You’ve come to the right place, because the Kicking Horse River and the Banff Rafting Association specialize in doing just that!

Enjoy rafting the Kicking Horse River in the Canadian Rockies with your family and share the experience together back at our RiverBase Daylodge when the adventure is done.
The most popular trips are our Whitewater Exciter and our Gentle rafting trip. Run at the same time, but on different sections of the Kicking Horse River, these rafting trips will be perfect for your family adventure vacation in Banff, Alberta. We’re also easy to get to from other Canadian Rockies vacation towns, including Canmore, Jasper and Golden! Even Calgary isn’t too far away.

Group discounts of 10% begin with 8 rafters, and they don’t even have to be on the same rafting trip, just come on the same day! Let us help you create magical moments with Banff, Alberta rafting tours for your family or reunion group.

Rafting is an awesome, healthy way to celebrate, and for some reason, people just tend to do a little bonding while blasting down whitewater together.

Celebrate your Canadian Rockies wedding with whitewater rafting adventures for the boys and the girls or the whole wedding party together!

Brides or grooms (or even Brides AND Grooms, depending on numbers) receive discounts or free rafting trips starting at as few as four people!

Some of the most popular rafting trips in the Banff area for wedding parties are the Whitewater Exciter if you want good “bang for your buck” or our Classic Day Trip if you have more time to enjoy on the river and feel free to bring along a few beverages of your choice to enjoy back at our private RiverBase Daylodge after your rafting adventure on the Kicking Horse River is done!

• Four people: Bride or Groom enjoys a 25% discount.
• Eight people: Bride or Groom goes FREE.
• Sixteen people: Bride AND Groom go FREE, or, if only one, the rest of the group enjoys a 10% discount.
• More than sixteen? Call us for great rates!

Allow the Banff Rafting Association to work with you and your adventure travel group, corporate or social, to create a truly unforgettable Canadian Rockies rafting trip!

People have a habit of really coming together, whether on a Canadian Rockies corporate trip, or with friends, when they go blasting down a canyon full of whitewater!

Great adventure travel group rates are available for just 8 or more rafters! Just contact us for details, and get ready to plan your whitewater rafting trip in the Canadian Rockies!

Company Rafting Trips and Staff Rewards

We know you want your rafting trip to be personalized, memorable and fully professional. Here’s what we offer to make sure it happens:

• Custom rafting trip itineraries and departure times.
• Private trips for your group. (minimum numbers required.)
• Unique Heli-rafting trips.
• “White Linen” riverside buffets.
• Charter transportation options from Calgary and other locations.

Our most popular rafting tours for corporate or group trips are the Classic Day Trip or our Whitewater Exciter.

Got some “reluctant rafters” in your group . . . want to join in but not sure if they can do it? No problem . . . contact us for the solution and put “reluctant rafters” in the subject line! We’ll help you plan the perfect Banff, Canada rafting tour!

It’s hard to be a vacation spent rafting in the Rockies, on the Banff, Alberta area’s finest whitewater rivers. We’re sure every rafter will be soaked with adrenaline and river water from head to toe by they time they finish a multi-day package rafting trip with us.

Choose the Banff Rafting Association’s PREMIUM rafting package or our ELITE rafting package, whichever best suits your rafting adventure level and budget. Then, pick out the lodging that you prefer, from luxurious cabins to rustic camping, and you will have created your own unique Kicking Horse River escape.

Premium Rafting Package

This trip is ideal for those who are seeking a fun river experience, are more value conscious, or have rafters under the age of 16.

Class II to IV

Day 1: 2 pm – Meeting at the Banff Rafting Association’s RiverBase Daylodge. You’ll be greeted by your Kicking Horse River guides & will be outfitted with your personal river gear. We’ll head to our exclusive put-in on the Kicking Horse River and, after safety instructions & demonstrations, splash through this Alberta river famous for its world-class whitewater. After enjoying some tasty snacks back at our RiverBase Daylodge, the evening in the Canadian Rockies is your’s to enjoy! You may choose to take a hike, relax with a book or visit the mountain town of Golden, or simply enjoy time in your cabin or at your campsite with friends & family over a sizzling BBQ & under the star filled Canadian mountain sky.

Day 2: 9 am at the RiverBase Daylodge. Today we’ll start up higher on the Kicking Horse River & enjoy the scenery as we float through Yoho National Park. As an added challenge, today we will tackle the river with an “all-paddle” format, which means that teamwork is at a premium to negotiate the 16 sets of rapids that range from class II to IV.

After a delicious BBQ lunch back at our RiverBase Daylodge, you’ll say your good-byes to the Wild Water team and likely begin to make your plans for your next whitewater adventure with the Banff Rafting Association on the Kicking Horse River!

Available any two consecutive days throughout the summer operating season.

What is included: All rafting equipment, transportation to and from our RiverBase, light refreshments on Day 1, delicious barbecue lunch on Day 2, and FREE TRIP PHOTOS! ($20 value)

Rate chart & Trip Timing

Elite Package

This trip is a must for those seeking the most exciting whitewater in the Banff area.

Class II to IV+

Day 1: 9 am – Meet at the RiverBase Daylodge to gear up for your first of two exciting days on the Kicking Horse River! You’ll meet your rafting guides, select your river and safety gear and board your shuttle that takes you into Yoho National Park where you’ll enjoy the Canadian Rockies scenery and some introductory small rapids. The momentum and excitement levels build as we enter the legendary middle section of the Kicking Horse River where crashing waves and rollercoaster wave trains thrill and soak you.

After a delicious barbecue lunch back at our RiverBase Daylodge, you’ll be free to explore the area. The town of Golden is just 20 minutes away, or you can hike into spectacular Wapta Falls, “The Niagara of the Canadian Rockies.”

Day 2: Today we will meet at the RiverBase Daylodge at 1:30 pm and enjoy lunch prior to going on the Kicking Horse River. Once on the river, we will challenge not only the famous “Portage” and “Shotgun” rapids for a second round, but we will venture into the challenging “Lower Canyon” and it’s famous, consistent class IV and IV+ rapids.

Full of smiles & with a healthy appetite we’ll head back to the RiverBase Daylodge for some snacks. This is where we end a truly memorable two days of rafting on the world renowned Kicking Horse River.

Tuesday/Wednesday and Friday/Saturday from early July to late August. (Contact us for dates and availability. Sat./Sun. trips also available…please contact us.)

All rafting equipment, transportation to and from our RiverBase Daylodge, lunch on Day 1 and 2, and FREE TRIP PHOTOS! ($20 value).

Rate chart & Trip Timing

Got questions about the Banff Rafting Association and our whitewater trips in Alberta, Canada? We thought you might, so, to make it easy to find the answers, we’ve broken our FAQz down into five categories for you.

On The Kicking Horse River
Equipment
Safety
Meals
And Finally…

On The Kicking Horse River

Should I go rafting in Banff if I’ve never rafted?

Quick answer: yes! Most of our guests at the Banff Rafting Association are first time rafters, just like you. We’ve got a real knack for getting you prepared, and we’ve designed trips, equipment and safety briefings just for you and other first timers. If you’re ready for fun and adventure then you’ll have a terrific time in the whitewater…and likely be back for more!

I’ve been rafting before…will Banff whitewater rafting be fun for me?

Once again: yes! The Kicking Horse River is a class IV to IV+ river through most of the Canadian Rockies rafting season. If you’ve been rafting before, but never rafted the Kicking Horse, you’ll be impressed by this river’s continuity. Lots of rapids and very little down time. And, unlike other rivers, no paddling is required to get from one rapid to the next! If you’ve been rafting before, we want to make sure you get the right trip, so contact us to get your Canadian Rockies whitewater adventure rolling!

Who will be my guide?

Our staff are truly the key to our past and future success. (Thanks to all of you out there!) Our guiding team consists of men and women who possess a wealth of experience from numerous years of rafting and leading a variety of outdoor pursuits around the world. Check out these stats. Combined, we have professionally guided rafts on every continent, 28 countries, 139 rivers and enough river miles to go TWICE around the world at the equator! That’s a lot of guiding and risk management experience for you to benefit from. We generally require a minimum of three to five seasons of prior rafting experience before we see if new guides are up to our standards. Our guests constantly comment that they love our guide’s enthusiasm for the Canadian Rockies whitewater experience and what they do, and the professionalism with which they do it. At the Banff Rafting Association, we love rivers and rafting and we are in business to share that passion with you and others like you!

Of course, all of our guides meet or exceed industry standards and we have on-going in-house training and safety meetings throughout the season to constantly maintain and improve our skills and our Risk Management procedures.

Why us?

The Kicking Horse River is renowned as a great river for rafting. While fun on the river is always what we at the Banff Rafting Association strive for, we believe there is more to it than just that. You want to know that we are “Serious about Safety”. (See our “Guides” section below.) You want your trip to run on schedule, be greeted with friendly, happy, helpful and knowledgeable staff who can answer all of your Canadian whitewater questions and get great value on your trip. That’s what we’re known for. We know that you want clean gear that gets replaced and upgraded frequently, clean facilities and a secure place for your personal items while on the river. You’ll get that from us, just the way that we’ve been doing it now for over 17 years. It’s what we love to do and how we earned the trust and loyalty of our many return guests, sales agents, wholesalers, tour operators, fine hoteliers and Canadian locals who faithfully recommend our rafting trips year after year and wouldn’t consider anyone else.

Do we paddle or hang on?

On the Kicking Horse River, you choose! If you prefer to assist your guide by paddling, that’s great. If you would feel more secure by simply holding on to the safety lines positioned around the raft, perfect. We encourage you to participate at a level that is comfortable to YOU! (“All-paddle” Alberta adventure trips can easily be arranged if that is your preference, so just ask!)

How many people per raft?

We choose to carry just 8 guests per raft, plus your guide, rather than pack people in rafts to lower prices. We will sometimes go to 9 passengers if it is a group that would like to stay together, or on our Gentle trip where we often have youths. Our Canadian whitewater rafts are rated for up to 12 people.

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Equipment

What gear will you provide for me?

Warmth, comfort and security, that’s what you want when traveling Canada‘s National Parks and we at the Banff Rafting Association know that! You’ll receive quality wetsuits, neoprene booties and gloves, warm fleece pullovers and spray jackets all included in the price, and, of course, government approved lifejackets and helmets. Our gear is cleaned and DRIED daily and replaced or upgraded frequently.

What do I bring?

Not much, really! We’ll take care of most of it as part of the price you pay. Just bring your swimsuit (having it on ahead of time is helpful), dress appropriately for the day and bring a towel. You may want to purchase some souvenirs or photos of your Kicking Horse River experience, so plan for that.

Where do we change?

Our RiverBase Daylodge was purpose built for our rafting trips with REAL change rooms and washrooms. Your personal items remain dry and secure while you are having a good time on the Kicking Horse River. You’ll never have to change in the bushes, alongside the river, or under tarps, that’s for sure!

I tend to get cold easily!

Our guests who are “thermally challenged” find that the gear works extremely well to keep them warm, but we won’t kid you, the Canadian Rockies’ water is refreshing! That’s why we work very hard to keep you warm and inside the raft!

Can we buy pictures?

Yes. We offer a “same day” digital photo service. We want you to have the bragging rights for your friends, family and workmates who didn’t come with you on this Alberta rafting adventure!

Can we take cameras?

You should leave them behind and not risk getting your camera ruined on the river. You can take some “before and after” photos off the river. If it’s waterproof, then bring it along! We also have disposable waterproof cameras available for sale at our “RiversEdge” gift shop in our RiverBase Daylodge.

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Safety

I’m not a strong swimmer, or can’t swim…should I go?

Swimming ability is recommended and good health is required. It is your choice to come if you are a weak or non-swimmer and we have many each year. Please keep in mind that this is a REAL Canadian Rockies whitewater adventure!

Will I fall out?

With an adventure activity such as whitewater rafting in Banff, Alberta, there is always a chance that you may. Here’s what we do at the Banff Rafting Association to minimize that risk:

First, you can hang on to our safety lines positioned around the raft. Unlike others, we use a guiding system so that our guests can securely hold on and “get down” when your Kicking Horse River guide feels it’s necessary, but they can still steer the raft. (It’s technically called a “centre-mount oar rig.“ We’ve found it’s the best. Two oars are better than just one paddle) Our guests can still paddle (four on every raft), but they don’t have to when we get to the big rapids of the Kicking Horse. That’s the difference and that’s when people typically may fall out of the raft. When you ride with the Banff Rafting Association, we do all that we can to keep you out of the Canadian Rockies’ Kicking Horse River!

Second, our safety briefings and demonstrations are clear, concise and thorough. We don’t rush through this just to get you on the river. We want you to be prepared for anything that the Kicking Horse River may throw your way.

Why do you have minimum ages or weights (or both) for your trips?

Weight minimums are dictated by the manufacturers of our lifejackets for use in Canadian whitewater. Age minimums are either the industry standard of care or from our many years of experience and tens of thousands who have gone rafting with the Banff Rafting Association.

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The Meals

Half day trips: (Whitewater Exciter and Gentle trips)

At the conclusion of the trip, enjoy tasty bakery treats, fresh fruit served with fresh brewed coffee, tea, rich hot chocolate or juice served while relaxing on the terrace of our RiverBase Daylodge.

Full day trip: (Classic trip and Maximum Horse Power trips)

A delicious lunch is served at the conclusion of your trip back at our comfortable RiverBase Daylodge. A succulent marinated chicken breast is barbecued and served with fresh baked French bread, assorted salads, tasty deserts, fresh fruit and hot and cold beverages. You’ll enjoy lunch prior to going on the water on the Maximum Horse Power Kicking Horse River trip.

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And Finally…

What if it rains?

Actually, rafting in the refreshing Canadian rain can be a lot of fun…you are going to get wet anyway! Our trips run, rain or shine.

What if I need to cancel my trip?

Sometimes your plans may change or unavoidable situations arise that necessitate having to cancel or change your trip plans. We understand that. We provide you with a generous 24 hour cancellation policy for individual bookings, and 7 days for groups of 8 or more.

However, please understand that once your trip is booked we reserve your space and assign Banff Rafting Association staff and resources to ensure your trip runs smoothly. Since few of these costs are recoverable at the last minute, cancellations inside of 24 hours (7 days for groups of 8 or more) of your scheduled trip departure are non-refundable and you will be fully charged.

In the unlikely event that the Banff Rafting Association must cancel a trip, full refunds or alternate dates will be given.