| Golden is a village of 10,000 population situated in | | | | such a fine setting thatwedding parties have |
| the confluence of the | | | | utilized the spot for photographs. It is a par |
| British Columbia and Kicking Horse rivers in a long | | | | 4,running 385 yards downhill from an elevated |
| deep valley betweenthe Rocky and Purcell | | | | tee, with Holt Creekrunning beside it. This course |
| Mountain ranges in eastern BC, at an elevation of | | | | features a pro shop, which can completelyoutfit all |
| 790 m [2591 ft] located at the heart of six | | | | golfing needs. As well, there is a full-service |
| mountainous national parks: | | | | restaurant,lounge and outdoor patio. |
| Yoho, Banff, Jasper, Kootenay Glacier and Mount | | | | Hangliding ~ Paragliding: |
| Revelstoke. Yoho | | | | The Mount 7 hangliding site is one of the top ten |
| National Park, the 'adopted' park of the | | | | sites in the world. |
| community, is a half-hour driveeast of Golden. | | | | Mount 7 is year after year the site of National |
| From May to September mountain biking, hang | | | | and International |
| paragliding, bungee jumping,and snowboarding are | | | | Championships. If a novice you can take a |
| popular, and of course skiing during the winter. | | | | tandem-flight with anexperienced instructor. The |
| Winter Activities: | | | | season is [weather permitting] from |
| Tobogganing, skating, or Nordic skiing through | | | | May to October. |
| rolling windy trailsthrough woods. Downhill Skiing, | | | | Heli-Hiking / Skiing: |
| Snowboarding, Heli-Skiing, Cat Skiing, | | | | The birthplace area of the sport and one of the |
| Snow mobiling, Dog Sledding, and Ice Climbing | | | | best in the world. |
| from mid-November tothe End of March. | | | | Daily to weekly packages. |
| Summer Activities: | | | | Hiking and Hiking Guides: |
| Pilots from all over the world flock to the Mount 7 | | | | Take a stroll along the dike of the Kicking Horse |
| flying site to paraglideand hang-glide. Horseback | | | | River or along thenumerous trails to the alpine on |
| Riding, hiking, mountain biking, golfing,fishing, and air | | | | your own or join a group at oneof the remote |
| tours. World class white water rafting, | | | | alpine lodges accessible by helicopter or a |
| ATVing,motocross, and rock climbing attract | | | | guidedtour to the world heritage site of the Yoho |
| international thrill seekers. | | | | Burgess-Shale. |
| Bird and wildlife viewing, slow floats, wetland | | | | The day-hike trail at Gorman Lake is the most |
| scenic forest tours. | | | | popular. Mammal |
| Boating and angling are common activities at | | | | Activities and sightings of bear, muskrat, fox, and |
| recreation sites. Mostsites allow car top boat | | | | many othersare not uncommon just strolling in |
| launching only. That means you can | | | | the woods. Some areas areknown to shelter |
| hand-launchonly canoes, kayaks and boats small | | | | abundant wildlife. |
| enough to be carried on top ofyour car. Trailered | | | | Back- country camping sites: |
| boats can be launched safely and conveniently | | | | The lake affords excellent fly-fishing. You can find |
| fromthose sites with ramp facilities. In most | | | | marmots andpikas along talus slopes and goats on |
| cases, the ramps are suitableonly for small and | | | | the cliffs above. The hike isthree kilometres in |
| medium-sized boats. | | | | length, ending at the lake, and takes about |
| A plane or helicopter ride will show you the | | | | 90-minutes. |
| Selkirk, Purcell and | | | | The Moonraker Trails at Canyon Creek are |
| Rocky Mountain ranges and their glaciers. You can | | | | popular for hiking aswell as biking and horseback |
| even land on aglacier for a closer look. Air tours | | | | riding. There are some 45-kilometresof loop trails |
| are available year-round. | | | | stretching from the Cedar Lake area to Canyon |
| For local history there's the Golden Museum | | | | Creek. This is only minutes from town but home |
| where you can learn aboutthe important role that | | | | to wild mountaingoats and bears. |
| Swiss Mountain Guides played in the birth of | | | | The Mummery Glacier Trail is three-kilometres in |
| Canadian mountaineering traditions. Or at Ray's | | | | length throughold-growth cedar and hemlock and |
| Antique & Collectable | | | | spectacular views of the glacierfor which it is |
| Museum you can browse through some old farm | | | | named. After a short trek up an old creek bed |
| equipment and antiquetools. Take a guided hike | | | | andacross the creek by bridge you'll arrive at the |
| way, way back [some 515 million years]and visit | | | | immense morainesleft by the glacier. The trail |
| the fossils of the renowned Yoho Burgess Shale | | | | ends at one of these moraines, near thetop |
| or, if art isyour scene, there are many local art | | | | where there is a view of the glacier and |
| shops. | | | | waterfalls above - butlook out for calving ice off |
| Tours: | | | | the glacier! The Quartz Lake Trail westof town is |
| Cruise the numerous small mountain roads. Tour | | | | a five -kilometre hike and is recommended for |
| season is [weatherpermitting] from May to | | | | the area'spristine beauty. |
| October. | | | | The recent elimination of the Ministry of Forests' |
| Bird / Wildlife Watching: | | | | recreation program,may have lead to the |
| The Rocky Mountain Trench is a major migratory | | | | dismantling of signs, toilets, and picnic tablesat |
| path, and agreat diversity of birds also settles in | | | | some recreation sites, but you may find a |
| the Columbia Valley. 265transient and resident | | | | guidebook at Golden'sbookstore. |
| species have been counted in Golden so far. | | | | Horseback ~ Trail Riding: |
| Reflection Lake, the Edelweiss slough and Moberly | | | | You will find specially trained horses for the |
| Marsh are favouritebirding spots. You can do bird | | | | beginner to the expert. |
| watching year-round, although there aremore | | | | Tours range from short rides to multiple day |
| species during migration in spring [April to June]and | | | | excursions. Ridingseason is from mid-June to |
| fall [September to October]. | | | | October. |
| Canoe / Kayak Tours: | | | | Hunting / Guide Outfitters: |
| At the Columbia River you can view birds of | | | | Although most people like to go hunting with their |
| prey, herons and ducks. | | | | cameras, some takea rifle and want to come |
| Paddle the Blaeberry River for more action. The | | | | back with a trophy. The BC Governmentallows |
| Kicking Horse River is theplace to be for great | | | | hunting of black bears, mountain goats and other |
| whitewater action. For very experienced | | | | animals withinlimited quotas and led by certified |
| kayakersthe lower canyon with its class IV rapids | | | | guide outfitters. Hunting seasonsvary depending on |
| is ideal. Season: May to October. | | | | species. |
| Climbing: | | | | Mountain Biking: |
| In 1912 six Swiss Mountain Guides and their | | | | With 7,700 feet of vertical terrain enthusiasts can |
| families moved permanentlyto Golden. Canadian | | | | ride the mountainsthemselves or with guides, |
| Pacific Rail had hired them as professionalmountain | | | | which are available at Kicking Horse |
| guides for the many tourists who wanted to | | | | Mountain Resort where they launch their rides |
| explore the Canadian | | | | down the mountain. |
| Rocky Mountains. Today there are many ACMG | | | | For the price of a day's lift ticket you can bike |
| certified mountainguides who live and work in | | | | down 4200 vertical feet,accessed by the gondola. |
| Golden and the mountains around. | | | | Mount 7 is the location of the legendary |
| Golden attracts climbers from all over the world. | | | | Mount 7 Psychosis downhill race offering some 12 |
| Cross-Country Skiing: | | | | kilometres ofdownhill drops, steeps and technical |
| Track-set trails are just minutes from town at | | | | woodwork playgrounds. Peoplecan pedal to the |
| the Golden Golf Course. | | | | top, with several jump-off trails at three, five and |
| More challenging trails can be found at Dawn | | | | six-kilometres. Shuttling via truck 15-kilometres to |
| Mountain Nordic Trail | | | | the top is a popularoption. |
| System at the base of Kicking Horse Mountain | | | | Mountain biking cross-country: |
| Resort. Many moretracks set by XC-enthusiasts | | | | Golden has an in-town trail system as well as a |
| can be found in the Blaeberry and Columbia | | | | 45-kilometre trailsystem on the west bank of the |
| Valley. The season is from December to April. | | | | Columbia River along the Canyon |
| Cycling: | | | | Creek trail along the narrow deep canyon, which |
| Golden is the centre for the 'Golden Triangle' Tour | | | | is a steep climb upwith a long, rolling descent. |
| where you cross the | | | | Motocross racing comes to Golden inlate May. |
| Continental Divide twice. You can go at your own | | | | Mountain Climbing: |
| pace or book a packagewith one of the tour | | | | Golden has been well known for its mountain |
| companies. | | | | climbing since the endof the 19th century with the |
| Dog Sledding: | | | | coming of the Swiss Guides to the Selkirkand |
| Season lasts from late November to April. | | | | Rocky Mountains. Local climbers have developed |
| Downhill (Alpine) & Cat Skiing / Snowboarding: | | | | several areasaround Golden over the last decades. |
| The new Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is being | | | | The most popular area is Jubilee |
| developed into a 250-acre resort, encompassing | | | | Mountain near Spillimacheen, 45 minutes south of |
| 4005 acres of ski and snowboarding terrain,with | | | | town. It offers over |
| views of the Canadian Rockies. The new gondola | | | | 70 climbs, mostly sport [bolted] ranging from 5.8 |
| rises to thesummit of the Dogtooth Mountain | | | | to 5.12. Anotherpopular area that is easer with |
| Range at an elevation of 7705feet [2350 meters] | | | | low-angle climbs is up the Mount 7road at the |
| where the new Eagle's Eye Restaurant is located. | | | | 6-kilometre parking lot, with most of the climbs |
| The excellent snow conditions will include a vertical | | | | slab innature with a handful of short, pumpy |
| drop of 4,133feet [1260 meters] from the top lift, | | | | climbs. Difficulty ranges from |
| making it the second highest in | | | | 5.6 to 5.11, some bolted and some mixed. A |
| Canada. Ski season is from early December to | | | | 60-metre rope isrecommended for top-roping the |
| the end of April. | | | | longer routes. |
| Freshwater Fishing / Ice Fishing / Heli-Fishing: | | | | A new climbing area is in the Kicking Horse |
| The area's fishing opportunities are endless, | | | | Canyon, 10-kilometreseast of Golden called 'The |
| ranging from early andlate rainbow trout, small | | | | Glen' after nearby Glenogle Creek. This isa |
| cut-throat trout in alpine lakes to char inthe river | | | | quartzite area and will provide a wide range of |
| and giant ling [turbot] and Dolly Varden in the | | | | climbing, from slab toseverely overhanging and |
| hydroreservoir. Guides can take you to the type | | | | difficult routes. Another short, quartzite cragis up |
| of fishing you prefer andprovide all the equipment | | | | the forest service road on the west side of the |
| from boats to heli-fishing. One of the morepopular | | | | Columbia River near |
| lake areas is south of Golden, near Parson and | | | | Nicholson [five-kilometres south of Golden]. This is |
| Brisco. Manyof the lower lakes open early in May, | | | | a steep sportclimbing wall with approximately 10 |
| and more fishing can be foundat higher elevations | | | | climbs from 5.10 to 5.11 plus. |
| as summer arrives. | | | | Snowmobiling is popular with routes too numerous |
| A popular lake is Mitten Lake. Also excellent are | | | | to mention. |
| the Cleland and | | | | Whitewater Rafting: |
| Jade Lakes, and to the west, the Blackwater | | | | The Kicking Horse River originates from icy |
| Lake. Stocked rainbowtrout up to 24-inches can | | | | glaciers at the westernboundary of Yoho National |
| be caught in these areas. North/northwest of | | | | Park and runs along 20-kilometres, has classthree |
| Golden are the Susan and Jeb Lakes in the area | | | | and four rapids careening through a canyon and |
| of the Big Bend Highwayand are usually open by | | | | right into Golden. |
| early July. These two lakes are renowned fortheir | | | | There are roughly a dozen rafting companies in |
| Brook trout. Anglers should note that the waters | | | | the canyon. These attractthousands of visitors |
| to the north remaincooler longer in the summer | | | | from May to September each year. Rafting |
| and often provide a more vigorous fish thanthe | | | | beginsat the upper canyon through the first set |
| lethargic ones of the southern waters. Many of | | | | of Class IV rapids known as |
| the higher alpine lakes,which open at various times | | | | Shotgun and Portage followed by a dozen Class |
| later in the summer offer exciting andpicturesque | | | | III rapids. It continuesinto the lower canyon where |
| fly and spin- cast opportunities. The more popular | | | | Class IV rapids, Double Trouble, Riptide,and the |
| areasinclude Gorman, Quartz and Silent Lakes - | | | | Nozzle spread over three-kilometres. Many guiding |
| and all trailheads arewithin 25 minutes of town. | | | | companiesoffer a variety of trips from one-day |
| Hike-in distances range from severalkilometres to | | | | to multi-day raft outings and evenheli-rafting, |
| much longer. | | | | which takes advantage of other nearby rivers, |
| For river fishing, the Columbia opens early in the | | | | one being the |
| spring providing | | | | Blaeberry River. |
| Rainbows and Char. With a red and white spoon | | | | Flat-water excursions: |
| or a wet fly you'll likelynab one. Also available in | | | | Available through the Columbia Valley Wetlands, a |
| the Columbia are Dolly Varden, Whitefish and | | | | popular kayaking andcanoeing destination. |
| Kokanee. Creeks and streams open officially on | | | | Before you leave Golden, the new pedestrian |
| June 14. and a lightweightfly rod is recommended. | | | | bridge is a must-see. Thiswas completed in the fall |
| In the Glacier and Yoho National Parks is | | | | of 2001 by volunteer timber framers from |
| superbfishing but you must have a special permit | | | | Golden, Europe, and the United States. Because of |
| aside from your regular license toencourage catch | | | | the high waters inthe fall, the installation of the |
| and release in these areas. | | | | bridge didn't occur until October 25, withthe help |
| Golfing: | | | | of Sterling Cranes from Calgary, which took three |
| The Golden Golf & Country Club is rated one of | | | | full days,inching along and out onto a temporary |
| the top 10 is B.C., the | | | | footing, and finally onto the farshore where it was |
| 75th best course in Canada by Score magazine, | | | | fitted into its concrete abutments. The bridge is |
| with Golf Digest rating itthree-and-a-half stars. | | | | 150-feet-long, with a 210,000-pound burr arch |
| Whether you play pro or beginner there are | | | | structure. The cost of thebridge is estimated to |
| completefacilities and services at the 18-hole | | | | be $250,000, but considering the volunteer |
| championship course. Theseason is from mid April | | | | timeand the donated materials its value would be |
| to October. The course ranges from 5,380 | | | | over twice that amount. |
| yardsto 6,818 yards long. One hole, the 11th, has | | | | |