Chances are if you are traveling through the area with your family, you are looking for kid-friendly things to do in Golden BC. At first glance it might seem like Golden is an adventure town just for high-adrenaline junkies. While that is somewhat true, there are also lots of lesser known and easy going things to do here too.

There are loads of kid-friendly things to do here, this list was created for families with young kids in mind. Here is your local's guide of things to do here in Golden BC.

While planning your trip to Golden BC, make sure to check out Tourism Golden's event calendar and suggested itineraries here too.

RESOURCES: Tourism Golden / The Golden Visitor Center

Things To Do with Kids in Golden BC:

The Golden Swimming Pool | We have an old-school outdoor swimming pool here that is a favourite spot among locals. There is a six-lane lap pool, a small kiddie pool, showers and change rooms. Open only during summer months, make sure to check out their schedule for public swimming times.

Gushers Spray Park | Located right beside the Golden Swimming Pool, the spray park is a popular place to visit on hot Summer day in Golden BC. There is a shaded area to relax, room for kids to run around, and usually lots of other families to meet. Pack a lunch and enjoy an afternoon here.

Centennial Arena | If you are looking for winter things to do in Golden with kids, be sure to stop in at our local indoor skating rink. Skating a few laps around the ice is fun for both adults and kids.

Reflection Lake | Depending on what time of year you visit Golden BC, Reflection Lake provides great kid-friendly things to do. During the Summer months, bring a pair of binoculars to watch the ducks, swans, and other wildlife on the lake from the gazebo. During the Winter, bring a shovel and enjoy outdoor pond skating.

Note: this is a wildlife sanctuary, not a swimming lake

Cedar Lake | This is a nice CSRD recreation site 15 minutes from Golden toward Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. This is a great place to camp or to enjoy an afternoon on the beach. Cedar Lake is great for swimming and you can bring floaties, paddle boards, and small canoes. In 2019 a great dock was installed in the lake that stretches over the marsh, which makes for even better swimming.

Local Parks | There are lots of parks and green spaces around Golden for families to enjoy. There are parks with playgrounds, the Spirit Square, Keith King Memorial Park, and Cedar Lake [listed above] to name a few.

Hockey Games | Going to watch a local Golden Rockets hockey game is a great way to spend a winter evening in Golden. There is a concession with snacks, stadium seating, a lobby and heaters.

Farmers Market | The Golden locals love to visit our weekly Farmer's Markets. You and the kids can stroll through the market to shop local artisans, produce, canned goods and baked goods. There is usually live music and coffee + food trucks there so you can enjoy the afternoon.

Summer Kicks | During the Summer months, Kicking Horse Culture hosts Summer Kicks live music events every week in the Spirit Square. They set up stadium seating and there is small dancing spot that is always full of kids.

The Outpost Lodge | You know how in Canada there are iconic large objects along the highways? Well, Golden is home to the worlds largest paddle. Throughout the year the Outpost Lodge also hosts occasional special events such as a Fall Faire and Corn Maze.

Kicking Horse Movies + Ice Cream | The best place to get ice cream in Golden BC is at Kicking Horse Movies. They have a huge variety of options including BC's famous D Dutchmen hard ice cream, soft serve, twisters and screamers. You can even enjoy their patio by the river.

Alley Cat Bowling | Our local bowling alley has ten lanes, lights, and a concession. A great place for adults and kids.

Mini Golf | Golden's famous golf course recently added a mini-golf course. I have been numerous times and can safely say it's really fun for adults too. They have a well-thought-out mini-golf sequence that will test your skills and patience in a really fun way.

The Pump Track | Built in 2012, but redone and paved in 2020, the pump track is always a great hang out spot. Kids can run, bike, blade, or scoot the track. Everyone has fun while also mastering their skills.

Emerald Lake | A short 45-minute drive from Golden, Emerald Lake is definitely worth visiting. While there you can stop in the lodge for lunch or hot chocolate, walk around the lake, cross-country ski in the winter, or rent a canoe in the Summer. There is lovely little gift shop to check out too.

Moraine Lake + Louise | A must see destination in the area, Moraine Lake and Lake Louise are turquoise glacial lakes located in Banff National Park (50 minutes from Golden). Rent a canoe, take a small hike, or just go for the view.

Radium Hot Springs | This is one of our family's favourite activities. The Radium Hot Springs are a one-hour drive South of Golden. A soak in the natural hot springs and the view make the trip totally worth it. Stop along the highway at Beeland Market or Twig and Berry for great little shops and snacks on the way.

Invermere Lake | You could potentially combine this trip with Radium Hot Springs. Invermere Lake is 1.5 hours South of Golden, following the same highway. You can visit this lake in the Winter for some of the best pond ice skating around, or drive down in the Summer to cool off at one of the beaches.

The Wolf Center | Visit and walk with a full pack of wolves at the Northern Lights Wolf Center. Learn about the wolf ambassadors and howl along with the pack.

The Buffalo Ranch | Go meet a heard of buffalo and learn about these amazing, huge creatures. The Rocky Mountain Buffalo Ranch offers tours, accommodation, and a very cool experience.

Grizzly Bear Refuge | Visit the largest enclosed grizzly bear habitat in the world at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. Their grizzly bear refuge began after the ski hill adopted two orphaned cubs. Now our resident grizzly bear Boo helps them do research and provide awareness about bears.

The Rotary Trail | Walk or bike all the way around Golden on the Rotary Trails. There are 7km of trail networks to help you explore the town.

The Edelweiss Slew | A fun place to watch birds and wetland wildlife, a visit the Edelweiss slew is a fun thing to do in Golden. The trail here is quite short, flat and easy to walk, but offers a lot of fun things to look at.

The Climbing Gym | The Dogtooth Climbing Gym offers different indoor climbing roots of all levels. They even have a small bouldering cave to practice your moves harness-free.

Disc Golf | There are three ways you can disc-golf here in Golden: The Selkirk Hill trail network, the Kicking Horse Mountain trails, or the Go Adventure Organic Ranch. All of these are fun places to disc golf with kids. They have a central Facebook page here.

Bike + Ski Rentals | Climbing up the adventure scale a bit, you can rent skis or bikes for a fun thing to do in Golden. While we are known for our double-black diamond trails, rest assured there are family friendly green trails too. Browse the Golden Cycling Club for trail information. Or visit Derailed Sports / Higher Ground for rentals.

Golden Skybridge | Open Summer 2021, the Golden Skybridge offers adventure of all levels. It's a must-see destination with stunning views, walking trails, suspension bridges, and swings.

Glacier White Water Rafting | When you think of white water rafting, the words kid-friendly might not immediately come to mind. However, the folks at Glacier Raft Co. have the perfect trip for families. The first section of their infamous river trip is described as a family friendly float. This is a great way to spend time outside and experience an adventure together.

Mt. 7 | This is a fairly easy activity if you are familiar with BC's forest service roads and being on top of a mountain. I classify this drive as semi-adventurous though because one time I brought a family from Saskatchewan up there and they did not enjoy it.

An average British-Columbian and gentle adventure seeker will love being up on the Mt. 7 view point though. Bring a picnic and watch the paragliders jump off the launch pad or drive up in time for the sunrise/sunset for a spectacular view. If you're lucky, you might even see a black bear on your drive up.

If you are feeling particularly adventurous, you can try the Mt. 7 hike.

Kicking Horse Mountain Resort | Our local ski hill Kicking Horse Mountain Resort has more hiking trails than you can do in a Summer. The trails range from black diamonds to green circles, so there is something for everyone. If you are feeling less adventurous you could even just ride the gondola without hiking and still enjoy a spectacular view.

Golden Hikes | This is great local resource that the locals use. You can visit the Golden Hikes website for a list of local hikes. Here you will find a list of hikes that range from easy to hard. Some of my favourite hikes are to Takakkaw and Wapta Falls.