Kicking Horse Rafting – It’s a Life of Adventure
For over four decades, Glacier Raft Company has been introducing adventurers from around the world to the thrill and beauty of the Kicking Horse River and the stunning waterways around Golden, BC.
What started in 1982 as a single raft on a wild stretch of river has grown into one of BC’s most trusted and celebrated rafting operations. Over the years, thousands of guests have paddled with us, laughed with us, and left with stories they’ll be telling for years.
At Glacier, we believe a rafting trip is more than just time on the water. It’s about the camaraderie in the boat, the scenery around every bend, and that shared rush when you make it through a rapid together. It’s the mix of adrenaline, nature, and connection that keeps people coming back year after year.
Whether you’re here for your first splash or your fifteenth run, our experienced team will make sure your time with us is safe, memorable, and full of those moments you can’t help but relive when you’re back on shore.
Glacier is Golden's original rafting company, operating on the Kicking Horse since 1982.
In 1982 a guy named Geoff Freer came north from Montana. A raft guide for many years, Geoff knew of the Kicking Horse but had never paddled it.
The river was largely unknown to the rafting world at that time, but Geoff knew this was a special place. He started bringing a couple American guides north with him on weekends. Hauling their own rafts and gear, this was the beginning of it all.
The company Geoff worked for in Montana was Glacier Raft Company. Hence our name, as the new sister company. This was the start of Glacier Raft Company in Canada, and commercial rafting on the Kicking Horse River from Golden, BC.
Glacier Raft Company in Montana still exists. While we no longer have any ties to their operation, our stories intertwined for many years.
Geoff operated Glacier until 1993, when it was purchased by long time Golden residents, the Murphy Family.
The Murphy's ran Glacier until 2010 and that's where our current story begins (see above).
Many changes have occurred over the years. Guests used to raft the 3 degree water with no wetsuits or helmets. Old rafts weren't self bailing, either, so someone would have to sit up front with a bucket and bail out all the water the raft took on. Yep - river rafting was definitely more cowboy back in the day.
Improving our river program was one thing, and our business has changed a lot too.
With loss of road access to the famous Lower Canyon (one of the best stretches of whitewater on the river), we pioneered heli rafting in 2016. Combining amazing rafting and a heli flight to get there created a very unique opportunity. There's no experience like this anywhere else in the area.
Our rafting base moved from an old warehouse in downtown Golden, to our current location in 2017. This move marked a major shift, as we acquired Wet n Wild Adventures and the former McLaren Lodge.
Wet n Wild was another long time Kicking Horse River rafting outfitter based out of Golden. With their owners looking to retire, we saw this as a great opportunity to grow our business. We now have a beautiful property with lots of gardens and green space for you to enjoy.
We renovated and renamed the lodge in 2018, and Whitewater Lodge was born. The lodge is a 10 room B&B, located at our property on the edge of Golden. A quiet retreat, our rooms are available to book in the summer.
2019 was another big milestone year, as Glacier acquired Alpine Rafting. Alpine was a well established rafting business, as they'd been operating on the Kicking Horse for almost as long as us. The acquisition of Wet and Wild and Alpine positioned Glacier as the exclusive rafting outfitter in Golden.
Going from being one of three, to the sole rafting trip provider, was a big move for us. We've taken the best of all three companies and now operate as one.
Even though things have evolved, the important stuff has always stayed the same.
We're a small, local, family run business. We value safety as our priority, while making sure you have as much fun as possible. At Glacier we know it’s the little things that make a big difference, and we continue to value you - every guest who joins us.
We strive to exceed your expectations and share with you our beautiful home, as we want you to have an experience you'll keep reliving for a long time after you leave.
Whether it’s your first time or you make an annual appearance, we will welcome you into our rafting family. We love what we do and want to share it with you.
One of our guests loved his trip so much, he made a video of his Kicking Horse rafting experience. See him and his friends having a wonderful day in Golden.
Kicking Horse Rafting Video - Courtesy of a Guest
With over 1500 five star reviews, you can also get a real sense of what people love about us. Here is a small sneak peak.
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