Chinook Rafting
Chinook Rafting
5
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Monday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Sunday
8:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Full view
About
Closest whitewater rafting available from Banff and Calgary with daily half day trips. Whether you want Mild or Wild, our fun-loving professional guides will provide you with the best whitewater rafting adventure. Perfect activity for families (5 years and up), and groups like Bachelor and Bachelorette Parties or your Corporate Team Building Event.
Banff, Alberta, Canada
Awards
Travellers' Choice
2024
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5.0
2,687 reviews
Excellent
2,504
Very good
152
Average
16
Poor
8
Terrible
7
Irfan Jhabuawala
Mississauga, Canada11 contributions
Jul 2021
We booked a family experience rafting at Kannaskis, our youngest being 5, online. The check in process once we reached there was smooth, and they gathered all other guests into a bus and onto the rapids. The family experience used Class 2 rapids which were just right for the little ones. Good focus on safety kept us assured. Once on the raft, our guide Adam, was absolutely amazing with his humour and knowledge of the surrounding flora and fauna. Had fun splashing the other rafts! Highly recommend anyone in the Banff area to book rafting with Chinook.
Written 7 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KimJoMo
Edmonton, Canada63 contributions
Jul 2020
This was the highlight of our staycation this year. We had never been rafting before. These class 2 and 3 rapids were a good introduction. I think we are ready for class 4 now. During Coronavirus the company required a minimum of 4 but not more than 7 people to book in a group for one raft. We have 7 in our family so that was perfect! They required us to wear masks on the bus transporting us to and from the raft launching spot and to use hand sanitizer. Our guide, Gabriel was fantastic! He appeased my teen boys' desire to compete and come in first. I think he was also adept at managing the rapids and keeping us all safe. We were given the opportunity to buy a memory stick with photos for $30 or you can download some low resolution ones from their website for free. There were also some snacks at the end - juice boxes, granola bars, fruit snacks. It was certainly a memorable family bonding experience.
Written 7 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Glad you all had fun, see you for a trip down the Class 4 Horseshoe Canyon next year we hope!
Written 15 August 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Kate K
2 contributions
Sept 2021
As a family of 6, with kids ranging from 8 to 17, We had the best time ever white water rafting down the Kananaskis River with our guide Gabriel. This was the perfect adventure for kids and adults. There was just the right balance of exciting rapids and soaking waves and also spectacular views of the mountains. Gabriel, our guide, made me feel very comfortable bringing my younger kids along, as he was very capable and it was evident that he has a lot of experience in rafting. He also made us all laugh as he was very personable and had a good sense of humour. Overall, this will definitely be the highlight of our mountain adventure!
Written 13 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
M D
2 contributions
Jun 2022
My group & I went on the Kananaskis River which was at 200% and our guide, Tadhg was able to expertly navigate the high waters. He was very knowledgeable and ensured we had a great time. It was our first time rating and we all felt very safe. He was able to teach us how to row properly & safely, as well as, share historical information about the area. All the gear was provided by the company and we were driven to the river from the basecamp. We were treated with light refreshments and snacks after our session which was a great delight. Overall, we had a great time and would highly recommend Chinook rafting.
Written 28 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sudhan G
4 contributions
Jul 2021
the whole rafting experience was so fun and thrilling. people at Chinook rafting were very professional and they know what they are doing and they do it with so much passion. They ensured the whole trip was fun and at the same time safe. What to expect, what not to do and all other instructions were very clearly communicated upfront. A big shout out to our guide Maven, She did a wonderful job making sure we did not miss any of the fun and also brought us back safe. She entertained us with lot of history and geography of the places with nice sense of humour. I will definitely recommend Chinook rafting to all my friends and family who wanted to try rafting at Banff. Thanks a lot guys for giving me a wonderful experience and a lifetime memory. keep up the good work. Cheer!!!
Written 10 July 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mark W
Edmonton, Canada1 contribution
Aug 2020
We had Theo for our guide. What good luck. He was very skilled and had a lot of interesting stories about the area. He is very funny with a quirky sense of humour and wonderful French accent that made you smile when he spoke. You could not ask for a more pleasant and entertaining trip with Theo. The only issue is that he is cheering for the Montreal Canadians....which I can forgive because he actually met Guy Lafleur Once and anybody would cheer for Montreal after meeting him...no matter how misguided that may be :)
This is an excellent tour company. We have gone white water rafting before. The training and safety precautions they put all the groups through are exceptional.
This is an excellent tour company. We have gone white water rafting before. The training and safety precautions they put all the groups through are exceptional.
Written 19 August 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thanks for the feedback, glad to hear you felt safe and had fun
Written 26 August 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jen C
Sherwood Park, Canada2 contributions
Jul 2020
Rafting the Kananaskis River with the family was a great adventure. Our guide Luka was very knowledgeable about the area and shared a lot of information about the river. Luka made the trip that much cooler for the younger kids by allowing them a change to paddle in the calmer waters. Amazing experience, awesome guide!!! We will be back.
Written 28 July 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Great to hear, cheers!
Written 15 August 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Rachel H
1 contribution
Aug 2024 • Family
We had a reservation made on July 30 for a tour on Aug 5. On Aug 2 I received an email cancelling my tour, no refund information. So I called on Aug and they said "if you want to cancel I can cancel for you, but let's re-book", I spoke to Sofie and she tried to re-book when I was cancelled last minute by Chinook without any explanation and pushed to re-book when I was not even going to be in town anymore. After explaining I wanted to proceed with a cancellation and wanted a refund she said it would take 8 to 10 days to process it. Sofie also said she be sending me an email right away with the cancellation which she never did. Next day I had to call AGAIN and ask for the email with the proof of the cancellation which she had forgotten to send. She then send me the cancellation email, while still on the phone I checked the email and it never included any mention or proof of a refund being issued it only said "reservation cancelled on Aug 5th" basically saying I was the one who cancelled and no refund was bring processed. I then had to ask for another email with proof of refund which she finally sent it. Mind you this was all in the middle of our group's vacation when I'm not even worrying about checking emails specially because the Banff area there is very poor phone service. Chinook tour should not be requesting full payments ahead of time when they know there is a chance tours might be cancelled, because as an international tourist we get charged an international fee, in which case mine was high since it was a reservation for a larger group, that doesn't get refunded. Chinook gave mixed information regarding the reason for cancellation "movie being shot at the river"; "Electricity company controlling water amounts in the rivers causing unexpected issues". If you have anything of the sorts going on, don't take your customers payment until you are 100% sure you can keep their tours. Just a terrible and frustrating experience in the middle of our vacation.
Written 6 August 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you, Rachel, for sharing your experience with us.
We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience and frustration you encountered during your recent interaction with our team. We understand that you had a reservation made on July 30 for a tour on August 5, which was unfortunately cancelled on August 2 without immediate refund information. We are sorry to hear that you felt pushed to rebook and experienced poor communication throughout the process. We processed your refund straight after the cancellation, and it usually takes between 5 to 10 business days to appear in your account, depending on your bank.
We apologize for any confusion caused by the mixed information regarding the reason for the cancellation and the delay in sending you the necessary confirmation emails. We strive to provide clear and timely communication to all our customers, and it is evident that we fell short in this instance. Your feedback is invaluable, and we will use it to improve our processes and ensure better service in the future. Chinook team
Written 9 August 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
KCB48
Seattle5 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
Our family of four loved this trip through Horseshoe Canyon with Chinook Rafting. Georgia and David were our guides, both so friendly and fun, experts at getting us through the rapids while making sure we had a great time and were able to experience all the river had to offer. There were three big rapids and the chance to do a cliff jump. Time on the river was about an hour and a half and the whole experience was about four hours. I love that the meeting point is very close to where to start and end, so there’s not a ton of additional driving time on a bus. They did a great job providing the gear, preparing us for what to expect and teaching the safety components. We loved Georgia and David, but all the staff were encouraging, friendly and fun - we had a great morning on the river and would recommend this Chinook Rafting experience.
(For reference, our kids are 17 and 19 - I would have felt ok taking them a little younger too.)
(For reference, our kids are 17 and 19 - I would have felt ok taking them a little younger too.)
Written 9 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kristine A
1 contribution
Jul 2021 • Family
This was a very fun experience! Our guide Gabriel took his job seriously and guided us precisely so that we can experience all the fun (waves) we could get from this. When we had to cancel some people from the group, it did not take too long to process that.
All the guides had a fun way of explaining the rules and expectation from this trip.
Didn’t expect we’d have to carry the raft at the end but that was a whole another new experience; still enjoyed it.
Love the snacks and refreshments at the end of the trip. This is my second time rafting (first one from another company) and I could say confidently, Chinook rafting proved to be the best so far!
All the guides had a fun way of explaining the rules and expectation from this trip.
Didn’t expect we’d have to carry the raft at the end but that was a whole another new experience; still enjoyed it.
Love the snacks and refreshments at the end of the trip. This is my second time rafting (first one from another company) and I could say confidently, Chinook rafting proved to be the best so far!
Written 2 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Buen dia somo una familia de 4 dos adultos y dos jovenes de 13 y 15 años estando en verano nos gustaria tomar la aventura no hemos echo rafting pero si sabemos nadar. la pregunta es nos no es demasiado calmado el paseo de principiantes; ya que a mis hijos les gusta la emocion ayudaria me recomendaras
Written 16 December 2019
Hi Hiram, Great to hear you and your family want to come whitewater rafting with us. With regards to which river to raft on, as you haven’t rafted before but are looking for a thrill we would recommend that you should choose the Horseshoe Canyon Rafting trip, class 3-4 rapids with the optional cliff jump. You don't have to have rafted before to join this trip. This rafting trip has the meeting point of Nakoda Lakeside Lodge which is the closest rafting trip to both Calgary and Banff/Canmore (only 45 minutes drive). We do currently have space on the 2nd July 2020 and this trip runs in the morning. We would suggest booking as soon as you can as we do sell out in July and August. If you need any more information or to speak with one of our friendly staff please do not hesitate to contact us directly - we look forward to seeing you out on the river with us.
Written 12 February 2020
My husband and I have rafted before (Colorado, Alaska, Costa Rica) and are looking for the most adventure. Thus what river and or trip do you suggest for the Banff/Lake Louis area?
Written 18 July 2019
Hi Cathy, It depends how far you wish to drive and how much time you are spending in the Banff area. The Kicking Horse River trip has the most rapids but it is not that near to Banff. It is near Golden, BC approximately 1.5 - 2 hours drive west of Banff. The Horseshoe Canyon trip is a half day trip with 3 major rapids and 2 cliff jumps and is only 45 minutes drive east of Banff. Please let us know if you have any other questions, and we hope to see you out on the river soon!
Written 25 July 2019
If you do not know how to swim, we would recommend joining the Kananaskis River Rafting Tour, as the rapids and river are not as strong. On the day please inform your guide that you are a non or weak swimmer too. If you need any more information or to speak with one of our friendly staff please do not hesitate to contact us directly - we look forward to having you out rafting with us!
Written 29 May 2019
HI, do you do private trips rafting for my family of 6 (including 1 x 18 year old, 2 x 16 and 1 x 13)?
Written 17 May 2019
With regards to private rafts we would need at least 4 strong paddling adults to get the raft down the Kananaskis river, and at least 6 strong paddling adults to get the raft down the Bow river (Horseshoe Canyon section). So we could take your booking for a private raft on the Kananaskis river trip, you would just need to purchase the 4 extra spots to make your raft private. Most people prefer to share the raft with others, as you get a wetter ride with a heavier boat, there are more people to paddle the raft, so it is less strenuous, and it is great fun sharing new experiences with people from all over the world. And you can spend your extra $s on other fun stuff. If you need any more information, or to speak with one of our friendly staff to make your reservation, please do not hesitate to contact us directly. We look forward to creating great memories with you and your family!
Written 18 May 2019
Hi, my husband and I are 58 and 60 and our daughter is 24. She would like to do a higher level rafting trip but I am afraid. I just don’t want to get hurt. We will be in Banff July 20-24. What do you recommend for us?
Written 13 July 2018
Hi Meryl, Rafting is an adventurous sport, so we can’t guarantee that you won’t get bumped, knocked or even come out of the raft on any whitewater rafting trip. That being said it is very rare that this happens and we go through thorough safety orientations prior to the trip and also in the raft we practice our paddle strokes. It does sound like the Horseshoe Canyon would be the fit for your family, as it is a half day trip with the optional cliff jump for the adventurous. Please let us know if you have any other questions, and we hope to see you out on the river soon!
Written 25 July 2018
Seema, thanks for your question. We don't have any coupons or discounts running currently. Sometimes we do before the season starts in February and March, but during our season which runs mid-May to mid-September, unfortunately, we don't have any discounts. We do have a Kids Raft Free promo for their birthday, the child must be 5-15 years old and raft on the Kananaskis river trip. The rafting trip is free if it is the child's birthday on the day that they come rafting. Please let us know if you have any other questions, and we hope to see you out on the river soon!
Written 31 August 2017
We are coming in early August, think the water will be up still?
Written 22 June 2017
Hi Bob, Spring run off happens in June for us, so high river levels happen at that time. Once we hit summer (July & August) our river levels are pretty consistent with fun hits and big splashes. In September our river tends to start to go down, and we stay open as long as the river is still fun. If you need any more information or to speak with one of our friendly staff please do not hesitate to contact us directly - we look forward to creating great memories with you!
Written 22 June 2017
Is there an age minimum to do this? Between two families, we have kids who range from 11-16yrs. Would there be an option suitable for them (parents would be along for the ride as well)? Also, could you accommodate a group of 11 (6 adults, 5 kids - ages above)?
Written 25 April 2017
Hi Aisling, We do have the Kananaskis River whitewater rafting trip that all your group can do, as it has a minimum age of 5 years old. This river offers class 2 - 3 rapids along with pristine landscapes of Kananaskis Provincial Park for a half day adventure. It is the ideal whitewater experience for families and we can accommodate large groups, so a group of 11 is fine. Extra time is taken on this trip to play the rapids, surfing waves and opportunities to swim in the river alongside the raft are there for any keen rafters. You will get wet! If you need any more information or to speak with one of our friendly staff please do not hesitate to contact us directly - we look forward to creating great memories with you and your family.
Written 25 April 2017
My partner and i want to book a trip with the most thrills we haven't been before but are up for a challenge. what would you recommend?
Written 26 March 2017
Hi Penny, Great to hear you want to come whitewater rafting with us. With regards to which river to raft on, as you haven’t rafted before but are looking for a thrill we would recommend that you should choose the Horseshoe Canyon Rafting trip, class 3-4 rapids with the optional cliff jump. You don't have to have rafted before to join this trip. This rafting trip has the meeting point of Nakoda Lakeside Lodge which is the closest rafting trip to both Calgary and Banff/Canmore. If you need any more information or to speak with one of our friendly staff please do not hesitate to contact us directly - we look forward to seeing you out on the river with us.
Written 26 March 2017
Hi, we are going to be in Banff National Park (July 4th - July 9th, 2017) and Jasper National Park (July 9th - July 14th, 2017) so we are trying to decide if we should go rafting in Banff National Park, which Chinook Rafting seems to have the best reviews and most reviews out of all of the places from both areas. Which river would you recommend going on? We have never white water rafted before, we are from Duluth, MN and are outdoor enthusiasts. From what I have read we would probably want level 2 of rapids if there are 3 levels? or level 3 if there are 5 levels of rapids? I see Chinook Rafting has 3 river options, which one would you recommend? We will be staying at Johnston Canyon Campground while we are in Banff National Park. Which one is closest to this campground? And which one is the best river to raft down for the skill level we are looking for?
Thanks in advance for any suggestions and comments!
Nicole
Written 14 March 2017
Hi Nicole, It looks like you have done your TripAdvisor research! Yes we do pride ourselves in ‘currently’ being number 1 on TripAdvisor for outdoor activities in Banff, as we have had lots of our wonderful guests recommend us. We always say with regards to which river to raft on, that it depends on your enthusiasm, and what level of thrill you are looking for. As you haven’t rafted before, and from what you have written we would recommend that you should choose either the Kananaskis River Rafting, class 2-3 rapids, or the Horseshoe Canyon Rafting, class 3-4 rapids with the optional cliff jump. These 2 rafting trips have the meeting point of Nakoda Lakeside Lodge and are the closest to the Johnson Canyon campground. It also depends if you are early morning people, as the Horseshoe Canyon meets in the morning, and the Kananaskis river rafting meets early afternoon. What we can guarantee is on both rivers you are going to get wet from head to toe! We would also recommend booking in advance, as July is super busy for us, and also as you are available mid-week, if your plans allow, pick a mid-week day. If you need any more information or to speak with one of our friendly staff please do not hesitate to contact us directly - we look forward to seeing you out rafting with us.
Written 14 March 2017
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*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.