Are you wondering if Golden, BC is worth an overnight stay and what family things you can do there? Golden, BC is not only a “stopping for gas and coffee” town along the Trans-Canada highway. Golden, BC is a fantastic mountain town worth exploring for a few days. There are many fun family things to do in Golden, BC that you could easily spend a week.
Golden is located in the Columbia River Valley. Three different mountain ranges surround it. Golden, BC is ideally located to explore British Columbia and the Canadian Rockies. This town is in the heart of many national parks, making it the perfect home base for road trips and day trips to Glacier National Park, Mount Revelstoke National Park, Yoho National Park, Kootenay National Park, Banff National Park, and even Jasper National Park.
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What to Do in Golden, BC in the Winter
Golden, BC is known for its ski resort and fresh snow powder that attracts visitors every winter season. I have personally heard from skiers and snowboarders that the snow at the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is one of the best in the country!
However, skiing and snowboarding are not the only winter activities that you can enjoy with your family. Golden, BC offers other fun family-friendly activities such as:
- Cross-country skiing across frozen lakes and through forests;
- Ice skating;
- Tubing;
- Ice fishing;
- Dog sledding.
What to Do in Golden, BC in the Summer
The summer months in Golden, BC are equally charming, with so many activities to do as a family, such as:
- Mountain biking;
- Hiking;
- Fishing;
- Horseback riding;
- Kayaking or paddleboarding;
- River rafting.
The latter is a great family-friendly activity, as no skill level is necessary! All first-timers are welcome! Furthermore, you can choose from several river rafting packages depending on your kids’ ages, and the length and difficulty of the tour.
7 Fun Family Things to Do in Golden, BC
Golden is a year-round destination with many activities to do both during the summer and the winter. So here are our top family things to do in Golden.
1. Spend a Day at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort
The Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is probably one of the places that makes Golden so popular. Part of the RCR (Resorts of the Canadian Rockies) group, the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is a world-known ski resort.
Located in the Purcell Mountains, it overlooks the Rocky Mountain ranges. It’s the 4th highest vertical drop in North America, with over 120 runs and over 24ft of snowfall on average. The ski season at Kicking Horse usually runs from mid-December to mid-April. It obviously varies from year to year, depending on the weather.
But Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is not only a ski resort; it’s also an adventure resort from early June to late September.
Visiting Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in the summertime:
From early June to late September, the resort turns into an adventure park with mountain biking trails, hiking trails, a Via Ferrata, and a visit to the Grizzly Refuge.
We highly recommend getting the family Adventure Pass ($127 for the family), which gives you access to the Gondola ride to the top of the mountain as well as the Grizzly Bear Refuge tour. The tickets are valid for the entire day and allow multiple access to the gondola and the chair lifts.
At the top of the Kicking Horse Mountain, using the gondola ride, you’ll be at 2 347 m (7 700 feet) in altitude. The view from the gondola is beautiful. Depending on what time of the year you’re visiting, you may experience all seasons during that tour. It can be summer at the base of the mountain, while it can be winter at the top of the resort. At the mountain top, you can admire the views and walk around. There is also a restaurant, Eagle’s Eye Restaurant, that you can enjoy with your family.
Then, to get to the Grizzly Bear Refuge, you’ll need to go up the chair lift. It’s a standard ski chair lift, so be careful when visiting with young children.
Once you arrive at the Grizzly Bear Refuge, you can go on an interpretive tour guide, where you’ll learn more about Boo, the Grizzly Bear resident, and its refuge. Boo lives in one of the largest natural refuges in the world, so you may or may not see him.
If you can’t see the grizzly during your tour, you can go back later in the day (according to the staff, he is more active at around 3PM), or you can spot him home from the Gondola ride.
Make sure to bring some insect repellent during your visit to the refuge. There are a LOT of bugs.
For families with young children, there is a fun kids’ playground right by the parking lot, with a restroom and some picnic tables.
2. Get a Dose of Adrenaline at Golden Skybridge
The Golden Skybridge, operated by Pursuit Banff Jasper Collection, is the highest suspension bridge in Canada. The bridge rises at 130 m (426 feet) above the canyon. You’ll have epic views of the canyon and the Columbia Valley.
You can easily spend a day there having fun at the different stations. First, when you arrive, you’ll find a nice rest area with picnic tables, fire pits, music, and a food court. Then, the kids will run to the amazing playground and treehouse. There is even a small zipline. They could spend hours there!
When all the family is ready, take a deep breath and make your way to the trail leading to the suspension bridges. A short one-way loop brings you to the two bridges.
For families with older kids, you may want to purchase the Adventure Pass and try all the adrenaline-filled activities, such as the Mountain Coaster, the Canyon Edge Course, and the Sky Zipline
A fun feature of the location is the automatic picture stations. At the ticket office, you’ll be given a wrist bracelet that you can scan at the picture stations all across the site to take family pictures. At the exit, you can check the pictures that were taken and decide whether or not to purchase one of them.
3. Discover the British Columbia’s wetlands at Columbia Wetlands Outpost
After a few days in the mountains surrounding Golden, it’s time to experience an entirely new landscape and ecosystem: the Wetlands. A wetland is a distinct ecosystem that’s flooded by water, either permanently or seasonally.
Golden and the Columbia River are home to North America’s most extensive intact wetlands, and the Columbia Wetland Outpost is the best place to go to experience the wetlands.
You can check this resource for more information on the Columbia River wetland.
The Columbia Wetland Outpost is so much more than just a river trip. It’s an incredible property with lots of fun activities to do, such as a river kayak/canoe tour. Plus, the staff is really nice (and bilingual French & English).
Of course, the main activity is to explore the wetlands by the water, so Columbia Wetland Outpost offers:
- Canoe rentals;
- Kayak rentals;
- Stand-up paddleboard rentals;
- Pedal boat rentals;
- E-Canoe rentals;
- Maps and local knowledge.
Furthermore, they also have a wonderful dock where you can walk through the wetlands. They even have a relaxing area facing the water.
Travelers with young kids will want to wander in the Fairy Garden (near the Red Barn) and look at all the fairies and other figurines. There is even a small picnic table with chairs. Last but not least, on warm summer days, visitors can cool off by sliding down the slide into a pond.
Visiting the Columbia Wetlands Outpost can be a weekend-long experience; therefore, we recommend you stay on-site at one of their camping sites or teepee tent installation. That way, you’ll get to enjoy all the fun activities without rushing through them.
4. Explore Downtown Golden
Golden is a small town, but it’s still fun to explore. The downtown Golden core refers to a section of the 9th Ave. N. You’ll find weekly farmers’ markets, restaurants, and little cafés downtown.
You can also walk on the Pedestrian Bridge and along the Kicking Horse River on a section of the Rotary Trail.
5. Let the Kids Burn Off Some Energy at One of the Playgrounds
Finally, every parent knows that playgrounds are essential when traveling with kids. Golden has a few great options when it comes to kids’ playgrounds:
- Kinsen (Clown) Playground;
- Dogwood (Train) Playground;
- Alexander Park Playground;
- Kicking Horse Mountain Resort Playground.
6. Go on One of the Many Golden Hikes
There are many different hikes to do when in Golden, BC. Hikes vary in length and intensity. Because we’re traveling with young children, we typically search for easy to moderate hikes with a maximum of 5 km in length.
And we found many great options. Here are our favorite Golden, BC hikes:
- Rotary Trail: 7 km loop multi-use trail (perfect for biking);
- Confluence Park Trail: 1.0 out-and-back trail by the river;
- Wapta Falls: 4.8 km out-and-back easy trail;
- Bear Creek Falls: 1.1 km out-and-back easy trail;
- Hoodoo Creek: 5.5 km out-and-back moderate trail;
- Edelweiss Slough: 1.0 km out-and-back easy trail;
- Reflection Lake: Short and easy walk by the lake.
7. A Few More Fun Things to Do in Golden, BC
- Visit the Northern Lights Wolf Centre outside Golden;
- Enjoy a beach day at Cedar Lake where you can paddle, swim, and play in the sand;
- Visit the Dogtooth Indoor Climbing Gym, which is perfect for a rainy day in Golden;
- Learn about the region at the Golden Museum & Archives.
F.A.Q for Visiting Golden, BC With Your Family
How Far is Golden, BC, from Calgary, Alberta?
If you are driving from the City of Calgary, you’ll be on the road for less than 3 hours. It could take a little bit more if you make several stops along the way to visit other attractions such as the Town of Canmore, Banff, or Lake Louise.
Make sure to read the Drive BC website to know about road closures.
What Is Golden, BC, Best Known For?
Golden is popular because of its ski resort, Kicking Horse Resort, where every winter, thousands of visitors seek the best powder to ski or snowboard.
Do We Need a Parks Canada Discovery Pass To Visit Golden, BC?
You do not need a Parks Canada Discovery Pass if you are staying in Golden, BC. However, if you plan to visit any of the surrounding National Parks, such as Yoho, Glacier, Banff, Jasper, Kootenay, and Mount Revelstoke, you will need to have a valid pass.
Are There Any Wild Animals in Golden, BC?
Yes! There is plenty of wildlife in Golden, BC. If you visit the Kicking Horse Ski Resort Bear Refuge, you will likely meet Boo, the grizzly bear resident. Driving around Golden, BC, with your family, you can be lucky to spot elk, deer, moose, mountain sheep, wolves, and mountain goats.
When Should I Visit Golden, BC With My Family?
Golden, BC is a year-round destination for outdoor adventure lovers. Still, there are a few months in between seasons (shoulder seasons) where a few activities won’t be available.
It’s really busy in the wintertime because of the ski season at the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort and in the summer for mountain biking and white-water rafting. Early summer (end of May-June) and early fall (September-early October) are great times to visit to avoid the crowds. You’ll probably even experience all seasons at once if you visit during the Fall and Spring.
Where Should I Stay When Visiting Golden, BC with my family?
There are a few different options when it comes to accommodation if staying overnight in Golden, BC.
Our top picks in Golden, BC for hotels are:
- Prestige Inn
- Basecamp
- Yoho Chalets
Our top picks in Golden, BC for campgrounds are:
- Golden Municipal Campground & RV Park
- Whispering Spruce Campground
- Outpost Wetlands Columbia Campground
During our visit to Golden, we did a mix between the Prestige Inn Hotel (we needed a good internet connection and quietness to finish some work projects) and the Golden Municipal Campground & RV Park. I highly recommend reading this article to know what’s the best kids’ camping gear to bring!
The Prestige Inn Golden is located a little outside downtown, near Highway 1. It has nice rooms, with a pool and a hot tub. Breakfast is not included, but there is a restaurant attached to the hotel. The staff was really friendly and helpful.
The Golden Municipal Campground & RV Park is perfectly located within walking/biking distance from the city center. It’s by the Kicking Horse River, and the Rotary Trail passes near the campground. It’s also next to the municipal pool and playground. The only downside of this campground is that it’s next to the train tracks.
But, if you can avoid campsites #1 to #36, you’ll be in the woods and won’t be bothered by the sound of the train. I think we had campsite #78, and it was great, surrounded by trees and still a short, easy walk from the river and public restrooms.
Final Thoughts: Things to Do in Golden, BC
Golden, BC is a beautiful mountain town. While it may look like nothing from the Trans-Canada highway, entering the town and exploring the surroundings is worth it. From hiking to wildlife sightings and ziplining, you and your family will have a wonderful time in the town of Golden, BC.
