It's been an unusually warm winter in Golden B.C., and while there are many skiers and snowboarders amongst us, we've been making the best of it.
The Kicking Horse River thawed extremely early this year and as soon as we saw water we knew we had to go exploring.
Walking from our base in Golden to the starting point on the Kicking Horse
People were very interested in what we were doing as we carried the kayaks to the river
We pumped up our inflatable kayaks and set off down the Kicking Horse. Floating through the massive ice walls was super cool and it was a totally new way to see the river.
We could hear the ice cracking and shifting and there were blocks of ice floating all around us. It was a new and really neat experience for all our Glacier staff.
The Kicking Horse is a glacial fed river that starts at Wapta Lake in the eastern part of British Columbia. It flows through Field, B.C. and plunges over Wapta Falls before making its way into Golden.
Because it's glacial fed it remains around 3 - 4 degrees celsius all summer, but the conditions this day were a bit colder than normal. Ha!
A bit chilly putting on the river, but well worth it!
Click on the video below to see our winter paddling adventure.
We're continuing to cross our fingers for snow, but this is pretty awesome in the meantime. While we haven't officially started offering winter kayak tours, it's something we'll consider for down the road if we continue to have early thaws.
Kayaking underneath the Timberframe Bridge in Golden and some locals look on
As with everything we do it's completely dependent on Mother Nature, so we'll just have to wait and see what she gives us.
If you'd like to paddle this calm stretch of river, without freezing your butt off, we do have a summer option too.
Our two hour, summer kayak tour runs daily, with a minimum of four people, and it will take you on both the Kicking Horse River and the Columbia River.
Think warm summer evenings, calm, class 1 water, big mountain peaks, wildlife and smiles and laughter amongst your group.
If summer paddling is more your style, we have tours for that too
Starting at the edge of Golden, B.C. on the Kicking Horse, you'll paddle through town with one of our fully qualified guides. While it is calm, you may get a small splash, or two, so we recommend you come dressed for the weather in quick dry clothing (cotton is no good, as it makes you colder when it gets wet).
The Kicking Horse and Columbia Rivers meet in Golden, and as you reach the confluence you will then be paddling out of town on the Columbia.
The confluence of the Kicking Horse River and Columbia River. This is where you'll leave the Kicking Horse and paddle out of town on the Columbia
The Columbia Wetlands are one of the largest, intact wetlands in the world, and it provides a great chance to see lots of birds and other wildlife. We regularly see bald eagles and ospreys, and beavers often make an appearance too.
There are over 265 species of birds in the wetlands, so if you happen to be a birder make sure you bring your binoculars along. There are lots of places we can stop and our guides are always interested to learn more about the local wildlife.
If you'd like to paddle one of our local rivers or lakes, but prefer to explore on your own, we also have two person inflatable kayaks available for rent. They are rented on a first come first served basis, so be sure to get in touch when you know you'll be in the area.
If you want to adventure on your own, kayak rentals are also available. We can help direct you to the lakes and rives in the area.
Half day, full day and multi day rentals are all available, and you can rent them by giving us a call at 1 877 344 7238.
You can see more information on both kayak tours and kayak rentals on our website. If you have other questions please contact us using the phone number listed right above, or by emailing trips@glacierraft.com
May Long Weekend is always our official start date, and we run until mid September (river levels dependent). We hope to see you on the river then!
Cheers from all of us here at Glacier
Want to experience the Kicking Horse River, but kayaking isn't your scene?
We also offer 5 different whitewater rafting trips which range from calm and gentle to fast and exciting.
From a scenic float, to big class 3 and 4 rapids, we have trips to suit all adventure levels. You can take a look at our Kicking Horse River Overview page to get a summary of each trip, or you can use our Trip Selector to help narrow down the best option for you and your group.
Gentle, scenic rafting is available on the Kicking Horse
If you want to turn it up a notch, big, splashy whitewater is a possibility too!
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