GOLDEN ADVENTURES – SUMMER IN KICKING HORSE COUNTRY

From fossils to buffalo, unique experiences abound in Golden and Kicking Horse Country. This summer plan a hike to the world-famous Burgess Shale fossil beds, amble through the local Farmers’ Market and get your share of wildlife with grizzlies, buffalo and wolves. Visit the World’s Largest Paddle and discover why Golden is becoming the land of superlatives.Kicking Horse Country is one of the hotbeds of fossil discovery. The Burgess Shale, a scenic one-hour drive from Golden, is one of the most diverse and well-preserved fossil site in the world. It has been an UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981. Paleontology buffs and outdoor enthusiasts can take part in licensed guided tours to the 505-million-year-old Burgess Shale in Yoho National Park. Beware – some of the hikes have an elevation of 760 m (2,500 ft) and a round trip
 distance of 20 km (12 mi) so hikers have to be moderately fit to complete them. Please leave Fido at home, dogs are not allowed on the guided hikes.The rich land that gave rise to the fossil hotbeds millions of years ago, now brings fresh, naturally-grown produce to the Farmers’ Market in Golden. Some of the market regulars include: Ebe’s Garden, with pesticide-free produce handpicked the night before or the morning of the market for absolute freshness; Rocky Mountain Honey Farm, producing natural, pesticide-free honey from over 40 wildflowers found in the Columbia Valley south of Golden; and family-owned Willowbank Soap Company that makes 100% natural soap featuring local beeswax and local herbs.

Did you know Golden is the only place in Canada where you can see a grizzly bear, a herd of buffalo and a pack of wolves safely in one day? Boo the Grizzly at the Kicking Horse Mountain Grizzly Bear Refuge is a visitors’ favorite in the summer. This 20-acre refuge is the world’s largest enclosed and protected grizzly bear habitat. Rocky Mountain Buffalo Ranch, located only 10 minutes’ north of Golden, supplies meat products to the finest local restaurants. A short ride west of Golden, adventurous visitors can have a surreal experience walking side-by-side with a pack of wolves in Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre. 

With the longest freestanding timber frame bridge, the highest elevation restaurant and the most backcountry huts in Canada, Golden is becoming the land of superlatives. Now Golden can add the World’s Largest Paddle to their list of attractions. Located at the Columbia Wetlands Adventures facility, approximately 26km south of Golden, the World’s Largest Paddle is proportionally correct, scaled up 13 times to over 60 feet — perfect for a 78-foot giant!

Looking for a place to stay? Golden’s newest hotel is the Holiday Inn Express, located minutes’ from the Kicking Horse Mountain Ski Resort, it offers complimentary hot breakfasts and has a Jacuzzi suite with a walkout balcony featuring magnificent views.

For more information on summer activities and accommodations, please visit Tourism Golden.

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