Golden British Columbia Kicking Horse Skiing and Rafting

Why visit Golden

Golden began in the early 1880s as a railway camp, and the arrival of the Canadian Pacific Railway shaped its early years. Swiss mountain guides were brought in during the late 1890s to lead visitors in the nearby mountain parks.

Today the town of fewer than four thousand people is a gateway to adventure. It has a compact center, a pleasant riverside path and enough restaurants to keep you well fed between big days out.

Golden also sits among a remarkable ring of protected landscapes, with Yoho and Glacier national parks within reach and the Columbia Valley stretching to the south. The mix of river, valley and mountain scenery means you can raft, ride a gondola and hike in a single trip, and still be back in town for dinner.

In town and the valley

The town's attractions are modest in scale and easy to combine on a relaxed day.

Kicking Horse Pedestrian Bridge

This covered timber-frame bridge spans the Kicking Horse River in the middle of town and is billed as the longest of its kind in Canada. It was built by volunteers from several countries.

Golden and District Museum

The museum on 11th Avenue South focuses on local history, with displays on the railway, Swiss mountaineering guides and early settlers. Hours are limited outside the summer season.

Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre

In the Blaeberry Valley, this centre houses wolves and offers talks on wolf behavior and conservation. Plan an hour or so and book if the schedule requires it.

Cedar Lake

A small lake reached by a gravel road from town, Cedar Lake is popular with locals for swimming, fishing and picnics. Roads can be rough, so follow directions carefully and bring your own water toys because rentals are limited.

Golden Farmers Market

In summer, a Wednesday market runs at Spirit Square by the pedestrian bridge, with honey, pottery and other local products. Allow thirty minutes.

Adventure and the national parks

Adventure is the reason many people come to Golden, and the options are broad. Summer offers rafting, biking, hiking and flying, while winter turns attention to the slopes.

Kicking Horse Mountain Resort

About six kilometres west of town, the resort is Golden's biggest draw. Winter brings steep skiing with a large vertical drop, while summer has a bike park, a gondola and a grizzly bear refuge.

Golden Skybridge

This attraction has one of Canada's highest suspension bridges, about 130 metres above a canyon, along with a zipline and climbing wall. Allow two to three hours.

Whitewater rafting on the Kicking Horse River

Three companies run trips on the Kicking Horse River, which has one of the longest stretches of class four rapids in the world. Book ahead in summer.

Mount 7 paragliding

Mount 7 is a respected site for paragliding and has seen several world records. Tandem flights are available for beginners.

Yoho National Park

Yoho lies east of Golden in the Rockies and is an easy day trip along Highway 1. Allow a full day, check park and road conditions before you leave and carry layers for changeable weather.

Glacier National Park

West of Golden, Glacier National Park protects high peaks, glaciers and heavy snow in the Selkirk Mountains, with Rogers Pass at its center.

Food and local flavors

Golden has a surprising number of places to eat for a small town. Highway-strip chains sit alongside pub kitchens, pizza spots, burger joints and a few finer restaurants downtown.

Many cafes are licensed, and mountain restaurants serve post-ski comfort food. If you are heading up the gondola, the restaurant at the top is reachable only by lift, with views across the valley.

Where to stay

Downtown Golden has the best range of restaurants and easy walking to the pedestrian bridge, museum and shops. It suits road-trippers and visitors without a car.

Kicking Horse Mountain Resort offers ski-in lodging and a village atmosphere with a few pubs.

The Blaeberry Valley is rural and quiet, with lodges and rides nearby, which suits travelers who prefer nature to nightlife.

Best time to visit

Summer is peak season, with hiking, rafting, mountain biking and the Skybridge at their best. Many high trails keep snow until mid-June or later, so check conditions.

Winter is excellent for skiing at Kicking Horse, which gets good snow, although mountain roads can be icy.

Getting there and getting around

Golden lies at the junction of Highway 1, the Trans-Canada, and Highway 95. Calgary, the nearest major airport, is about three hours east, and Vancouver is about eight hours west.

Ebus and Rider Express run along Highway 1 with stops in Golden, and a winter shuttle runs from Calgary airport to Kicking Horse. No passenger trains stop in town.

Golden is small enough to explore on foot downtown, and in winter a resort shuttle runs between town and the mountain.

A suggested itinerary

First day

Walk the pedestrian bridge and Rotary Trail, visit the museum, and dine downtown.

Second day

Spend the day at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, with skiing or the gondola and bear refuge.

Third day

Raft the Kicking Horse River in the morning, then cross the Skybridge in the afternoon.

Fourth day

Take a day trip to Yoho or Glacier National Park, or visit the wolf centre in the Blaeberry Valley.

Practical tips

• Book rafting and Skybridge visits in advance during summer.
• Check seasonal opening hours before planning museums and markets.
• Carry bear awareness on trails and follow wildlife rules at the resort.
• Allow extra time for mountain driving in winter.
• Bring layers because evenings are cool even in summer.