Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
From the western boundary of Yoho National Park, the Trans-Canada Highway meanders
down the beautiful Kicking Horse River Valley to the town of Golden (pop. 4,800), at the
confluence of the Kicking Horse and Columbia Rivers. As well as being a destination in
itself, Golden makes a good central base for exploring the region or as an overnight stop on
a tour through the Canadian Rockies.
Take Highway 95 off the Trans-Canada Highway, and you'll find yourself in the old section
of town, a world away from the commercial strip along the main highway. There's not really
much to see in town, although you may want to check out the
Golden Museum
(south
side of the river at 1302 11th Ave. S, 250/344-5169, 9am-5pm Mon.-Fri., adult $5, seni-
or $3, child $2). The 8.8-kilometer (5.5-mile)
Rotary Loop
is a paved walking and biking
trail that leads across the river from downtown via an impressive timber-frame pedestrian
bridge, then upstream across Highway 95 (10th Avenue South) to the campground.
The
Columbia River Wetland,
which holds international significance not only for its
size (26,000 hectares/64,250 acres) but also for the sheer concentration of wildlife it sup-
ports, extends as far north as Golden. One easily accessible point of the wetland is
Reflec-
tion Lake,
on the southern outskirts of Golden. Here you'll find a small shelter with a tele-
scope for viewing the abundant birdlife.
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Kicking Horse Mountain Resort
Summer or winter, as you descend into Golden from Yoho National Park, it's easy to make
out the ski slopes of
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort
(250/439-5400 or 866/754-5425,
www.kickinghorseresort.com
)
across the valley.
The resort's eight-person detachable Golden Eagle Express gondola transports visitors
high into the alpine mid-June-September in just 18 minutes. The 360-degree panorama at
the summit is equal to any other accessible point in the Canadian Rockies, with the Purcell
Mountains immediately to the west and the Columbia Valley laid out below. Graded hiking
trails lead from the upper terminal through a fragile, treeless environment, while mountain
bikers revel in a challenging descent in excess of 1,000 meters (3,280 feet). A single gon-
dola ride is adult $29, senior $27, child $14.50. Mountain bikers pay $45 for a full-day pass,
with rent-and-ride packages costing $105 for the full day, including a full-suspension bike.
The gondola operates through the warmer months 10:30am-5:30pm daily.
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