Is Kicking Horse River rafting in Golden, BC worth the hype? We rafted with Glacier Rafting and share 7 reasons this Rockies adventure belongs on your bucket list.
If you’re planning a Rocky Mountain road trip, chances are you’ve heard people rave about rafting the Kicking Horse River in Golden, British Columbia. We heard it everywhere we went. Friends. Locals. Other travelers. The message was consistent: you have to raft it.
So we decided to experience it for ourselves with Glacier Rafting.
Short answer?
Yes. It’s absolutely worth the hype.
Between the glacier-fed rapids, jaw-dropping mountain scenery, and a guide team that knows exactly how to balance safety, skill, and fun, this turned out to be one of the standout experiences of our Canadian Rockies road trip.
If you’re wondering whether Kicking Horse River rafting deserves a spot on your itinerary, here are seven reasons it belongs on your bucket list.
🎥 You can also watch our full experience on YouTube:
7 Reasons Kicking Horse River Rafting in Golden, BC Is Worth the Hype
1. An Adventure Teens Will Actually Love
Traveling with teenagers means constantly looking for experiences that can compete with screens. White water rafting delivered in a big way.
From the moment we hit the first rapid, our teens were fully engaged. Laughing. Yelling. Paddling hard. Completely present. Phones stayed in the car without complaint, which might be the biggest endorsement of all.
If you’re road-tripping as a family and wondering what activity everyone will genuinely enjoy, this one checks that box.
2. Guides Who Make the Experience Exceptional
A powerful river is only part of the equation. The people guiding you down it matter just as much.
The Glacier Rafting team are professional, confident, and clearly passionate about what they do. Our guide made safety feel effortless while keeping the mood light and fun. Clear instructions, perfect timing, and just the right amount of humor turned a group of strangers into a coordinated team within minutes.
It felt less like a tour and more like being shown an incredible place by someone who truly loves it.
3. Two Very Different Adventures in One Day
One of the unique things about rafting the Kicking Horse River is that it offers two distinct experiences.
The first section starts with a splashy rapid and then eases into a scenic float. This is where you soak in the mountain views, splash each other, jump in for a swim, and settle into the rhythm of the river.
After lunch, the personality changes. The second section delivers fast-paced rapids that come one after another, leaving you soaked, energized, and grinning from ear to ear.
If you’re deciding between half-day and full-day rafting, the full-day trip gives you the best of both worlds.
4. Everything Is Taken Care Of
Adventure packing can be stressful, but this experience is refreshingly simple.
Glacier Rafting provides all the necessary gear: wetsuits, booties, splash jackets, helmets, lifejackets, and paddles. The water is glacier-cold, so having proper equipment makes a huge difference in comfort and confidence.
All you need to bring is a sense of adventure and a dry change of clothes for afterward.
5. A Riverside BBQ Lunch You’ll Actually Enjoy
If you choose the full-day experience, you’ll stop midway for a riverside barbecue.
Burgers, hot dogs, chips, salad, granola bars, and drinks. Nothing fancy, but exactly what you want after a morning on the river. Eating beside rushing water with mountains towering overhead somehow makes everything taste better.
It’s a relaxed pause that turns the day into more than just a thrill activity.
6. A Perspective of the Rockies You Can’t Get Anywhere Else
Even if you’ve driven through the Canadian Rockies before, seeing them from the river is completely different.
From the raft, you’re surrounded by steep canyon walls, jagged peaks, and that unmistakable glacier-blue water rushing beneath you. Between rapids, there are quiet moments where you stop paddling and just take it all in.
It’s a powerful mix of adrenaline and awe that’s hard to replicate any other way.
7. Memories That Stick
Some activities are fun in the moment and quickly forgotten. Rafting isn’t one of them.
The shared excitement, teamwork, unexpected splashes, and moments of pure joy create stories you’ll retell long after the trip ends. For us, this wasn’t just about conquering rapids. It was about sharing a meaningful adventure together in one of the most beautiful places in Canada.
So, Is Kicking Horse River Rafting Worth It?
Absolutely.
Whether you’re traveling with teens, chasing adrenaline, or simply looking for a memorable way to experience the Rockies, rafting the Kicking Horse River delivers on every level. Add in a professional, welcoming crew like Glacier Rafting and it becomes one of those rare experiences that lives up to everything you’ve heard.
If Golden, BC is on your route, this is one of those decisions you won’t second-guess.
🎥 Watch our full Glacier Rafting experience here:
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