Free
Columbia Wetlands
Huge wetlands along the Columbia River, important for birds.
Kootenay Rockies, British Columbia
Golden
A mountain town where the Kicking Horse River meets the Columbia: Yoho National Park's Emerald Lake and Takakkaw Falls next door, the Kicking Horse gondola, the Golden Skybridge and a timber-frame footbridge in town.
Photo: Emerald Lake, Yoho National Park, Soumya.deo, CC BY-SA 4.0
Golden sits in the Columbia Valley where the Kicking Horse River rushes in from the Rockies. In town, a timber-frame pedestrian bridge crosses the river. Above it, the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort gondola climbs toward the peaks.
Drive east into Yoho National Park and the Rockies show off. You'll find Emerald Lake, the Natural Bridge, Takakkaw Falls and the Spiral Tunnels, where long trains loop through the mountains. Back near town, the Golden Skybridge hangs high over a canyon. Bring a camera and your sense of wonder.
Outdoors and nature
Trails, lookouts, waterfalls, beaches and time on the water come first.
Cheap
Takakkaw Falls
One of Canada's highest waterfalls, at the end of the Yoho Valley Road. Seasonal road.
Season The Yoho Valley Road to the falls is open roughly mid-June–mid-Oct, weather permitting (check before you go).
Cheap
Natural Bridge
The Kicking Horse River has carved a rock bridge on the road to Emerald Lake.
Cheap
Wapta Falls
A wide waterfall on the Kicking Horse River, reached by a forest trail.
Sights and attractions
Museums, landmarks and the places people come here for.
Free
Spiral Tunnels viewpoint
Watch long trains loop through tunnels in the mountains.
Free
Kicking Horse Pedestrian Bridge
A timber-frame footbridge over the river in town.
Paid
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort
A gondola to a mountaintop restaurant, with a grizzly bear refuge on the mountain.
Paid
Golden Skybridge
Suspension bridges high above a canyon, with adventure rides.
Paid
Northern Lights Wolf Centre
A wolf sanctuary and education centre near Golden.
Markets, shops and festivals
Main streets, markets and the dates worth planning around.
Free
Golden Farmers' Market
A summer market in town.
Season Seasonal, check official site.
Book a tour or activity
Cruises, tours and experiences people book here. Each one goes to the operator's official page, and you can still add it to your trip.
Kicking Horse River rafting
Whitewater rafting trips on the Kicking Horse River.
Season Rafting from May long weekend to mid-Sept (check before you go).
Alpine Rafting on the Kicking Horse
Whitewater rafting trips from Golden.
Season Rafting from May long weekend to mid-Sept (check before you go).
Also bookable, listed above
These are in the lists above, so we don't repeat them here.
- Kicking Horse Mountain Resort Tickets
Part of our The Kootenays guides.
Make it a weekend
Why stay the night
- Yoho's lakes and falls take a full day.
- Rafting the Kicking Horse River is a half-day adventure.
- Mountain evenings in town are relaxed, and the stars are bright.
Nearby and worth the drive
Invermere and Radiumabout 1 h 40 · Guide ↗
Lake Windermere, Sinclair Canyon and the Radium Hot Springs.
Fernieabout 3 h 10 · Guide ↗A historic mountain town in the Elk Valley.
Revelstokeabout 2 h 30 · Guide ↗Mount Revelstoke and Rogers Pass.
Banffabout 1 h 40 · Guide ↗Lake Louise and the Bow Valley.
Ready-made trips with Golden
Good to know
- Park pass: A Parks Canada pass is needed to stop in Yoho: Parks Canada.
- We list only places we can check against an official source. Hours, seasons and prices change, so confirm before you go.
Photos on this page
Photo: Emerald Lake, Yoho National Park, Soumya.deo, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Takakkaw Falls, west view, DXR, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Natural Bridge, Yoho National Park, Deror_avi, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Sunset by Wapta Falls, Jakub Fryš, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Lower Spiral Tunnel mouth, Yoho, Chris Woodrich, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Kicking Horse Pedestrian Bridge, Golden, Ymblanter, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: Sunset at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, Terry janzen, CC BY-SA 4.0