Rafting
4 hours
Free cancellation
Not sure? You can cancel this booking up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund.
Recommended by 99% of travellers
99% of reviewers gave this product a bubble rating of 4 or higher.
from
C$140
per adult
Hydra River Guides
Hydra River Guides
5
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 8:00 PM
Full view
About
Rafting on the Kicking Horse is a MUST DO activity during your vacation to the Canadian Rockies. Let Hydra River Guides introduce you to the water we call home. We offer rafting trips to suit all budgets and abilities. 200,000 rafters can’t be wrong. Are you ready to join us?
Tours and Tickets by Hydra River Guides
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
5.0
1,206 reviews
Excellent
1,121
Very good
64
Average
12
Poor
3
Terrible
6
L H
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Couples
We did the 9am Classic trip August 13th for our first ever white water rafting trip and we absolutely loved it. Our morning started off at the hydra base at 9am where Dave the owner gave us a very thorough safety overview of everything to do and not do and even managed to make that part fun with light hearted jokes throughout. We were givin all our gear wetsuits, boots etc. which keeps you very warm (we were even able to get in the river when it was calmer in certain sections, tour guide helps you back into boat) then we were split into groups (ours was a group of 6, other boat was 8) I personally think 6 was better as there’s more space. Bill was our guide and he was amazing! We felt confident with his instructions on when to paddle etc. and he reiterated all safety as we went down the river. Bill went above and beyond all our expectations, he was such a genuinely friendly person with incredible knowledge when it comes to white water rafting as well some pretty amazing stories! We were on the River for about 2 hours, at the end there will be a bus waiting to take you back to your vehicle at the hydra base (about 15min drive) We highly recommend booking your next white water rafting with this company. Everyone there made our first experience fantastic we will definitely be doing this again!
Written August 16, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
weo450
Calgary, Canada20 contributions
Aug 2020 • Family
Went with 4 teenagers for a family trip. First time white water rafting. It was a bit odd with the booking as we booked through Chinook but the actual guides and company we ended up with was Hydra. Anyway, great experience from start to finish. Our guide, Dave, was warm, friendly and had a great sense of humour. We opted for the 2 hour Kicking Horse ride. Going in late August the river was more tame than it would be if we went in May, but it was still a great first time experience. Dave kept us entertained, busy and made sure we got the best ride possible. With 4 teens, 2 hours was just right. Highly recommend.
Written August 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello
Thanks for rafting with Hydra! We work closely with Chinook as they raft on the Kananaskis river, so they book our Kicking Horse trip and we book their Kananaskis trip. Dave is a fun and experienced guide so glad you got to journey down the river with him. We are happy your family enjoyed themselves. Hope you can visit again one day
Written June 30, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Joan K
1 contribution
Aug 2020 • Family
Really fantastic experience! Thanks so much! I have a disability that affects my mobility, and our group's guide was super kind and brought out a truck to transport me. Laughed all through the course. It's probably different for everyone, but for us no one was blasted out of the boat if anyone's nervous about that lol (with all the fun still there, though!). Towards the end we got a chance to have a dip into the water as well.
Once again, fabulous experience and I'd love to do it again when I get the chance!
Once again, fabulous experience and I'd love to do it again when I get the chance!
Written August 6, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello
Thank you so much for your detailed review. We are so happy you enjoyed your trip and got to experience the glacial water! (it's cold, right?). I will make sure the team hear how much you liked your experience
Written June 30, 2021
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Crystal C
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Friends
Dave was such a great guide! Extremely knowledgeable and made us feel comfortable with his sense of humor. Safety discussion at beginning was very thorough. Rapids were rated 2/3/4... so enough to keep you on your toes. Thanks again. Definitely recommend. Can't wait to go again
Written August 24, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Stegehuis F
1 contribution
Aug 2024 • Family
We had an awesome time rafting today at Hydra Rafting. Dean was our guide and he made the experience exciting and memorable! All the staff were so helpful and kind and hilarious! We would definitely do it again and will remember this excursion the most out of all the things we did on vacation! Thank you Dean and Staff!
Written August 11, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Dksurface
Owasso, OK9 contributions
Dave O was excellent guide and funny. The rapids were awesome but pretty timid at first which is what nature gave us. Once we hit the class 3 & 4 rapids, it was a LOT more exciting. They care about your safety and your fun. I highly recommend them.
BE AWARE OF THE PHOTOGRAPHER. She is very rude and unorganized which is the nicest way to describe her. We prepaid a USB with photos that saved us four dollars. We did it expecting better service and quicker checkout from being a prepaid customer. That was far from the truth. It isn’t like you have a choice to get photos from anyone else so I am sure she doesn’t care.
By the way, the food wasn’t BBQ as advertised. It was a cheeseburger with pasta salad and potato salad.
On another note. In the last couple miles, apple maps says to turn left (driving from Banff) off the highway. That is wrong. There are cement barriers blocking you. They’ve created a much safer right hand turn with clover leaf exit that circles you around. Turn right instead.
BE AWARE OF THE PHOTOGRAPHER. She is very rude and unorganized which is the nicest way to describe her. We prepaid a USB with photos that saved us four dollars. We did it expecting better service and quicker checkout from being a prepaid customer. That was far from the truth. It isn’t like you have a choice to get photos from anyone else so I am sure she doesn’t care.
By the way, the food wasn’t BBQ as advertised. It was a cheeseburger with pasta salad and potato salad.
On another note. In the last couple miles, apple maps says to turn left (driving from Banff) off the highway. That is wrong. There are cement barriers blocking you. They’ve created a much safer right hand turn with clover leaf exit that circles you around. Turn right instead.
Written July 29, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you for your review of your Hydra whitewater rafting experience! Those class 3 & 4 rapids are definitely a lot of fun. We are sorry to hear that you had a negative experience with our photographer on this day. We take pride in our staff and typically do not have issues with our guests. Additionally, most people do seem to love our BBQ lunch - it's too bad that it was not what you expected! We appreciate your feedback and have made a note of it. We hope that you enjoyed the rest of your time in Banff National Park.
Written August 3, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Dave.Matt.99
Manchester123 contributions
We had a great time with our guide Garrett who is super chilled and informative about all that’s going to happen making sure you feel confident about the rapids your about encounter before you hit them and can just get on with having a blast, getting bounced about.
The base is in a rural location and understandably facilities are basic but adequate for getting changed etc.
We didn’t plan to stay for the food afterwards but am glad we did as the burgers were great.
We got the photographs which are a great reminder of the trip.
The base is in a rural location and understandably facilities are basic but adequate for getting changed etc.
We didn’t plan to stay for the food afterwards but am glad we did as the burgers were great.
We got the photographs which are a great reminder of the trip.
Written August 31, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WearyWanderer_TO
Toronto, Canada434 contributions
Aug 2016 • Family
If we breakdown the day into parts, it will make more sense.
The drive from Banff to Kicking Horse and the Hydra guides had great scenery and was a relatively easy ride - 4 stars.
The facility reminds me of summer camp. The outhouse type experience, hand wash stations, limited water supply, and a BBQ area - 2 stars.
The introduction to White Water rafting and the instructions were complete and funny...the tour guide obviously did this for a long time to have a good script memorized. 5 Stars.
The equipment smelled like wet rags and was dirty. The helmet smelled like years of sweat built up. 1 star.
Lunch was a BBQ cheeseburger with some veggies and a brownie. Adequate before facing the dangers - 3 stars.
The River was low and the speed of the rapids were not Class 4 but a mild 3+. Didn't do much paddling...just floating. 3 Stars.
Our guide - Yaro - knew a lot about the sport and the river itself. He did his best to keep us entertained and at times floated us in more rapid areas to give us some excitement. A couple times, I was almost thrown. 4 Stars.
The bus back to base camp was a ride in an old blue bus with dozens of smelly rafters in wet - wetsuits. My feet were fully pruned. It would have been nice to change at the take out point but not possible - 2 stars.
Back at base camp, we handed in the gear and was taking a quick (really quick) shower but we can't use any soap. By the way, if you are a modest person, you might not be able to wash as there are two outdoor showers with little coverage. We were on a three hour ride back to Calgary and we really needed a full shower after the dirty suit. 2 Stars
Hopefully each of you will understand what to expect now that you saw my broken down ratings.
All in all, an enjoyable day but it was a letdown by the river itself. But not a total loss of my first time! Will be doing more in the future.
The drive from Banff to Kicking Horse and the Hydra guides had great scenery and was a relatively easy ride - 4 stars.
The facility reminds me of summer camp. The outhouse type experience, hand wash stations, limited water supply, and a BBQ area - 2 stars.
The introduction to White Water rafting and the instructions were complete and funny...the tour guide obviously did this for a long time to have a good script memorized. 5 Stars.
The equipment smelled like wet rags and was dirty. The helmet smelled like years of sweat built up. 1 star.
Lunch was a BBQ cheeseburger with some veggies and a brownie. Adequate before facing the dangers - 3 stars.
The River was low and the speed of the rapids were not Class 4 but a mild 3+. Didn't do much paddling...just floating. 3 Stars.
Our guide - Yaro - knew a lot about the sport and the river itself. He did his best to keep us entertained and at times floated us in more rapid areas to give us some excitement. A couple times, I was almost thrown. 4 Stars.
The bus back to base camp was a ride in an old blue bus with dozens of smelly rafters in wet - wetsuits. My feet were fully pruned. It would have been nice to change at the take out point but not possible - 2 stars.
Back at base camp, we handed in the gear and was taking a quick (really quick) shower but we can't use any soap. By the way, if you are a modest person, you might not be able to wash as there are two outdoor showers with little coverage. We were on a three hour ride back to Calgary and we really needed a full shower after the dirty suit. 2 Stars
Hopefully each of you will understand what to expect now that you saw my broken down ratings.
All in all, an enjoyable day but it was a letdown by the river itself. But not a total loss of my first time! Will be doing more in the future.
Written August 20, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
charlotteC
Tustin, CA12 contributions
Jul 2018 • Family
Our family had a wonderful time on this rafting trip. We did the Kicking Horse 2 hour trip with BBQ. We have rafted in Colorado several times and loved this one in Yoho National Park. DO NOT take the shorter trip, this one is so much more fun!
This outfit offers transportation, however, we recommending driving if you are coming from Lake Louise, Banff or Canmore, so you can visit the other sights on your way back. First stop, Emerald Lake and a little further down the highway Takakkaw Falls. If you book the first river rafting trip at 9 am you will have time to do both sights before heading back for dinner.
Our guide, Erik, was the BEST! He is knowledgeable and a terrific guide. Lots of fun, laughter among the other groups with us on our trip down river. Take a day off the busy hiking trails and go rafting!
This outfit offers transportation, however, we recommending driving if you are coming from Lake Louise, Banff or Canmore, so you can visit the other sights on your way back. First stop, Emerald Lake and a little further down the highway Takakkaw Falls. If you book the first river rafting trip at 9 am you will have time to do both sights before heading back for dinner.
Our guide, Erik, was the BEST! He is knowledgeable and a terrific guide. Lots of fun, laughter among the other groups with us on our trip down river. Take a day off the busy hiking trails and go rafting!
Written July 30, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hello, thank you for the wonderful review! We are happy to hear that you enjoyed your whitewater rafting experience with Hydra. We agree that the Kicking Horse Classic trip is definitely the adventurous choice as it includes those Class 4 rapids.
Erik does a terrific job of making sure that our guests have a positive experience!
We hope to see you again on the Kicking Horse River.
Written August 10, 2018
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
njd003
Plainfield, IL66 contributions
Jul 2014 • Friends
just returned from Banff and this was absolutely our highlight. Did this Tuesday morning and it is a great value. Our guide Dave was awesome, everyone seemed to love their guide. Thorough safety talk to start with some great humor to ease the nerves. Trip starts out calm and goes from there. Up to Level 4 rapids with some great thrills but never felt in danger at all. The scenery is amazing and you do have time to enjoy it. Overall the time on the water is about 2+ hours, you do not get cheated. When all done the lunch is very good too. Bathroom, showers and changing rooms were fine. Don't miss this! You will not be disappointed!!!!
Written July 24, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Is there somewhere to sit and have a coffee or a nice walk while you wait for kids taking a whitewater rafting trip?
Written April 30, 2023
Hello,
our season operates until September 15th
Written January 17, 2019
What will the water level be like in the river in late August? Is it still good rafting conditions? And, how far is the starting point from Calgary?
Written July 25, 2016
Hello
Thanks for your interest in Hydra. The river base is about 2.5- 3 hours drive from Calgary.
We raft until mid September but as it's a glacier fed river the water levels drop as the season progresses. It is still a really great tour in August but the water is lower than earlier in the season.
I hope that helps and let us know if you have any further questions
Thanks
Hydra
Written August 5, 2016
bull4titans
Tennessee
Do you have age requirements? Sounds like a blast. I have 3 children....ages 11,10, and 7.
Written April 22, 2016
They have a mild trip that they recommend for children aged 6-11 years and have to weigh more than 50 lbs. If you google "Hydra river guides" then once you are on their webpage, click on "Rafting trips" you will find this info there
Written April 22, 2016
Laurie V
Tampa, Florida
Can I wear a GoPro whitewater rafting? Also, I noticed another company mentioned that some of their helmets actually had GoPro helmet mounts. Do you have this as well? Thank you.
Written August 16, 2015
Hello
Yes you certainly can wear a Go Pro whilst rafting and we do have a few helmets with mounts that guests can used.
Please let me know if you have any other questions
Kind regards
Tanya
Written August 17, 2015
Hi..What time does the morning trip start and how long is it from the hotel? Should we take our own car or take the transportation? Thank you in advance for your help! Jolie
Written August 4, 2015
Hi Jolie
The morning trip starts at 9.15am from our river base which is located 1hour and 15 minutes west of Banff. You can drive yourself to the base (we provide written directions upon booking) or if you choose to take the transportation, it is $20 per person. We also have an afternoon trip which starts at 1pm. Should you like to make a reservation, please contact our office on 18006448888
Kind regards
Tanya
Written August 5, 2015
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