Ranked in the top 12 Canadian small towns by Travel and Leisure, Golden is the ultimate playground for British Columbia (and Canada). The city was built at the confluence of Columbia and Kicking Horse Rivers, surrounded by the Purcells and the Rocky Mountains. Golden neighbours several of Canada’s National Parks: Banff Glacier, Jasper, Kootenay, Mount Revelstoke and Yoho are all nearby.
Golden is not as busy as Banff, and makes a great base for exploring hiking trails, world-class skiing, waterfalls, lakes and many heritage sites. With its 3,700 inhabitants, it has a friendly small town atmosphere with great restaurants, cool shops, cycle paths, hiking trails and treading horses along the river. It is the perfect place to create a base for further exploration of the area.
This humble little town is home to what feels like a down-to-earth kind of place, boasting quaint cafes, antique shops, a local art gallery and a handful of cafés and restaurants where you can relax and unwind with delicious food and drinks. You will hit the jackpot with the perfect balance of tourism and everyday life in this city.
On the doorstep of Golden, British Columbia are countless winter activities under Yoho Glacier, Kootenay, Banff, Mount Revelstoke and Jasper National Park, including an ice rink, ice fishing, dog sledding, skiing and ice climbing. Add to that the largest concentration of Backcountry Lodges in Canada, hundreds of kilometers of groomed trails for snowmobiling and cross-country skiing and it’s clear that this is the place to be.
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is a world class place for skiing and snowboarding. Known as the Canada Champagne Powder Capital, it also offers ski-in-ski-out accommodations that make it easy to sleep, eat and ski without leaving the resort. You can stay on the ski jump in the ski resort, or you can stay in the town of Golden.
You won’t want to miss a visit to the recently opened Golden Skybridge featuring the highest suspension bridge in the country. This connects with another suspension bridge via a tree lined trail. You will enjoy 360 degree vistas of the surrounding mountains and a view of a 61-metre waterfall.
The city offers several spots where you can rent an inflatable paddle board and explore the mountains from a different perspective.
Wetland Adventures offers a variety of wildlife watching opportunities along the Columbia River, from canoes and stand-up paddle boards to electric pontoons, as long as you stay calm.
Dining Recommendations
The Eagle’s Eye restaurant at Kicking Horse Resort offers magnificent mountain views, and the Island Restaurant inside a rustic 2-storey log cabin is worth checking out after a day of exploring the hills.
Eleven22 is one of the 50 best restaurants in Canada (hence the name) Its address on 10th Avenue South is on 10 acres in Golden.
Where to Stay in Golden
The city of Golden flies under the radar and stays away from the crowds and resulting high accommodation prices. It offers chain hotels and motels at reasonable prices. You can stay on the ski slopes of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort or stay in the town itself. Golden has several rural options, including home lodges and B&Bs and luxury cabins.
The Rondo Motel, Best Western or Deer Ridge B&B are good options for a place to stay in the center of Golden.
