Things to Do

Purcell Mountain Lodge in Glacier National Park (David Gluns photo)

Golden offers myriad activities and attractions all year round.

Plunge into Kicking Horse River's white water on a rafting trip, take to the skies by paragliding or check out the local wolf and bear population. Come winter, snow enthusiasts are spoiled for choice with numerous ways to play in the champagne powder.

Winter Activities

The skiing options start with Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, and continue with nordic, heli, and backcountry, either self-guided or from one of the backcountry lodges in the mountains around Golden.

Cat skiing is available from Chatter Creek Lodge. From this beautiful helicopter-accessed mountain retreat, skiers and snowboarders have snowcat access to more than 24,000ha/58,000ac of glaciers and alpine bowls, with excellent tree skiing.

Go snowmobiling. For travelers coming from the Prairies, this is the first snowmobiling area west of the national parks.

Summer Activities

Get married at the Eagle's Eye Restaurant. After the ceremony, go horseback riding at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort.

Ride the Golden Triangle on your road bike. There is an organized three-day ride in May, but this scenic ride is possible at any time during the summer months. The three points of the triangle are Golden, Lake Louise and Radium Hot Springs.

Go hiking at Gorman Lake – the 4x4 access road is bumpy, but the hike is an easy 45 minutes. Yoho National Park, just 30km/20mi east of town, has phenomenal hiking too.

Cool off with a swim at Cedar Lake, in the Moonraker area, located south of town on the lower slopes of the Dogtooth Range. Cedar Lake is shown on the Mountain Bike Trail Map available from the Golden Visitor Centre.

Land Activities

Hardcore mountain biking begins at the summit of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. Beginner and intermediate terrain can be found at both the resort and the Moonraker mountain bike trails.

For an amazing wildlife viewing experience, watch a real-live grizzly bear in the Grizzly Bear Refuge at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. For another, visit the Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre. While it's not exactly "dancing with wolves," it is possible to walk with these often maligned animals. Watch for wolf signs and turn off the TransCanada Highway approximately 10km/6mi west of Golden.

Play a round at the Golden Golf Club; follow signs for the ski resort and turn right onto Golf Course Drive.

Go ice climbing in Kicking Horse Canyon. Since the recent widening of Highway #1, there is no parking available at the base of the climbing site, so take a taxi to reach the site.

Water Activities

Experience river rafting on the legendary Kicking Horse River. Seven different rafting companies operate on this class III and IV whitewater through a deep canyon.

Kayak the class IV lower sections of the Kicking Horse all the way to downtown Golden. More moderate class II water can be found on Blaeberry Creek. Be advised, there are no kayak rentals available in Golden.

Ride a jet boat downriver with Columbia River Safaris, located 15 minutes west of town, or up the lower canyon of the Kicking Horse with Wet N' Wild, based in Golden.

Driving Routes

Check out Golden's all-season outdoor adventure opportunities centred around Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, Radium Hot Springs, and Yoho National Park via four scenic driving routes. Find out more about driving routes through Golden here: Driving Routes.

For more information on things to do in and around Golden, contact the Visitor Centre.

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