7 Best Rafting Experiences In Banff, Canada - Updated 2024

Josiah
Josiah 
Updated
| 4 min read

Banff is an excellent location for sightseeing, romantic getaways, thrilling adventures in the wild, and water activities, such as rafting. Banff boasts world-class rafting spots with all types of rapids from class I to IV. This difference in complexity guarantees everyone, irrespective of your skill level, an exciting rafting adventure in the Canadian Rockies. It is worth noting that choosing a good rafting tour service plays a critical role in ensuring the overall enjoyment of your trip. In Banff, there are many tour services you can seek for an exhilarating whitewater rafting along Kananaskis River, Horseshoe Canyon, and Kicking Horse River. So, book one of the Airbnb vacation rentals and embark on an adventurous trip including rafting in the Canadian Rockies. Read on to discover the best rafting experiences in Banff, Canada.

1. Embark on whitewater rafting tour in Horseshoe Canyon (from USD 104.28)

rafting in banff | embark on whitewater rafting tour in horseshoe canyon

Rafting along the Horshoe Canyon is one of the popular ways of sightseeing in the canyon valleys if you’re not an avid fan of hiking and trekking. And with this experience of white water rafting on a section of the Kananaskis River, you’re bound to see some spectacular views.

So, embark on this 4-hour tour and feel the adrenaline rush as you row through class 3-4 rapids before you jump off a cliff into the chilling waters of the Bow River.

Visited this place?

Banff: Morning Whitewater Rafting Tour in Horseshoe Canyon

Duration: 4.0 hour

71 reviews

2. Explore Kananaskis River with Chinook Rafting

Posted by Chinook Rafting on Wednesday, 16 April 2014

If you are looking to ride the rapids of Kananaskis River and Horseshoe Canyon, Chinook Rafting has the best deals. The company has been operational for over three decades, within which it has fully mastered the art of rafting. With Chinook Rafting, you are guaranteed mild and wild rapids that will leave your heart racing. There are also world-class equipment and very informative guide to assist you in case of any challenge. Some of the exclusive deals to expect when rafting with Chinook includes discounted charges for people visiting in groups of nine or more. Kids are also given free rafting sessions on their birthdays.

Chinook Rafting

Address: 215 Banff Ave T1L 1N0 Banff, Alberta

Website: Chinook Rafting

Visited this place?

3. Take on the wild rapids with Hydra River Guides

Posted by Hydra River Guides on Friday, 14 June 2019

Kicking Horse River is arguably the best place to go rafting. The river has wild rapids that vary in complexity, beautiful sceneries, and many team building activities to make your tour memorable. Hydra River Guides provide the means to enjoy rafting along the wild course of Kicking Horse River. The real thrill is at portage and shotgun stretches where you will battle class IV rapids. Small kids who cannot handle big waves and rushing rapids are usually taken through gentle areas. After tackling the river, Hydra River Guides provides a delicious treat of barbecue and fun activities at River Base to make your trip memorable.

Hydra River Guides

Address: 2936 Kicking Horse Road V0A 1H0 Golden, British Columbia

Website: Hydra River Guides

Visited this place?

4. Experience thrilling whitewater rafting with Banff Tours

Did you know that movies such as The Revenant Movie have been filmed at Horseshoe Canyon? Thunder down the Bow River through these spectacular shale cliffs on a whitewater rafting tour!

Posted by Discover Banff Tours on Tuesday, 28 May 2019

Banff Tours for rafting also operates along the Kicking Horse River, a rafting course that is famous for its great mix of class I to IV rapids. The trip includes two and a half hours of river time with professional guides and a barbecue lunch at the end of your tour, which comprises of Alberta Angus Beef served with assorted salads. Further, Banff Tours has put a lot of weight on safety, and that’s why in addition to the safety tips, you will be provided with personal preventive equipment including lifejacket, rain jacket, wetsuits, and helmets. After the tour, you can bond with new friends over a volleyball game.

Banff Tours

Address: 215 Banff Avenue, Sundance Mall T1L1B5 Banff, Alberta

Website: Banff Tours

Visited this place?

5. Partake in rafting along Kicking Horse River (from USD 88.0)

Kicking Horse River is an excellent destination for families looking to partake in rafting in the Canadian Rockies that will get your adrenaline pumping. The river has class II and III rapids, which should be relatively easy to raft with younger children. There are many rafting services along Kicking Horse River. Some will even organize a barbecue and beach volleyball game for families to socialize, bond, and have fun. The expedition is even better when you do not spend too much time commuting to and from the pick-up point. So, get accommodation close to the river, for instance, in Lake Louise where there are great rentals.

Visited this place?

Banff Kicking Horse River Family Rafting Adventure, BBQ Lunch

Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes

41 reviews

6. Indulge in whitewater rafting (from USD 117.0)

Are your kids tired of class II and III rapids? Worry no more, Kicking Horse River offers an exhilarating rafting adventure for the entire family in a relatively challenging course that traverses the famous Yoho National Park and other beautiful sceneries. Here, you can decide to warm up in the first part of the course, which is often calm and easy before conquering class IV+ rapids further downstream. This is a tour that guarantees great comfort in different conditions. For instance, when it is cold, the gear provided is specially designed to keep you warm, and if you opt for our tour services, you will also be assigned guides who are fun, friendly, and very informative to ensure a fulfilling trip.

Visited this place?

Kicking Horse River Whitewater Rafting

Duration: 4 hours

29 reviews

7. Embark on an adventure in Kananaskis River (from USD 106.0)

Extend your whitewater expedition in Banff to Kananaskis River, another excellent spot for family and group rafting. The beginning of the Kananaskis River is a bit calm, but the rapids become more adventurous as you move downstream. When the rafting becomes turbulent, remember to practice the safety tips given at the beginning of the tour. Also, the guides are available, so there is nothing to worry about. Rafting along this course takes about two hours, so you can spend the rest of the day scouting for local wildlife, especially deer, which often feed along Kananaskis River. There are several ways to get to Kananaskis River; you can organize with your tour guide to pick you from your hotel, hop in public transportation, or use personal means.

Visited this place?

Kananaskis River Rafting Adventure with Transport in Alberta, Canada

Duration: 4 hours

32 reviews

World-class rafting services in Banff

Whether you are seeking a smooth or complicated expedition, white water rafting in Banff will provide it all. The rivers in Banff have a continuously changing course, which guarantees fun for everyone from first-timers to experts. The experience is even better with the many tour services available in the Canadian Rockies. Choose from our list for top-class rafting in Banff, Canada, a rafting adventure of your lifetime.

Frequently asked questions about the best rafting experiences in Banff, Canada


Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

History


Get Trip101 in your inbox

Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data

Josiah Ndung'u is a Mechanical Engineering graduate and a travelling enthusiast who loves networking with new people, learning new cultures, having fun (especially at the beach), and sampling new...Read more

 Want to contribute as a Local Expert?
Explore Banff
x
Good things are meant to be shared!
Back to top
Visited any of these places? Click this button to activate our "Add a Tip" feature to share your experience.