Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about floating the Bow River with Horizon. Can't find your answer? Drop us a line.
Before you book
Can you float the Bow River in Canmore?
Yes. The Bow through Canmore is open to self-guided floats, and the run from the Canmore Public Boat Launch to the Trans-Canada bridge is the most accessible stretch in the valley — 4.5 km of moving water with Ha Ling and the Three Sisters above you the whole way. No guide, no licence, and no previous paddling experience required.
How long does the float take?
About an hour and fifteen minutes from launch to take-out at typical summer flows. It runs faster in June when the river is high with snowmelt, and slower by late August. With check-in, the safety briefing, and the shuttle back, plan on about two and a half hours door to door.
Do I need a permit or licence to raft the Bow River?
No permit is required for the Canmore stretch of the Bow. This section is outside Banff National Park, so there's no Parks Canada permit and no self-certification form. You do need the safety equipment Transport Canada requires on a non-motorized vessel — a fitted PFD for every person aboard, a buoyant heaving line, a bailer, and a sound signalling device. All of it comes with your raft.
Do I need a Parks Canada pass?
Not for the float. The put-in and take-out are both outside Banff National Park, so no park pass is needed to launch with us. You'll want one if you're driving into Banff or Lake Louise the same day.
Is this whitewater? How hard is it?
It's a float, not a whitewater trip. The Canmore stretch is moving flatwater with a few riffles — nothing technical, nothing that requires a paddling background. If you can sit in a raft and paddle occasionally to stay off the banks, you can do this run.
Do I need paddling experience?
No. Most of our guests have never been in a raft. You get a short safety briefing at the boat launch covering how to steer, what to do if someone goes in, and the two spots on the route worth paying attention to. After that the current does the work.
Is it safe for kids? What's the minimum age?
Kids are welcome from age 2, as long as they're at least 9 kg so we can fit them in an approved PFD properly — fit matters more than age. Every child gets a correctly sized life jacket at check-in. Families with young kids usually take the Six; it's the most stable boat in the fleet and there's floor space for a bag.
Do I need to know how to swim?
Swimming isn't required, but you should be comfortable in water. Everyone wears a PFD for the entire float. The Bow is glacier-fed and cold year-round, so if nobody in your group is a strong swimmer, take the larger raft — more stability, less chance of anyone finding out how cold it is.
Can I bring my dog?
Yes, dogs float free. Dogs do best in the Six or the Big One where there's floor space, and it's worth clipping a leash to the raft rather than holding it.
Can one or two people book?
Yes. Our smallest raft is the Two-Up, rated for two to four people, and a solo floater or a couple books that one. There's no single-person boat in the fleet — we don't rent kayaks or packrafts.
Getting there and back
Where do you launch, and where does the float end?
You launch at the Canmore Public Boat Launch on Rundle Drive at Bridge Road, and take out 4.5 km downstream at the public take-out on river right, just before the Trans-Canada Highway bridge. Both points are on the route map on the Float the Bow page.
Is the shuttle included?
Yes — the shuttle back is included in every rental, no add-on, no extra fee. Park at the boat launch, float down, and we'll run you back to your car from the take-out.
Where do I park?
There's paid parking at the Canmore Public Boat Launch, but we recommend walking to the boat launch from town if you can — it's an easy walk and you'll skip the lot entirely.
Do you pick up in Banff, Calgary, or from hotels?
No. Every float starts at the Canmore Public Boat Launch, about 25 minutes from Banff townsite and an hour from Calgary. If you're without a car, Roam Transit Route 12 (Grassi Lakes) runs between Banff and Canmore — get off at the Bow River Bridge North stop.
What time should I arrive?
Fifteen minutes before your launch time. That covers check-in, PFD fitting, and the briefing. We launch on schedule because the shuttle runs on a rotation.
What's the last launch of the day?
Our launches run from 10 am to 7 pm. Last launch is at 7 pm so you're off the water before dark.
Can we stop along the way?
Yes — there are gravel bars where people pull out for a break. Stay off private land and be back at the take-out before the shuttle stops running.
What if we float past the take-out?
Don't. The take-out is on river right just before the Trans-Canada bridge and it's the last easy exit — below it the river keeps going and you're a long way from your car with no shuttle. We'll show you exactly what to look for in the briefing.
Season and conditions
When is the rafting season on the Bow River?
May through October. Each end of that window is a different river: May and June run high, fast and very cold with snowmelt, July and August are the warm, steady months, and September and October give you the slowest water, the quietest river, and the best light of the year.
How cold is the water?
Cold. The Bow is glacier- and snowmelt-fed and stays cold through the whole season — this isn't a river you swim in. Most people stay dry the entire float. Dress for the air temperature and bring a layer.
What if it rains?
We float in the rain. Light rain on the Bow is fine and the river is quieter for it. We only cancel for lightning, unsafe river flow, or heavy wildfire smoke.
What if the river is too high or too low?
We don't launch when flow is unsafe. If we cancel for river conditions, you get a full refund or a free reschedule — your choice.
Gear and what's included
What's included in the rental?
Raft, paddles, a fitted PFD for every person, the required safety kit, inflation, and the shuttle back to your car. You show up and get on the water.
What should I wear and bring?
Shoes that can get wet and clothes you don't mind splashing. Bring sunscreen, water, a layer, and a towel and change of clothes for the car. Leave anything you'd be upset to lose over the side.
Can I bring a cooler?
Yes — coolers ride fine in the Six and the Big One. Soft-sided is easier to strap down and easier to carry at the take-out.
How do I keep my phone dry?
Waterproof phone cases and dry bags are available at check-in, or bring your own. At 75 minutes you're not out long, but the Bow does not give phones back.
Do you rent kayaks, paddleboards, or packrafts?
No — rafts only, in three sizes. The Two-Up covers solo floaters and couples.
Rules, safety, and the river
Do I need to sign a waiver?
Yes — everyone floating signs one, and a parent or guardian signs for anyone under 18. You can sign during booking so there's no paperwork at the launch.
What about whirling disease and clean-drain-dry?
Our rafts stay on this stretch of the Bow and are cleaned, drained and dried between uses. If you bring your own gear — boots, an inflatable, anything that's been in another waterbody — clean, drain and dry it first. Restrictions inside Banff, Yoho and Kootenay are stricter than they are here and they change year to year.
Can I still paddle in Banff National Park?
Only in some places. Parks Canada banned paddling and large inflatables at Lake Minnewanka, Bow Lake and Moraine Lake effective spring 2026 to slow the spread of whirling disease, and all Yoho and Kootenay waterbodies remain closed to watercraft. The Bow River downstream of Hector Lake is still open. Our run sits outside the park entirely, which is part of why it's the most dependable float in the valley right now.
Is there wildlife on the river?
Regularly — elk, osprey, eagles, and the occasional bear on the bank. Give animals room, stay in the raft, and don't beach near anything you'd rather watch from a distance.
Booking, money, and groups
How much does it cost?
Rentals start at $199 for the Two-Up, $249 for the Six, and $299 for the Big One. Shuttle is included in every rental.
Do I need to book in advance?
Yes, especially July and August weekends.
Can I change or cancel my booking?
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before your launch time. If we cancel for weather or unsafe river conditions, you get a full refund or a free reschedule to any open date — your choice.
Do you do large groups, corporate, or stagettes?
Yes. The Big One takes up to 10, and above that we run multiple rafts. Group bookings get custom raft allocation, a dedicated coordinator, and shuttle for everyone. Request a quote.