Calling all adventure lovers – there’s no better way to get the adrenaline flowing than big waves! Jump into a river raft and 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)
Horseshoe Canyon Whitewater Rafting Reviews, Chinook Rafting
The best parts of the tour for most people include the following:
1.5 - 2 Hours on the Bow River
Optional cliff jump and swim
Everything is provided!
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Transport Options |
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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)
Horseshoe Canyon Whitewater Rafting Reviews, Chinook Rafting
The Nakoda Lakeside Lodge has clean port-a-potties, male and female change tents and ample free parking.
If you don’t have your own vehicle transportation is available for an additional fee on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from the public bus parking behind the Mount Royal Hotel in Banff (7:35am) and the Coast Canmore Hotel and Conference Centre in Canmore (8am). Please select your preferred pickup location during the booking process. Please note that transport is not available in 2021.
You can wear sunglasses/glasses as long as these are secured with a strap or piece of string, and contact lenses are usually okay if you are comfortable swimming with them and tell your guide. Sunscreen is great on a hot day for any areas not covered by the wetsuit, but avoid putting it above or near your eyes. You can bring your own waterproof camera or GoPro which can be secured with your own chest harness or on a helmet with a GoPro mount, but we are not responsible for loss or damage of your equipment.
Guests should be physically fit and have a reasonable swimming ability. If you have never rafted before or do not know how to swim, we recommend the Kananaskis Whitewater Rafting Tour, as the rapids and river are not as strong as the other tours.
The tour is run by Chinook Rafting who have been operating whitewater rafting tours as a licensed company in the province of Alberta since 1983 and all of the rafting guides are trained in Swiftwater Rescue and First Aid & CPR. What this means for you is that they are confident that they can manage, not eliminate, the risks today to offer you an exciting and fun day on the river, creating as safe a framework as they 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.
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Transport Options |
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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)
Horseshoe Canyon Whitewater Rafting Reviews, Chinook Rafting
- The minimum age is 12 years and the minimum weight per person is 90 lbs. If the guest is unaccompanied by an adult then the minimum age is 16 years old.
- The maximum weight per person is 350 lbs.
- A waiver must be completed prior to the trip and is a condition of participation, this will be sent through upon booking. In addition, a Parental Consent form must be completed by the parent or legal guardian of any child under the age of 18 years prior to arrival at the riverbase. This is especially important if you are bringing someone else’s child (under 18 years old) rafting.
- Photo ID may be required for identity verification.
- Please note that this tour requires a minimum of 8 participants, please call the day prior to confirm the tour.
Included |
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Transport Options |
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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)
Horseshoe Canyon Whitewater Rafting Reviews, Chinook Rafting