Rafting

Family float trips on the Bow River just below Banff are popular 2-hour diversions, available from Canadian Rockies Rafting Company (tel. 877/226-7625 or 403/678-6535; www.rafting.ca). Trips are C$42 (US$34) for adults and C$30 (US$24) for children 6 to 16, with free pickup at Banff and Canmore hotels. Longer, more challenging trips on area rivers are also available.

For serious white water, the closest option is the Kicking Horse River, past Lake Louise just over the Continental Divide near Field, British Columbia. Hydra River Guides (tel. 800/644-8888 or 403/762-4554; www.raftbanff.com) offers transport from Banff and Lake Louise (an extra C$15/US$12), then a 2 1/2-hour run down the Kicking Horse through Class IV rapids. Trips go for C$90 (US$72), which includes gear and barbecue lunch.