Last updated: September 21, 2023
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It’s June 2014, and we have a few days off, so we go on a short road trip, with no destination in mind. From Calgary, we head west on Highway #1 (Trans Canada Highway), that leads us through a very small part of the Rocky Mountains, then into British Columbia.
After a while, we’re thankful to see Golden appearing on the horizon. After driving around this town for a bit, we decide to spend the night.
Golden is inside the Columbia Valley in southeastern BC. It’s surrounded by the Rocky and Purcell Mountains, and is close to six national parks (Yoho National Park, Kootenay National Park, Banff National Park, Glacier National Park, Jasper National Park, and Mount Revelstoke National Park).
Besides, two rivers are located in Golden, the Kicking Horse River and Columbia River. Many tourists travel on the Trans Canada Highway every year, so Golden is a popular stop. That’s why the local economy is highly dependent on tourism.
We really want to go camping this summer, so we’re staying at the Golden Municipal Campground & RV Park (1411 9th Street S, Golden, BC V0A 1H0). It has 70 campsites (both serviced and unserviced tent sites, and rates start at C$ 35 per night. We’re lucky to find a spot right next to the Kicking Horse River, and are amazed by its turquoise colour.
This campground is perfect for us, as it’s clean and well maintained, and offers a bunch of amenities, like a convenience store, laundromat, free WiFi, showers, and a firepit at each site (fire wood can be bought at C$ 12 per bundle).
Besides, it’s only minutes away from downtown Golden, an outdoor swimming pool, playground, as well as the Golden Rotary Trails, which start at the back of the campground, and are popular with hikers and cyclists.
The first thing I do after arrival is going for a walk on the pretty path by the river, to recharge from the drive!
Several trains go by on the opposite side of the river quite often, so that’s fun to watch, too. Tonight we cook our own dinner, instead of eating at a restaurant, but plan to do that next time.
If you’re sensitive to train noise at night, you might want to book a campsite further away from the river and/or bring earplugs.
The pathway next to the mighty Kicking Horse River and our tent site.
The next day we don’t do much, except for driving around Golden a bit more, then head back home. Still, this town left a great first impression on us, so we can’t wait to see more of it in the future!
In October 2016, we travel around Alberta and BC again, and my companions want to see Golden. How exciting! Of course, the weather is a lot chillier now, so this time, we stay at Le Beausoleil Bed and Breakfast (1403 Deer Ridge Road, Golden BC V0A 1H1) for a few nights. It’s within a peaceful residential area, but just a short drive from the city centre and other attractions.
Heather and Bob Munro, the kind owners and our hosts, meet us at check-in, and the warm and friendly atmosphere makes us feel right at home. We also love that natural wood and stones were used to build this place, as it makes it even cozier than it already is.
Guests can choose between four large bedrooms, and there are private bathrooms, a guest lounge with TV and library, free WiFi, a ski and sport locker for storing equipment, an outdoor hot tub, and a beautiful garden area with a patio, deck, and walking path.
Le Beausoleil B&B from the outside, Purcell Room, and guest lounge. Photo 2 and 3 are courtesy of Le Beausoleil B&B.
A selection of tasty homemade breakfast food (bread, bagels, muffins, jam, waffles, etc.) is waiting for us each morning inside the two guest service areas. No single use dishes and cutlery are used, so that’s another bonus!
Since this residence is on a hill, it offers a great view of the Purcell Mountains and the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, and sometimes, local wildlife (e.g. eagles, bears, mountain sheep, deer, and coyotes) likes to hang out nearby, depending on the season.
Garden area, mountain sheep enjoying the nice weather, and a view of the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort in winter, from the back of the facility. Photos 2 and 3 are courtesy of Le Beausoleil B&B.
Unfortunately, as of June 2023, the lovely Le Beausoleil B&B is closed.
It’s a beautiful fall day, so we’re heading out to explore some of Golden’s downtown area right after. I’m excited to introduce my companions to the Kicking Horse River, which hasn’t changed at all since our last visit, and they love it just as much!
So we go on a long walk on the path next to the river and back, and walk across the Kicking Horse Pedestrian Bridge (8th Avenue N, Golden BC). It’s 46 meters (150 ft) long, and was completed in 2001. As per Tourism Golden, it is “the longest freestanding timber frame bridge in Canada”.
The Kicking Horse River and Kicking Horse Pedestrian Bridge.
We keep strolling around downtown Golden for a bit, when suddenly, a bright yellow and red coloured building grabs our attention: The Bacchus Bookstore & Café (409 9 Avenue N, Golden, BC V0A 1H0).
This quirky independent business has been at its current location for about 20 years, and is co-owned by Katie Mitzel and Petra Musick, who have many years of experience in professional cooking and catering.
Bacchus Bookstore & Café from the outside, partial sitting and books area, and some gift items. All are photo courtesy of Bacchus Bookstore & Café.
The building has two floors, where new and used books of numerous fiction and non-fiction genres, but also journals, maps, and cards can be found!
They also have many handmade gift items, like jewelry, bags, t-shirts, mugs, paintings by local artists on the walls, and even chocolate from Mexico for sale! But now it’s “refueling time”, so we walk up the creaky stairs, where their café area is located.
Bacchus Bookstore & Café offers a variety of homemade sweet and savory foods for breakfast and lunch (e.g. muffins, cinnamon rolls, cookies, sandwiches, soups, and Buddha bowls), and is eager to use as many local ingredients as possible.
Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available, too. For drinks, you can choose from coffee (by The Banff Roasting Company) and tea specialties (by The Banff Tea Company), smoothies, and other cold drinks.
My companions are in the mood for a café latte, and I’m having a berry smoothie, and all are super tasty! We’re happy to relax and enjoy our drinks while sitting at one of the tables, which gives this place a very cozy and “no rush” vibe.
“Coarse Salt and Caramel Cinnamon Rolls” and “Mama’s Turkey Soup and Garlic Bread”, both photo courtesy of Bacchus Bookstore & Café.
It’s too bad that it’s cold outside, so we cannot spend time in their outside sitting area, but it’s only open during summer months anyway.
Bacchus Bookstore & Café is open Monday-Saturday from 9-5 pm and 10-4 pm on Sundays.
Later that day, we have burgers for dinner at a restaurant in downtown Golden. We much appreciate the tasty food and friendly service, but unfortunately don’t remember the restaurant’s name. 🙁
In general, Golden offers a variety of cuisines for restaurants, such as North American, Indian, Japanese, Mexican, Chinese, and Italian, as well as pubs and bars, cafés, and fast food places (e.g. Mc Donald’s, A&W, and Subway).
Many among these have vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options, and welcome families with children. More details can be found on TripAdvisor or Tourism Golden’s website.
Although we only saw a very small part of Golden, we had a blast, and can’t wait to come back! This gorgeous little mountain town is a wonderland for adventure seekers and outdoor enthusiasts, no matter what time of the year you visit.
So here are a few ideas for spring, summer, and fall, which sound like lots of fun:
Golden offers numerous water and land activities to locals and tourists. For example, there’s kayaking and canoeing on the Kicking Horse River and Columbia River, and on lakes in the nearby backcountry, like Emerald Lake inside Yoho National Park. These bodies of water, same as Blaeberry River, Kinbasket Lake, and Cedar Lake, are great for stand up paddle boarding as well.
Nearby national parks (Yoho, Glacier, and Kootenay National Park) look like a Hiker’s paradise for all abilities. The Kicking Horse Bike Park (accessible by gondola from late June to early October) and Mount 7 are mountain biking hotspots, especially if you’re into downhill riding!
Golden is famous for (whitewater) rafting as well, on the Kicking Horse River, Columbia River, and Blaeberry River. Yoho National Park and the Northwest Ridge of Mt. Sir McDonald, 80 west of Golden, “one of the three classic 50 climbs in North America”, according to Tourism Golden, are great spots for climbing and mountaineering.
Of course, there are a lot more things to do, like sightseeing, fishing, waterfall viewing, horseback riding, golfing, skydiving, and last but not least, lots of shopping opportunities (like the Golden Farmers’ Market from late May to early October)!
If you’re into indoor climbing and bouldering, check out the Dogtooth Climbing Gym and Gear Store, which is open all year, and all ages and abilities are welcome. Depending on the activity, tour packages, rentals or lessons can also be booked with local operators all year.
The Golden Visitor Centre (1000 Trans Canada Highway, Golden, BC V0A 1H1) is open daily from 9 am to 5 pm until September.
The staff is happy to give you Golden travel guides and maps, and hiking and biking trail maps, if you wish. The visitor center has free WIFI, picnic tables, a dog run, sani dump stations, charging stations for electric cars, and you can buy Parks Canada passes and Kicking Horse Resort passes.
Here’s a video about fun summer activities in and around Golden:
If you’re driving, Golden is about 3 hours west of Calgary, and 7.5 hours east of Vancouver. The Rider Express bus offers transportation from/to Vancouver (11 hours) and and Calgary (4 hours) as well.
The closest airport is Cranbrook Rockies International Airport (YXC), and flights from/to Calgary are available.
For visiting Yoho and other nearby national parks, it’s recommended to buy a Discovery Pass, which allows unlimited entry to all national parks of Canada for one year. Please see Parks Canada’s website for more information.
So whether you’re into spending time outdoors and being adventurous, or looking for a relaxing getaway, I suggest visiting his cute little mountain town in the future!
Please feel free to check out my other posts about destinations in BC as well:
How to Spend a Weekend in Kelowna, BC
Writing and traveling have been my passions for 25+ years, so I launched this travel blog in May 2020. I love writing travel guides about amazing destinations and I'm passionate about music tourism and animal-friendly and sustainable travel.
So far, I've been to 19 countries on four continents, and Japan and Iceland were my favourites!
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Im very proud: THIS WROTE MY DAUGHTER ?
Thanks Dad ??
Golden is a lovely town. We based ourselves there for 7 nights during a rockies road trip. It’s very charming and Canada day there is wonderful. A lot going on but away from the madness of Banff.
Yes, it’s an awesome place to visit, glad you had a great time! I agree, Banff is way too crowded .. So I prefer these smaller, less touristy towns, and hopefully we’ll get to see more of it next time 🙂