Oliver EvansWhite water rafting is a fun and exhilarating activity that will make you paddle harder than ever. The rapids are unpredictable yet bring a sense of excitement every time you feel the raft jumping on the water.
So, if you’re looking for strong rapids or just want to experience beginner-friendly currents, we’ve got something for you. We handpicked the best white water rafting tours you can do in and around Vancouver so you can finally tick it off your bucket list!
Canadian Outback Rafting
– Media credit: outbackrafting
Website: https://canadianoutbackrafting.com/
Address: 12825 Squamish Valley Rd, Squamish, BC V0N 1H0, Canada
Office Hours:
- Monday – Saturday: 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM
- Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Contact Details:
- 1 (866) 565-8735
- [email protected]
Average Rates: $114.99 – $244.99 per person (multi-day trips can go up to $3,999 per person)
Canadian Outback Rating is a staple in Vancouver white water rafting, considering they’ve been in the business since 1992. Although they’re located in Squamish, their Wet & Wild Elaho Exhilarator activity offers a Vancouver departure.
Their white water rafting activity is available for kids as young as 13 and is available for beginners without prior rafting experience. Expect to paddle Class 3 to 4 rapids at Elaho River and Squamish River for a total outdoor adventure!
Their rafting trips are available for groups of more than eight and run from May to September. You can also book a multi-day trip, which is perfect for a summer vacation!
| Pro Tips: Don’t forget to book a Vancouver departure available at selected hotels. If not, you’ll have to drive to Squamish or Whistler, which will take a little less than an hour. Wake up early because their Vancouver departures aren’t available from 1:00 PM onwards. Also, it’s best to book early since this is subject to availability. |
Squamish Rafting Company
– Media credit: squamishrafting
Website: https://squamish-rafting.com/
Address: 12825 Squamish Valley Rd, Brackendale, BC V0N 1H0, Canada
Office Hours: Monday – Sunday: 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Contact Details:
- 1 (604) 898 2363
- 1 (866) 565 8735 (Toll-free)
Rates: $114.99 – $244.99 per person
Starting in April and continuing up to September, Squamish Rafting Company is an ideal day trip activity for the whole family. It’s available for adults and kids aged 13 with a minimum weight of 90 lbs.
They offer departure and return trips for Vancouver residents, eliminating the hassle of driving to reach Elaho River. Here, you need to get ready for an exhilarating ride as you’ll encounter big splashes with Class 3 and 4 rapids.
During your whole white water rafting adventure, you’ll also encounter stunning waterfalls, rainforests, and mountains. It’s a picture-perfect activity to add to your vacation!
| Pro Tip: If you want to document your adventure but don’t have the gear for it, Squamish Rafting Company has photographers who will capture your rafting skills. Always check their cancellation policy because it varies depending on the number of guests. If you have 11 or more people, you need to cancel at least 7 days before your schedule to get the full refund. |
Chilliwack River Rafting
– Media credit: chilliwackriverrafting
Website: https://www.chilliwackriverrafting.com/
Address: 49704 Chilliwack Lake Rd, Chilliwack, BC V4Z 1A7, Canada
Contact Details:
- 1 (800) 410-7238
- [email protected]
Rates: $129 – $159 + tax per person
Just an hour’s drive from Vancouver, Chilliwack River Rafting is the place to go if you’re looking for a full service. If you book a day trip, the staff will provide you with a river snack, lunch buffet, and day use of Chilliwack Rafting Resort.
During the heart-racing white water rafting, you’ll encounter gorgeous views of Cascade Mountain. If you manage to look to your sides, you’ll even see wildlife, like beautiful birds and adorable otters.
They have two day trips available during their seasonal operations: in the morning and afternoon. Plus, you can do an overnight trip for the whole family—just bring your camping gear!
| Pro Tip: If you don’t want to drive to Chilliwack, you can take Rider Express, which departs from 1150 Station Street in Vancouver. You can also ride the Ebus from the same location and enter the main entrance of Pacific Station. In case you’re going via Rider Express and Ebus, remember to book in advance since they get busy on weekends. There’s also a two-day advance booking requirement for return trips. |
Wedge Rafting by The Adventure Group
– Media credit: tagwhistler
Website: https://tagwhistler.com/activities/whitewater-rafting/
Address: Sixteen Mile Creek Forest Service Rd, Whistler, BC V0N 1B8, Canada
Office Hours: Monday – Sunday: 8:00 AM – 11:00 PM
Contact Details:
- 1 (855) 824-9955
- [email protected]
Rates: $79.99 – $119.99 (subject to change)
It’s time to brave the waters of Green River, just a short drive from Vancouver. This wedge rafting activity is open to kids aged ten and up with a minimum weight of 90 lbs.
Paddle hard as you’ll hit Class 2 and 3 rapids. But there are some sections where you’ll feel the waves become bigger and stronger but still manageable with the help of your tour guide.
Even on a nice warm day, you can encounter some strong rapids—so just be prepared for that, especially if you have kids. But these water levels are still manageable despite being slightly challenging.
| Pro Tip: If you’re up for a whole day of adventure, you can purchase a TAG Park Pass to get unlimited access to all activities. It’s perfect for an outdoor adventure! |
REO Rafting
– Media credit: reorafting
Website: https://www.reorafting.com/
Address: 61755 Nahatlatch Forest Service Rd, Boston Bar, BC V0K 1C0, Canada
Office Hours: Monday – Sunday: 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Contact Details:
- 1 (800) 736-7238
- [email protected]
Rates: $159 – $819
One of the best locations for white water rafting in BC is the Nahatlatch River. It’s a two-and-a-half drive from Vancouver, but it’s so worth it once you see the place, whether you’re braving the rapids for the first time or not!
REO Rafting is open from May to September, and around early spring, you can expect more gentle water flows. Even kids as young as ten can join in on this adrenaline-pumping adventure!
While you can take a quick day trip, there’s also a combination of glamping and rafting with one or two-night options to fully enjoy your adventure-packed getaway. Plus, your trip comes with a free lunch!
| Pro Tip: If you book a trip on a weekday, you get to save 10% off per guest. There are also special rates for groups, so we suggest contacting them first if you’re coming with the whole family. If you’re going on a family trip, we recommend checking out their Club REO Family Packages to get the most out of your short vacation. There are additional activities, complimentary meals, campfires, and more! |
Kumsheen Rafting
– Media credit: kumsheenrafting
Website: https://kumsheen.com/
Address: 1345 BC-1, Lytton, BC V0K 1Z0, Canada
Contact Details:
- (250) 455-2296
- 1 (800) 663-6667 (Toll-free)
- [email protected]
Rates: $129 – $449
Kumsheen Rafting is quite far from Vancouver but offers incredible packages for all skill levels. It’ll take over three hours of driving via the Trans-Canada Highway, but once you get there, you’ll surely enjoy paddling along the incredible rapids.
The Thompson River full-day tour is for thrillseekers because you’ll go through 40 sets of rapids, encountering Class 3 and 4. You’ll paddle 40 km of the river, which will take roughly six hours.
Kids as young as 12 can join in as long as they weigh 90 lbs. Plus, groups of eight to 12 can rent a single raft, which is ideal to bring in the whole family or all your friends!
| Pro Tip: Better check their schedules because not all activities are available every day. Their Thompson River Paddle activity is only offered on Sunday, Monday, Friday, and Saturday. |
Riverside Adventures
– Media credit: riverside_adventures
Website: https://www.wellsgrayrafting.ca/
Address: 42 Young Rd, Clearwater, BC V0E 1N2, Canada
Office Hours: Monday – Sunday: 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM
Contact Details:
- (250) 318-5223
- [email protected]
Rates: $110 – $150
White water rafting on Clearwater River means driving for hours just to get the best rapids and views. Riverside Adventures is one of the services offering day trips that Vancouverites can truly enjoy that will make the road trip worth it in the end!
Here, you will experience three hours of fun and thrilling white water rafting on a UNESCO World Heritage Site—told you the drive will be worth it! Also, the waters around May to July will have strong currents, perfect for daredevils.
If you’re coming with kids, you better book around the middle of July to September for calmer waters. There are still going to be rapids, but the waters won’t be too high and too strong for little ones.
| Pro Tip: This is a good stop for a family road trip. If you have an RV, you can park at their two-acre parking area—but note that this isn’t serviced. If you can’t drive to their meeting area, they offer pickups in Clearwater’s Greyhound bus depot and other selected areas. Just remember to give them a heads-up so they can schedule it. |
Apex Rafting
– Media credit: apexraftcompany
Website: https://apexrafting.com/
Address: 112 1 St E, Revelstoke, BC V0E 2S0, Canada
Office Hours: Monday – Sunday: 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM
Contact Details:
- +1 (250) 837-6376 (Canada and US)
- +1 (888) 232-6666 (Toll-free)
- [email protected]
Rates: $110 – $135
Apex Rafting in Revelstoke requires a bit of a distance from Vancouver, but trust us when we say it’s worth sitting in the car. While braving the waters of the Columbia River or Illecillewaet River, you can enjoy the stunning views of the mountains.
Your muscles will go through four hours of paddling Class 2 and 3 rapids. Expect some huge waves and pushy waters that will make paddling a bit more challenging–perfect for adrenaline junkies!
During spring, you’ll encounter a couple of Class 4 rapids since the snow has melted off to the rivers. But there will be some seasons of low water, which is the perfect time for families with young kids because the currents will be calmer.
| Pro Tip: If you’re bringing kids, it’s best to contact them first to check for low flows if you want to avoid Class 4 rapids. For safety, they don’t allow kids (aged 12 and under) and youth (aged 13 to 16) during high water levels. |
Interior Whitewater Expeditions
– Media credit: interior_whitewater_rafting
Website: https://www.interiorwhitewater.com/
Address: 73 Old North Thompson Highway Rd W, Clearwater, BC V0E 1N2, Canada
Office Hours: Monday – Sunday: 8:30 AM – 7:00 PM
Contact Details:
- (250) 674-3727
- 1 (800) 661-7238 (Toll-free in Canada only)
- [email protected]
Rates: $109 – $2,200 per person
A mainstay in BC’s whitewater rafting world is Interior Whitewater Expeditions, a business that has been around since 1983. Sure, it’s a little journey away, but this is where you’ll find a bunch of activities for all skill levels jam-packed with adventure.
Their Catch A Wave activity is kid-friendly and open to ages seven and up. Here, you and your children will have fun paddling the Class 1 and 2 rapids and it even includes a hike to gorgeous waterfalls.
But if you’re up for an adult-only short vacation, the 3-day rafting tour will take you to Clearwater River, which is only accessible via helicopter. Talk about rafting in style!
| Pro Tip: If you’re looking for a multi-day trip, you can contact them to arrange the best itinerary suited for you and your group. It’s advisable to do this if you’re travelling with kids since they aren’t allowed in high rapid levels. |
Wild Water Adventures
– Media credit: raftwildwater
Website: https://wildwater.com/
Address: 2750 Beaverfoot Rd, Golden, BC V0A 1H0, Canada (River Base)
Office Hours: Monday – Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Contact Details:
- (403) 522-2211
- 1 (888) 647-6444 (Toll-free)
Rates: $87 – $229 per person
If you want to experience other rapids besides the usual rivers in Vancouver, you can bet on Wild Water Adventures to take you on a thrilling journey. You can choose from four different packages for any skill level and age.
For a beginner-friendly white water rafting experience, you can opt for the Gentle Trip activity with Class 1 to 3 rapids. Kids 8 and up are allowed, and the activity will last for three hours.
Meanwhile, you can choose a 5-hour rafting adventure, where you’ll experience Class 2, 3, and 4 rapids with a lot of waves. Get yourself ready to find challenging waves that will leave your muscles aching the next day.
| Pro Tip: If you want to remember this thrilling activity, don’t forget to tick the Raft Photos box for an additional $37. Don’t worry, their photos will be amazing! |
| White Water Rafting Safety Tips Wear proper attire. Wear a swimsuit, wet suit, and water shoes to ensure you’re equipped for the water. Don’t forget to wear your helmet. You’ll come across strong rapids, rocks, branches, logs, and other objects in the water that you may not notice while paddling. Wear your life jacket. White water rafting will have strong rapids, and you need to make sure you stay afloat in case you fall out of the raft. Bring sunscreen, towels, and dry clothes. Rafting will usually take hours, so you need protection from the sun and have dry clothes at the ready once the activity is done. Don’t bring valuable items during the rafting trip as they might get lost. Most tours will have lockers to store your bags. Listen to your guide or instructor. They know exactly how to navigate the rapids and are experts in the field, so better listen up and remember all their instructions. |
