May-Sep
Season
8:15am
Departure Time
4 Hours
Duration
12+
Age
Physical
Activity
There’s no better way to get the adrenaline flowing than jumping into a river raft. Let the foamy rapids take you coursing swiftly through the foothills of the Canadian Rockies.
Surrounded by shale cliffs, the Bow River thunders through Horseshoe Canyon. Here you come, clad in neoprene and whooping with excitement as the rapids surge. During the quiet stretches, you lift your eyes skyward and see large birds of prey soaring above. You might even try cliff jumping – if you dare.
Many Hollywood movies have been shot here in the spectacular geology of the Canyon – your guide will tell you all about it. Even if you have no rafting experience don’t sweat it – you’ll learn everything you need to know.
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Dave's Pick
"You never forget jumping 10 metres into the glacial-fed Bow river! With big rapids and a remote feel, you can see why so many movies and TV shows have been filmed in the canyon." - Dave Kirk, Raft Guide (Trip Leader)
Nakoda Lakeside Lodge, directions can be found on http://chinookrafting.com/plan-and-book/directions-maps/
No, there is a short bus ride from Nakoda Lakeside Lodge to the river and back again after the tour.
The Horseshoe Canyon Rafting Tour runs for 4 hours, which includes 1.5 to 2 hours on the water. Please allow an additional 30mins to an hour if you require transport to the RiverBase at Nakoda Lakeside Lodge from Banff or Canmore.
Light refreshment and snacks are provided after the tour.
The minimum age requirement is 12 years. If the guest is unaccompanied by an adult the minimum age is 16 years old.
The minimum weight is 90lbs and the maximum weight is 350lbs.
Please wear your swimsuit under your clothes and bring warm clothes and a towel for after the tour. We also suggest bringing a toque or hat for colder days, to wear under the helmet. Your belongings can be stored in the bus or your own car while you are on the river.
Yes, if you have a strap or piece of string which will secure the glasses to your head. Otherwise, we recommend leaving this in your car so you do not loose them out on the river.
Contact lenses are usually OK if you are comfortable swimming in them, please tell your guide.
Sunscreen is great on a hot day, avoid putting it above or near your eyes. Remember your body will be mostly covered by our rafting equipment.
No, we do not allow rafters to wear anything that could cause a hazard while on the tour. However, you can wear your skirt over the wetsuit before you enter the raft and the guides will then have this available again after the tour.
No, we provide everything for the rafting trip.
Unfortunately you will be unable to raft if you do not wear a wetsuit. The river is still quite cold.
Yes, FREE photos of your trip will be available on our website and same day action photo USBs are for sale along with souvenirs at a reasonable price
You should leave it behind and not risk getting your camera lost or ruined on the river. You can take some “before and after” photos while in your river gear. Best just to leave it to our professional photographer who will snap some fantastic shots of you while you get to have fun on the river.
Yes, you can bring your own GoPro for the rafting tour, which can be secured with your own chest harness, or we do have some helmets with GoPro mounts but we are not responsible for loss or damage of your equipment.
Yes, there are male and female change tents at Nakoda Lakeside Lodge.
Yes, port-a-potties are available at Nakoda Lakeside Lodge.
When you are making your reservation please let the agent know and they will check with the Chinook management team. On the day please bring any medication you may need and inform your guide of any medical condition.
- Optional Transport from Banff/Canmore
- A medium or BIG cliff jump for the adventurous during the float section
- A professional river guide with each boat, who will explain and demonstrate paddle, safety and emergency techniques.
- All safety equipment: wetsuits, lifejacket, helmet, rainjacket, wetsuit booties and gloves
Scenic views of the front range of the Rocky Mountain Ranges and occasionally wildlife such as Osprey, Bald Eagles, Deer and Bears.
Each raft can hold up to 9 guests, plus the guide. We do require a minimum of 8 people for the tour to go ahead.
No experience is necessary, we do provide a Professional River Guide with each boat – who will explain and demonstrate paddle, safety and emergency techniques. This includes dryland safety instructions and practicing paddling on the river before the waves.
If you do not know how to swim, we would recommend joining the Kananaskis Rafting Tour, as the rapids and river are not as strong. On the day please inform your guide that you are a non or weak swimmer too.
Yes, you can book a group tour and based on the number of guests (9 or more adults), a discount can be offered at the time of booking. Please call our store to make your booking on 1 877 565 9372.
There is a 48 hour cancellation policy, you can change/cancel or refund your booking 48 hours outside your booked tour (up to 7 days for group bookings of 9 or more participants).
For safety reasons we advise against bringing anything on the tour that could constrain or hinder the rafter during the tour. However our guides do have a few props you can use, please ask when you call to make a booking.
You will go through class 2, 3 & 4 rapids during your tour. Check out our Whitewater Rafting Rapid Classification Guide for more information. http://chinookrafting.com/plan-and-book/river-classifications/
You will go through class 2, 3 & 4 rapids during your tour. Check out our Whitewater Rafting Rapid Classification Guide for more information. http://chinookrafting.com/plan-and-book/river-classifications/
Everyone will be given a wetsuit, wetsuit booties, fleece, rain jacket and neoprene gloves if required, along with a lifejacket and helmet of course. Even our guests who are “thermally challenged” find that the gear works extremely well to keep them warm and happy. We are in the mountains though, and the river water is refreshing, so we also work hard to keep you warm and inside the raft on your tour.
All of our staff are employed for their knowledge, local stories, enthusiasm, qualifications and experience and then further trained. All of our rafting guides at Chinook Rafting meet or exceed industry standards, and must be licensed through the Professional River Outfitters Association of Alberta, undergoing a series of practical and written exams. Many of the guides with Chinook Rafting qualify as, or are training on becoming, Trip Leaders, which is the highest level of certification that we as guides can obtain. All of our rafting guides are also trained in Swiftwater Rescue and First Aid & CPR and often spend their Canadian winters working as Professional Rafting Guides in the Southern Hemisphere too. We generally require a minimum of 3-5 seasons of prior rafting experience before we see if new guides are up to our standards. Some of our raft guides have over 10 years of international experience. All of our staff undergo thorough in-house training on the rivers we run; & first aid, river rescue and emergency response scenario training going above and beyond the industry standard, along with on-going safety meetings during the season to improve our emergency response plan and risk management procedures.
Chinook Rafting has been operating whitewater rafting tours as a licensed company in the province of Alberta since 1983. As such, there are certain regulations (boat size, safety requirements, etc.) that we must follow. As rafting guides, we must be licensed through the Professional River Outfitters Association of Alberta, undergoing a series of practical and written exams. Many of the guides with Chinook Rafting qualify as, or are training on becoming, Trip Leaders, which is the highest level of certification that we as guides can obtain. All of our rafting guides are also trained in Swiftwater Rescue and First Aid & CPR and often spend their Canadian winters working as Professional Rafting Guides in the Southern Hemisphere too. What this means for you is that we are confident that we can manage, not eliminate, the risks today to offer you an exciting and fun day on the river, creating as safe a framework as we can, given what we are doing. However, it is important to remember that we are not on a track, this isn’t Disneyland! The fact that we’re not on a track adds excitement to what we’re doing, but it also adds inherent risks.
There is always a very slim possibility that you could fall out of the raft while on your white water rafting tour. We do everything possible as a company though to keep you inside the raft, providing you with top of the line equipment, including safety lines positioned around the raft, and very thorough, clear and concise safety briefings and demonstrations before the rafting tour. We want you to be prepared and ready to enjoy your tour with us.
Yes, every guest who participates on one of our rafting tours needs to sign our waiver form which can be found at http://chinookrafting.com/plan-and-book/policies/ This is a condition of participation before any adventure activity in North America and around the world now. Any guest under 18 years of age will also need a Parent / Guardian signature on the waiver form and an Emergency Contact Number if the Parent / Guardian is not joining them on the river too.
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Dave's Pick
"You never forget jumping 10 metres into the glacial-fed Bow river! With big rapids and a remote feel, you can see why so many movies and TV shows have been filmed in the canyon." - Dave Kirk, Raft Guide (Trip Leader)
Cameras – do not bring your camera on the raft unless it is waterproof. Same day action photo USBs are for sale at reasonable prices
Must be over 12 years old and 90lbs
Glasses or sunglasses – are not recommended unless secured by eyeglass holders or retainers.
Valuables – best left behind in your hotel or car.
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| Transport Options |
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| Return Time |
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Dave's Pick
"You never forget jumping 10 metres into the glacial-fed Bow river! With big rapids and a remote feel, you can see why so many movies and TV shows have been filmed in the canyon." - Dave Kirk, Raft Guide (Trip Leader)
Swimsuit – have it on under your clothes prior to your trip for added convenience
A towel and a bag – to hold your personal belongings whilst you’re out on the river
A toque/beanie/wooly hat – on cold days for under your helmet, it will get wet.
A change of clothes including a warm fleece for after your rafting trip
Clothes suitable for the day – all your personal belongings will be left in your vehicle or in your personal bag while you are rafting.
Contact lenses – are OK if you are comfortable swimming in them, please tell your guide.
Sunscreen – great on a hot day, avoid putting it above or near your eyes.
Medical Concerns – please bring any medication you may need and inform your guide of any medical condition.
| Included |
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| Transport Options |
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| Return Time |
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Dave's Pick
"You never forget jumping 10 metres into the glacial-fed Bow river! With big rapids and a remote feel, you can see why so many movies and TV shows have been filmed in the canyon." - Dave Kirk, Raft Guide (Trip Leader)
Professional River Guide with each boat – who will explain and demonstrate paddle, safety and emergency techniques
All safety equipment: wetsuits, lifejacket, helmet, rainjacket, wetsuit booties and gloves
Dryland safety instruction
Practice paddling on the river before the waves
| Included |
|
| Transport Options |
|
| Return Time |
|
Dave's Pick
"You never forget jumping 10 metres into the glacial-fed Bow river! With big rapids and a remote feel, you can see why so many movies and TV shows have been filmed in the canyon." - Dave Kirk, Raft Guide (Trip Leader)
