Commercial
whitewater rafting in western Canada, which began in British
Columbia in the early seventies, has achieved widespread popularity.
Outfitters offer a variety of excellent one- and two-hour, half-day,
one-day, and multiday rafting opportunities for adventure-seekers,
families and seniors.
Spring
and summer visitors to the popular Whistler Resort region north of
Vancouver have four whitewater selections. After the late-spring
waters of the Birkenhead become too low for rafting, guests have
their choice of either the Green or Elaho-Squamish. The
Elaho-Squamish also offers a fine family float trip during the
summer.
British
Columbia's interior mountains feature excellent rafting choices for
summer:
- An
exciting motor and paddle-raft ride travels through the
incredibly beautiful Thompson Valley between Spences Bridge and
Lytton.
- An
action-packed Class III-IV run takes adventure-seekers through
Acocymum Canyon on the Nahatlatch River.
- A
good intermediate-level springtime run attracts fun-seekers on
the Chilliwack River an hour's drive east of Vancouver.
In eastern
British Columbia, the Kicking Horse River between Yoho National Park
and Golden is popular with visitors to the Canadian Rockies.
British
Columbia proudly claims three of North America's finest multiday
wilderness river rafting experiences.
- The
6-10 day Chilko-Chilcotin-Fraser trip in central British
Columbia's remote mountains southwest of Williams Lake is
similar in length to the Grand Canyon trip and beauty to Idaho's
Middle Fork Salmon.
- The
Babine River, nestled in the majestic Pacific Coast mountain
ranges of northern British Columbia, features a superb remote
multiday adventure.
- The
wilderness canyons and waters of the spectacular Alsek and
Tatshenshini rivers, which flow from British Columbia into
Alaska.
Alberta's whitewater rafting trips are located in the canyons
of the Rocky Mountains' eastern slopes west of Calgary and Edmonton.
The Upper Red Deer River, the province's most popular adventure
whitewater trip, offers both exciting waters and wilderness
experience northwest of Calgary. Four other rafting opportunities in
Alberta are either in or near its renowned Jasper and Banff national
parks:
- The
mellow Athabasca in Jasper National Park provide rafters
spectacular views of the Canadian Rockies.
- Quiet
float trips on the Bow River in Banff National Park and
downriver enable visitors of all ages a relaxing look at
Canada's most well-known national park.
- Near
Canmore, site of the downhill ski events during the 1988 Winter
Olympics, is the Kananaskis River with Class I-III rapids that
are popular with families.
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