Kicking Horse River

Legend has it that the Kicking Horse River was named by a surveyor in the mid-19th Century after he was unceremoniously booted by his packhorse. Whatever the reason for the name, we can confidently say the river has been kicking paddlers into high gear since the 1970s when the first forays by raft and then kayak were made. Originating in the glacial waters of Wapta Lake in the Canadian Rockies, 80-kilometre river runs past the community of Golden and is famous for its class III-IV whitewater runs. However, it also has tamer waters for intermediate paddlers and a variety of outfitters offer guided excursions here.