When should I book?
To ensure space on the date of your choice, book as early as you can. Some dates fill months in advance while others don’t fill at all. Book early to avoid disappointment. Generally, weekends fill first and Monday to Friday departures are slower to fill up.

What’s the difference between Alpine and the other companies on the Kicking Horse?
There are other companies that run the Kicking Horse River, so you may be doing your homework.  Although each outfitter has their strengths, these are the reasons we think Alpine Rafting offers the best day on the river.

1. When joining us on a full day trip, you’ll get to enjoy an extra 4 kms of rafting on the upper reaches of the Kicking Horse River in Yoho National Park. Alpine Rafting is proud to offer the longest trip on the Kicking Horse River – that’s right! 32 Kilometres including the Lower Canyon.

2. We serve, organic locally raised Buffalo with our Riverside BBQ Lunch, among other delicious items…

3. Take a peak at any photo on our website and you’ll notice what all guests have in common: the quality of the river gear they sport.  From Gore-Tex Spray Jackets, Neoprene Gloves and Guide quality neoprene booties, we make sure your gear is looking and feeling great so you can too! Besides, it makes for much better photos!

4. We hand-pick our staff from around the globe. Due to the nature of the Kicking Horse and our high standards, we only place you in the care of professional, mature, and very experienced raft guides. You won’t find a guide-in-training in your raft when joining us for a day on the river.

5. Want to come back for another run in the same season? We would love to have you back! At the end of the day pick up your coupon for a free rafting trip valid for the rest of the season when you come back with 7 friends. 

6. Alpine cares. In 2006 we made over $17,000 in donations to charitable organizations primarily throughout Alberta. The Calgary Zoo, the Calgary Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre and the HSBC Calgary Marathon to name a few…

7. Since 1984, we’ve guided over 90,000 people down the Kicking Horse River. With this many years in operation comes experience. From our fleet of rafts to our selection of trips: we’ve spent the last 23 years honing the experience we provide.

When is the best time of year to go rafting?
The Whitewater Rafting season on the Kicking Horse runs from May until September. During that time, we raft seven days per week.  The thrills of the high water season can be had from mid-June through mid-July. In high water the river is swollen and waves grow bigger

How many people are there per raft?
Our rafts are specially designed for their suitability and performance in the rapids of the Kicking Horse River. We use high-quality, 100% self-bailing stern guided rafts ranging from 15 feet to 17.5 feet that will comfortably carry 8-10 passengers.

Is rafting safe?
There are inherent risks involved in whitewater rafting. We have an excellent safety record with only bumps and bruises since Alpine Rafting opened it’s doors back in 1984. We’ve exclusively guided the waters of the Kicking Horse for the past 23 years and take pride in having safely guided over 90 000 rafters. Our river guides are licensed by the BC Government and are trained in first aid and river rescue.

I’ve never gone rafting. Which trip do you recommend?
Most of our guests are also first time rafters!  Our guides will prep you prior to getting on the water with a safety briefing. You’ll then get instruction on holding a paddle, basic paddle strokes and a few commands you and your crew will need to know. After some practice, it’s time to have some fun! Your guide is in command of the raft at all times from the rear. So, we recommend all of our trips for first time rafters.

What should I wear?
You should come to our office the morning of your trip with your bathing suit on underneath your clothes, preferably. When we get to the river, we distribute river gear and give instructions for putting it on. There are changerooms at the start of the trip. The clothing you take off will be placed back into the bus where you can get access to it at the end of the trip.

What about tipping?
As with any service based industry, tips are always appreciated. If you had a great day on the water, feel free to tip your guide.

What happens if it rains?
Whitewater rafting is fun in any type of weather, provided you are properly dressed. We gear you up extremely well for your day out on the water so we can all have a great day! We raft daily rain or shine, and you’ll get wet either way.

What if I can’t swim?
All rafters are equipped with whitewater lifejackets chosen for their high floatation. Therefore, we do not require participants to know how to swim. The best advice we give  to swimmers and non-swimmers is to pay close attention to the safety briefing. Please inform your guide if you have any concerns regarding your swimming

What about alcohol?
Drinking is not permitted before or while you are engaged in whitewater rafting. Anyone who is drinking or appears to be intoxicated before the trip will be denied participation. Refunds or alternate dates will not be given.

What do you sell at your office?
If you have forgotten something, chances are we sell it. We have towels, fleece sweaters, sunglass retaining straps, sunscreen, waterproof cameras and lots of great schwag! We also have photos for sale from your trip at the end of the day.