Founding of the Kicking Horse River

Have you every wondered how the Kicking Horse River got it's name?

The Kicking Horse River was discovered in the 1800's on the Palliser Expedition.

A geologist, surgeon, traveler, explorer and natural historian, James Hector traveled with the Palliser Expedition from 1857 to 1860 discovering the geology and ethnology of the west.

Who was James Hector?

As surgeon and geologist to the Palliser Expedition from 1857 to 1860, Hector explored the country from the Red River settlement (Winnipeg) to Vancouver Island. He made many important observations regarding the geology and ethnology of the Canadian West and the Rocky Mountains and discovered the important Kicking Horse Pass, and unintentionally gave the Kicking Horse River it's name. The Kicking Horse Pass later became the route of the Canadian Pacific Railway.

Kicked by a Horse!

In the summer of 1858, Hector was exploring near Wapta Falls while they were trying to rescue a pack horse that had fallen into the river, his own horse had wandered off. As he was trying to retrieve his own horse, it kicked him in the chest so hard that it knocked him senseless and broke his ribs. His guides, unable to wake him, began digging a grave, when all of a sudden he arose!

Hector traveled east from his accident, discovering the Kicking Horse Pass, the route of the Canadian Pacific Railway over the Great Divide and now the Trans-Canada Highway.

He became the chancellor of the New Zealand University in 1885, the government's science and education advisor and was knighted in 1887. Accompanying him was a botanist, an astronomer, a magnetic observer and their leader John Palliser.

Palliser was an Irish buffalo hunter and traveler. When the Hudson's Bay Charter was up for renewal, under the Royal Geological Society, Palliser convinced the British government to allow a further exploration of the Canadian West.

The team spent three years moving around in the prairies. They collected much geological, magnetic, zoological, botanical and meteorological information.

On  Mission to Explore

On an individual mission, James Hector went off searching for passes. He crossed the Continental Divide on his own. During this mission he camped at Wapta Falls, where he would soon inspire Kicking Horse River's namesake. He mapped what is now Banff, Kootenay and Yoho National Parks.

Before he died in 1907, Hector returned to the site of his now famous discovery.... the Kicking Horse River.

Today, the good news is you can explore the Kicking Horse River with Alpine Rafting and be assured that no horses will kick you in the chest!

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