Living in Golden means having no shortage of opportunities to get outside. Whether it’s hiking, mountain biking, paddling, climbing or rafting, adventure has become part of everyday life for many residents and visitors alike. Now, another outdoor activity is beginning to make its mark in the Columbia Valley. Although Western Canyoning Collective has operated in Western Canada for several years, guided tours in Golden only began last summer.
For those unfamiliar with the sport, canyoning combines elements of hiking, climbing and water sports into one experience. Participants travel through narrow canyons by hiking, rappelling down waterfalls, crossing pools and, depending on the features of the canyon, navigating jumps, natural water slides, zip lines and downclimbs.
“It can be a totally beginner-friendly activity, but it can also be a very technical sport,” said Operations Manager Irene Hervas. “You meet your guide, we go through the safety briefing, get everyone into wetsuits and hike up to the canyon. We teach everyone how to rappel before they start, and then they make their way through the canyon.”
The Golden tour takes approximately four to five hours from start to finish and includes several rappels, with the tallest reaching about 18 metres. Hervas describes it as an accessible introduction to the sport for those who enjoy spending time outdoors.
“Ideal participants are people who are somewhat active,” she said. “Maybe they like hiking, biking or climbing and want to experience something different.”
Although the company markets the experience as beginner-friendly, Irene said that doesn’t mean the tour is suitable for everyone.
“I think sometimes people read ‘beginner-friendly’ and think anyone can do it,” she said. “It’s still an adventure activity. You need to be comfortable hiking, and you can’t be extremely afraid of heights.”
The company currently offers tours in Golden, Canmore, Abraham Lake, Kelowna and Vancouver Island. Despite operating in several locations, Irene says Western Canyoning Collective remains a small business.
“People see the different locations and think we’re this big corporation, but we’re really a small company,” she said.
Western Canyoning Adventure, which operates tours in Golden, Abraham Lake and Canmore, is owned by Guillaume Coupier and a second owner. The company’s Kelowna and Vancouver Island operations are run under Western Canyoning Adventure, while Banff Canyoning operates separately under Guillaume’s ownership.
The company’s roots also have a stronger connection to Golden than many people may realize.
According to founder Guillaume Coupier, the idea for the business actually began in Golden in 2017 after he discovered the area’s canyons and envisioned building the company’s main base here. However, many of the area’s canyon access points are located on private land, and despite repeated attempts, he was unable to secure permission from landowners.
“They thought he was crazy for wanting to rappel on waterfalls,” Irene explained with a laugh.
Unable to establish access locally, Guillaume shifted the company’s early operations to Abraham Lake, where obtaining access was easier. Now, nearly a decade later, the company has returned to the community where the original vision began.
Today, the Golden operation is run by locals. Hervas and the guides leading tours in the area all call Golden home, and Hervas is a graduate of the Adventure Tourism Business Operations program at the College of the Rockies.
The company also hopes to continue growing its local presence by hiring and training more Golden residents while working more closely with the college in the future.
“We want more people to be able to enjoy a sport that we actually enjoy this much so people understand why we enjoy it,” Hervas said.
That passion extends beyond growing the business. Hervas says one of the company’s goals is making canyoning more accessible to locals.
Adventure tourism has become increasingly expensive in many mountain communities, something the company hopes to avoid as it expands.
While the company doesn’t currently offer a reduced-cost local program, Hervas says it’s something they hope to explore in the future.
“We want people that can’t afford a $300 tour to be able to try stuff,” she said. “We’re trying to work on programs where locals can come at a reduced price. We absolutely think lower-income families deserve to do things too.”
As the business continues establishing itself in Golden, Hervas hopes residents will see it as another opportunity to experience the outdoors from a different perspective.
“A canyon is generally a place that, unless you have certain techniques, you’re not going to be able to reach,” she said. “Canyoning gives people access to places they otherwise wouldn’t be able to experience.”
For a community already known for embracing outdoor adventure, Western Canyoning Collective hopes canyoning becomes one more way for both locals and visitors to discover the landscapes surrounding Golden.
To book a tour or learn more about the experience, visit Banffcanyoning.ca or check out @Goldencanyoning on Instagram.
