Rafting Day Trips Near Banff, Alberta

Banff, Alberta is the perfect answer to anyone’s whitewater rafting vacation needs. Whether this is your first trip you’re an advanced rafter, there is a Banff, Alberta rafting trip tailormade for you!

Whitewater Exciter | Gentle Rafting Trip | Maximum Horse Power

Whitewater Exciter Class II to IV+
(Morning and Afternoon departures)

The Kicking Horse River has given more than 70,000 whitewater rafters an awesome vacation since 1992. Rafters age 12 to 88 have made this part of their natural Alberta experience, as have beginners and rafting veterans. We offer two trips down it daily.

If you’ve never rafted or if your last experience wasn’t quite what you thought it’d be, then this Banff rafting experience is the perfect trip for you! From the scenery to the challenge, this must do Alberta rafting experience is not to be missed.

As with all of the Banff Rafting Association‘s trips, you’ll meet at our Riverbase Daylodge. And don’t worry about transportation. Our bus runs from Lake Louise and it’s easy to find your way to us in your own vehicle, if you prefer, with our downloadable self-drive map of Banff area. Secure parking is in ample supply at our site.

What happens after your signed up and ready to go? Well, you’ll then be introduced to your own Banff Rafting Association river rafting professional (most people call them guides). You’ll then be fitted for all of your Canada rafting equipment (all clean, dry and FREE!). Lastly, your guides to one of the most intoxicating river rafting experiences in all of Canada will deliver a brief, easy to understand safety demonstration that will instruct you on how to stay safely within the raft, a goal that each of our guides know will make for a great rafting experience.

The entire trip, from “Hello!” to “that was awesome!” will last between 3 and 3 ½ hours. You’ll spend 1 ½ hours of that time riding down the river. During your Alberta whitewater experience, you will traverse over 14 sets of named rapids. These rapids range in class from class II (easy and fun!) to class IV (very splashy, challenging and wet!). In between the rapids lies fast moving water and smaller waves for you to enjoy as you move seamlessly through Canada’s famous open expanses and towering canyon walls.

Some of the most popular named rapids that you will raft through include “Roller Coaster,” “Hopi Hole,” “Goat Rapid” and “Twin Peaks.“ These rapids are sure to leave you wet, laughing and eager to take on the next! The most infamous named rapids in the area are also on this trip. The “Portage” and “Shotgun” rapids are long, continuous, quick and tricky. This section of river is, without question, the most popular and memorable section of true class IV to IV+ rafting in the Alberta area. Don’t miss it! After your hour and a half of joy, laughter, moments of pure adreniline and complete awe, you’ll share cookies, fresh fruit, hot and cold beverages on the Riverbase Daylodge’s spacious deck overlooking the Kicking Horse River valley with your river rafting guides and fellow adventurers. There you can unwind, exchange stories of your own heroism (perhaps slightly exaggerated, it’s OK) and begin preparations for your next trip through Alberta, Canada’s famed white water! Warning! This will change your life forever, once you start, you can not stop!

Minimum Age: 12 years old and 90 lbs (44 kg)

Gentle Rafting Trip Class I to III

Traveling with a few “reluctant rafters?” In the market for something a bit less likely to toss you overboard? Then this is your trip! Starting inside of Yoho National Park, enjoy the “float less traveled”.

Despite is Zen like name, this Alberta rafting trip is anything but. There are six excellent rapids that range in class from II to III to delight your senses and ignite your adrenaline gland during the 1½ hour journey. “The Alarm Clock” rapid (sure to wake you up!) is just moments after pushing off shore, and “Hopi Hole” will dowse the crew!
During the parts in between soakings, you’ll sit in awe of Yoho National Park’s natural beauty as the guides tell you of the history of the area and of its brave explorers.

As with all Banff Rafting Association trips, you’ll start at our RiverBase Daylodge by taking our bus from Lake Louise or following our self-drive map and traveling at your own pace to the RiverBase. You’ll be outfitted with the appropriate gear to keep you comfortable while rafting, receive a thorough safety briefing, and be shuttled to the starting point inside of Yoho National Park where the rafts will be ready and waiting for your arrival.

Calm and peace do rule the day on this trip. Your senses will be tantalized by Canada’s abundant pine, spruce and fir forests that line the route. This peace will be broken from time to time during your 1 ½ hour trip down the river by the various rough patches and named rapids. Extreme beauty juxtaposed against extreme power. This is the perfect beginner’s trip!

At trip’s end, enjoy fresh fruit, cookies and hot and cold beverages back at the RiverBase Daylodge after having changed into dry clothes—A perfect end to a perfect trip on the Kicking Horse River in Alberta, Canada.

Minimum age: 8 years old

Maximum Horse Power Class II – IV+

There are certain people in our world who thrive on the “pure adrenaline” experience. For those people, Alberta offers the “Best of the Kicking Horse” whitewater excursion.

Your trip begins at the Banff Rafting Association’s RiverBase Daylodge, where lunch will be served upon your arrival. The “Guides Choice” for lunch is our delicious barbecue chicken breast, prepared with a tasty marinade. Also available is a Garden Vegetarian burger. Fresh French rolls, Caesar and potato salads, cookies, baked goods and fresh fruit will surely finish off even a Canadian size hunger.

After lunch, you’ll meet your river rafting guides and be outfitted with all the dry, clean and comfortable equipment you’ll need for your trip. A short shuttle ride down to the river where your raft awaits is the last chance you will have to change your mind. A good, thorough briefing and then you’re off.

The first portion of this trip is essentially the Banff Rafting Association’s Whitewater Exciter trip, with 14 rapids ranging up to class IV and plenty of great rafting action, as is the Alberta norm. You’ll cover approx. 12 kms. (8 mi.) of river on this section. Remember, this is but the prelude, the real show is soon to begin!

You’ll stop and portage around a non-navigable section of river and then enter the exciting Lower Canyon of the Kicking Horse River. This section of river offers one of the longest, sustained class IV to IV+ sections of whitewater in western Canada and is a ride not soon forgotten. Rapids such as “Double Trouble”, “Town House Rock” and “The Nozzle” will provide that rush that you have been hoping for from Canada’s rivers! This section of river ends in the town of Golden, Alberta after a total of 22 spine-tingling kilometers.

This whitewater rafting trip is one of Banff, Alberta’s most challenging and is best suited for those with prior rafting experience and participants must be over the age of 16.