Summer Activities: Add a thrill to your Banff vacation with ride down whitewater rivers in Canadian Rockies

Banff National Park's Bow River features many whitewater sections that are real thrill rides in the Canadian Rockies.

BANFF, Alberta – Among the varied natural wonders of the Canadian Rockies are the splendid rivers that run throughout the mountains. And where you have mountain rivers, of course, you have white water!

One of the many reasons to vacation in Banff National Park or the surrounding area, including Jasper National Park, Lake Louise and the Canmore area, is to have a thrilling adventure, and there isn’t much that’s more thrilling than plunging on a raft down a whitewater river. We know that when you’re out on that water, with the spray in your face and the raft plunging this way and that, you’ll forget all about life beyond the park as you revel in the excitement of that moment.

Here are a couple of tours that you might consider. The first is for a novice rafter; the second is definitely for the more experienced adventurer!

- KANANASKIS RIVER RAFTING: The Banff and Jasper national parks offer so much, sometimes the Canmore/Kananaskis area gets overlooked. That’s a shame. Kananaskis County is stunning, the perfect “gateway,” if you will, into the Canadian Rockies from Calgary, and one of the best ways to see it is along the Kananaskis River. It’s a novice’s river, which makes it perfect for a family outing or a group get-together, and of course it serves as a beautiful introduction to the world of whitewater rafting. The tour, which offers up to two hours on the river, departs daily during the summer from Nakoda Lodge at 1:30 p.m. You can arrange transport from Banff or Jasper for a small additional charge.

- HORSESHOE CANYON RAFTING: If you’re an experienced rafter looking for a challenge, then the Bow River is what you’ve been seeking. This particular section winds through the Horseshoe Canyon, offering a brilliant combination of big waves and spectacular scenery. The shale canyons around you will make you feel as if you’re rafting through another world. And some areas of this run are Grade IV. It’s a thrill that’s not to be missed! Oh, and if you’re hankering for still more excitement, you can even go cliff jumping! The tour takes up to two hours on the river, and it departs at 8:45 a.m.; again, for a small fee you can arrange transport from Banff or Jasper.

For more information on these tours, call 1-877-565-9372.