Kicking Horse River, River in Yoho National Park, Canada
Kicking Horse River is a mountain river in the Canadian Rockies that begins at Wapta Lake and flows west to join the Columbia River near Golden, British Columbia. It runs through Yoho National Park, cutting between steep valley walls along much of its course.
The river was named in 1858 after explorer James Hector of the Palliser Expedition was kicked by a packhorse and briefly believed to be dead by his companions. The valley it runs through was later used as a route for the Canadian Pacific Railway, which crossed the mountains in the 1880s.
The river owes its name to a moment in the 19th century that people in the region still retell: a packhorse kicked explorer James Hector so hard that his companions thought he was dead. That story has become part of the local identity and is often shared when visitors ask about the name.
The river is best visited from late spring to early fall, when trails along its banks are open and water activities are possible. Some sections are for experienced paddlers only, so it is worth checking the conditions of each stretch before heading out.
Wapta Falls, located along the river, is known more for its width of about 500 feet (150 meters) than for its height, making it one of the widest waterfalls in the Canadian Rockies. Few visitors realize this before arriving, as most expect a tall drop rather than a wide curtain of water.
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