Reawakening: Golden, BC Springs Into Adventure
Experiencing springtime in Golden, BC, is like playing the kids’ game “pickup sticks”—except in this case, the stick pile is built from fishing rods, paddles and hiking poles. It’s the Spring Itch, an infatuation with slightly warmer weather followed by that first date to the gear storage where you giddily plot your next season. Talk of snow forecasts fades into excited chatter about an explosion of activities—climbing, kayaking, paragliding and biking are all on the menu.
Adventure is on offer every day here in Golden. How you fill the quiver is when the fun begins.
Wildlife Awakens
Every spring, the plumage on local vehicles transitions like feathers on the birds that migrate by the thousands through the Columbia Wetlands, one of the largest wetlands in North America. Watch as ski boxes and sled decks “molt” into bike, kayak or canoe racks.
More than 260 bird species have been sighted in the Golden region. Explore the BC Bird Trail to scour the reeds, waterways and sky for waterfowl, raptors, song and other birds. This area provides habitat for reptiles, amphibians and mammals, including cougars, moose and bears. Rainbow trout, bass and white sturgeon draw anglers from around the world. Learn about apex predators in the region by visiting Boo the Bear at the Kicking Horse Grizzly Bear Refuge and wolves at the Northern Lights Wolf Centre.
The Columbia Wetlands fuel the Columbia River, one of the most important waterways in North America, which flows 2,000-kilometres to the Pacific Ocean. This largely undisturbed ecosystem is best experienced by kayak or canoe. Remember to be a responsible watercraft owner and follow Clean Drain Dry protocols established by the Canadian Council on Invasive Species. The spring melt also invigorates the Columbia’s tributaries to epic proportions. To experience it for yourself, try rafting Kicking Horse River’s Class IV whitewater as a rite of spring.
Two-Wheelers Reappear
Pedals replace paddles with more than 185 kilometres of prime cross-country mountain biking trails to explore. The former site of Psychosis, the steepest downhill mountain bike race on the planet, Mount 7 offers downhill cycling diehards unmatched terrain suitable for wicked shredding. Because the mellower Mountain Shadows cross-country trail system shares the Reflection Lake Trailhead parking area with Mount 7, choosing your biking bliss is an absolute no-brainer. The extensive Moonraker Trails and CBT Mainline Network offer hours of cross-country options on the other side of the valley.
Opening ASAP in mid-June, Kicking Horse Mountain Resort’s gondola-assisted mountain biking trail system is best described as blue and flowy, a series of single-track trails well-suited for intermediate riders. Experts will discover plenty of diamonds in the rough, too. The sightlines off the Dogtooth Ridge launch trail from the gondola station to Crystal Bowl are worth the trip.
Extreme Adrenaline
Other Kicking Horse summer activities unfurl like alpine wildflower petals as lingering spring snow gives way to exceptional alpine terrain. Scale the Terminator Ridge summit along the seasonal Via Ferrata, which opens in late June, or hike Dogtooth and CPR ridge trails. All (uphill) trails lead to Eagle’s Eye Restaurant, one of North America’s finest summit libation and dining perches.
Golden Skybridge Adventure Park opens early May and adds a dose of adrenaline with a mountain coaster, ziplines where you can pair up or ride side-by-side and the highest suspension bridges in Canada. You can also take a whack at axe throwing, practice your form on the climbing wall and engage the family or friends on the ropes course and Giant Canyon Swing before touching down in The Village to review the adventures over food and drink.
Longer Days Mean More Adventures
Whether you spend the day at The Horse, ascend over 60 sport climbing routes at Spillimacheen Crags or set up your camera to shoot 380-metre-high Takakkaw Falls in nearby Yoho National Park, Golden takes care of après like only a mountain town can.
The region’s famously welcoming spirit is on full display at neighborhood favorites like Eleven22 and Reposados Tacos Y Tequila. Settle onto the terrace at The Island or the Turning Point, ideal for when the daylight seems to stretch until midnight. Looking to make friends with the locals? Tales of outdoor adventure echo off the walls inside Whitetooth Brewing Co.’s tasting room.
Returning to the Mountains
Located in the “Heart of the Parks,” Golden is surrounded by an astounding six national parks that serve up plenty of alpine vistas. From peaceful sightseeing to high octane adventures, Golden has something for everyone. Comfortable lodging choices also extend to us. Golden properties feature familiar hotels, independent inns, backcountry lodges and vacation rentals.
This article was sponsored by Tourism Golden
To learn more about adventure activities in Golden, you can visit www.tourismgolden.com
Very much enjoyed your article about an area close to my heart. Even learned about a few new things to do ! Thank you!