For many, Golden is just a pit stop on the Trans Canada Highway between Glacier and Banff National Park. Too bad, you will miss out on some exciting adventure and resonably priced accommodation (compared to the National Park communities of Banff and Lake Louise).

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For many, Golden is just a pit stop on the Trans Canada Highway between Glacier and Banff National Park. Too bad, you will miss out on some exciting adventure and resonably priced accommodation (compared to the National Park communities of Banff and Lake Louise).

Golden is famous for wild water rafting on the Kicking Horse River. From Victoria Day (end of May) to Labour Day (first Monday in September) about 10 adventure operators offer float trips from family-friendly (class II rapids) to exhilarating (continuous class IV and V rafting through the Lower Canyon). Birdwatchers will like the slow float trips on the Columbia River through its wetlands, offering a chance to see Bald Eagles and Blue Herons, as well as the occasional bear or moose. Further downstream jetboat tours are being offered through the Columbia River Canyon.

Golden's very own Mount 7 serves as starting point for both, tandem-paragliding flights and single-track downhill mountain biking. Mountain biking is also the major summer use at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort.
Other activities in and around Golden are ATV-tours, canoeing, fishing, golfing, (heli-)hiking, horseback riding, kayaking, rock climbing, scenic flights to the Columbia Icefields, sightseeing gondola and wildlife viewing. In fact, many of the activities offered in Banff (like ATV-tours and rafting) actually take place in the Golden area due to restrictions in the National Parks.

In winter all-natural champaign powder snow draws alpine (downhill) skiers to Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, which offers Canada's second highest vertical of 1,260 metres (4,133 ft.). But the Golden area was also Canada's birthplace (and is still Canada's capital) of heli-skiing. Visitors can give it a try on a day-long heli-skiing trip or book a 3 to 7 day package. Guided snowmobile tours are another major winter adventure activity. Cross-country skiing, ice-climbing and ice-fishing complete the winter activity list.

For a complete list of all activities and adventure operators visit the Tourism Golden web-site at www.TourismGolden.com

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