What is Whitewater?

Whitewater is formed by water converging and diverging which forms waves, holes and eddies. Whitewater Rafting is a sport practiced on rivers in an inflatable craft which allows enjoyment of the rapids. With the expertise of a river guide seated in the rear, it is possible to Whitewater Raft without any experience!

Whitewater Rafting began commercially on the Kicking Horse River in the early 80's. Alpine Rafting was one of the pioneers of Rafting on the Kicking Horse, launching their first commercial trip in 1984.

Whitewater Ratings

The Kicking Horse River offers rafting adventures for all ages and abilities. We will tackle Class 1 to Class 4+ depending on the trip you choose, from Class 1 to Class IV+ ! Check out the whitewater ratings chart below to learn more.

• Class 1 - Moving water Class 2 - Small waves
• Class 3 - Easy maneuvering rapids, waves
• Class 4 - Intense rapids, technical maneuvering
• Class 5 - Long, powerful rapids with serious consequences.

The Kicking Horse River is divided into 3 Sections: The Upper, Middle & Lower Canyons.

• Upper Canyon - Class I and Class 2+ Rapids
• Middle Canyon - Continuous Class 3 and a 1 km Class 4 Section
• Lower Canyon - 4 Kilometres of continuous Class 4+ followed by float into Golden