not soaked. There are some waves and splashes and you’ll want to put on your biggest smile and wave to our photographer on shore.
A great time, splashes and smiles all around on our Family Adventure trip
Our professional photographer will be capturing you and your group throughout the trip, and all of our guides wear GoPro cameras. We capture highlights throughout the day so you have memories to take home if you want to.
Remember to smile! We have a photographer snapping shots all day
enjoy a hot bbq lunch on our family rafting tour
At the end of the 12 km on the river we’ll have a big, hot BBQ lunch and buffet waiting for you at our riverside lunch site.
Choose from a hamburger, veggie burger, chicken burger or smoke (a big hot dog), and load up your plate with some sides. We have hot and cold drinks too to fill up your belly.
There are lots of options for everyone in your group, and we can also prepare gluten free and vegan lunches if needed.
Finishing off their BBQ lunch after rafting the upper canyon of the Kicking Horse
end of your family rafting experience
After lunch you'll hop back on our big, yellow school bus and get shuttled back to base.
A great thing about the Kicking Horse, though, especially if you’re travelling with kids of different ages, or some nervous rafters, is that there is the option to continue on into the bigger whitewater after lunch, if anybody wants to.
As long as everyone is 12 and 90 pounds (and provided we still have seats available), you can upgrade to add on another section of the river. Anyone who upgrades simply pays the difference between the two trips when they get back at the end of the day.
The Family Adventure runs daily throughout the summer from 9:15 a.m. - 2:00 p.m., and the minimum age to enjoy this trip is 4 years.
So, if you’re looking for a fun outdoor activity that you can do with your whole family, this is it! For everyone who wants to sit back, relax and enjoy the beauty of Golden, B.C., we hope you can join us for some scenic family rafting on the Kicking Horse River.
To get a little taste of what this trip looks like, click on the video below.
You can also read more about this scenic and gentle rafting trip with Glacier Raft Company on the Family Adventure page on our website
Or, if it all sounds great and you know you’d like to join us, you can book your family rafting tour now.
If you’d like to get in touch, or have other questions, please contact us by emailing trips@glacierraft.com or phoning 1 877 344 7238
We hope to see you on the river soon!
Cheers from all of us here at Glacier
If you're coming with older kids, or think the members of your group would like a bit more adventure, we offer 4 other trips on the Kicking Horse River, as well. We raft the middle and the lower canyons after lunch and this is where you'll get into the bigger class 3 and 4 whitewater.
To see a summary of all the trips we offer you can head to the Kicking Horse River Overview page on our website, or you can use our Trip Selector to help narrow down the best options for you and your group.
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