For elevated experiences and high speed fun, head to Golden Skybridge in Golden, BC! The all-inclusive Golden Skybridge Adventure Pass includes admission to the Railrider Mountain Coaster (just opened May 2023!), Sky Zipline, Canyon Edge Challenge Course, climbing wall, and axe throwing – in addition to the Skybridges (Canada’s highest suspension bridges) and Treetop Play Area. With so many exhilarating activities, the Adventure Pass would make the perfect grad, engagement, or anniversary gift for the adventurer in your life!
Partnership Disclosure: Golden Skybridge hosted us for review purposes, but all words and opinions are my own.
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Golden Skybridges
Spanning 150 metres / 492 feet, and perched 130 metres / 426 feet above the canyon floor, Upper Skybridge is Canada’s highest suspension bridge. This architectural marvel offers stunning views of Hospital Creek Falls, the Columbia Valley, and surrounding peaks. Visit before noon to avoid the crowds, so you can take your time!
As we step onto the bridge, it sways slightly, so we balance with our legs as if we’re on a boat, and hold our arms out to the sides. We resist using the handrails as long as possible, just as we resist the urge to jump up and down (jumping is not allowed for everyone’s comfort and safety). The falls crash below us, and to the left, we see the slopes of Kicking Horse Ski Resort, verdant now that the snow has melted.
There are tons more fun things to do since our last Golden Skybridge visit in 2021. The zipline, bungee swing, and mountain coaster have opened; and there are Saturday evening concerts and markets in July and August. While we watch a hawk soaring on an updraft, the bungee swing plunges in to the canyon, and four screaming dots zip across the canyon. Perspective is everything; the zipliners look little because the chasm is vast.
On the far side of the bridge, viewpoints and adventures await! The Canyon Edge Challenge Course (tree course) is up first, followed by the Sky Zipline, Railrider Mountain Coaster, Touch the Sky Viewpoint, and Lower Skybridge. We recommend doing the tree course and mountain coaster first, then getting a photo at the scenic Touch the Sky Viewpoint before taking the zipline back to the Village (dining/admissions area).
If you’d like to cross the Lower Skybridge (80 metres / 262 feet high, 140 metres long), you’ll have to walk the 3 kilometre one-way trail again. We highly recommend it if you have time, as the Lower Bridge is just as impressive as the Upper Skybridge and offers unobstructed mountain views.
Take a sneak peek at the attractions in our Instagram Reel, and keep reading for more info!
Canyon Edge Challenge Course (tree course)
Canyon Edge Challenge Course, Golden Skybridge
The Canyon Edge Challenge Course offers elevated fun, 12 metres (39 feet) above the forest floor. The course is a lot bigger than it looks from the trail! Gazing up, we see several courses criss-crossing the trees. On our left, a young ninja deftly hops from one swinging beam to the next, making it to the next platform in seconds. Straight ahead, a man soars from tree to tree on a zipline with a loud “Woohoo!!” while friends cheer him on.
By the time we reach the front of the line, we’ve decided we want to do the intermediate course and the zipline course (you can complete 2 courses with one Adventure Pass entry)! But first – staff get us geared up with harnesses and helmets, then show us how to use the locking carabiners and zip trolleys that will keep us attached to a thick steel lifeline at all times.
From the first platform, we can choose our own adventure: right for the easy course, or left for intermediate. Heading left, we move from platform to platform – on swaying obstacles, ziplines, a “tightrope”, and large ball (hint: you sit on it) – pausing only to clip into the next cable or attach a zipline trolley to the line. Having done tree courses and a bit of climbing before, we (my kids are 12 & 14) found the intermediate course fairly easy, but tons of fun. Moving obstacles provided enough challenge to keep things interesting, but we never felt scared or stuck. Next time, we would love to try the expert course!
On the zipline course, we revel in how quick it is to zip from tree to tree. We “fly” with arms out, wind in our hair, laughing when we come to an abrupt stop on the other side. The ziplines are good fun and a good warmup for the big Sky Zipline across the canyon!
Allow about one hour to line up, gear up, and complete two courses. Courses to choose from include: Easy, Intermediate, Expert, and Zipline. If you haven’t done a tree course before, try the Easy course first.
Age/weight/height requirements for the Canyon Edge Challenge Course: 7 years old & up, minimum weight 27kg (60lbs), max weight 113kg (250lbs), minimum height 158cm (62″/ 5’1″) with fingertips stretched overhead.
RailRider Mountain Coaster
“No brakes all the way, it’s the best way to go!” A tree course staff member is giving us the inside scoop on riding the RailRider Mountain Coaster. Her colleague agrees, faster is better. “And if you wanna go faster, ride with a friend!” (Each coaster car has two seats and two seatbelts, so you can go solo or tandem.)
As we wait in line, my kids and I make a pact not to hit the brakes, ever, and as my coaster car gains speed downhill, I wonder if I can commit. The first turn isn’t too crazy, but with every second, I’m accelerating. My youngest daughter – ahead of me and my eldest – hits a steep section and squeals, then hollers, “No brakes!!!” reminding us not to be chickens.
We whip around the course so fast, our hair streams straight out behind us. The corners take our breath away, but then we’re screaming again on the straightaways. Before we know it, we’re back where we started, bright eyed and smiling.
“Was it scary?” I ask my kids at the end. “No!! It was awesome!!” they exclaim in unison. It’s so nice to see them agree on something for once!
How fast can you go? With a vertical drop of 73 metres over 669 metres* (10.9% grade), you can go up to 40 km/hr! However, you are in control of your speed at all times, so if you’d like to go slower, use your brakes.
*669 m of the 1029 m track are downhill.
Who can ride: Kids 3 & up can ride the Railrider Mountain Coaster, but kids under 9 must ride with someone 16 years old or older. Minimum driver height: 132 cm (52″/4’4″), minimum passenger height: 92 cm (36″/3’), and maximum combined weight: 140 kg (310lbs).
Sky Zipline
Whoops and screams, and the distinct “zipping” sound of trolleys on cables echo greet us as we approach the Sky Zipline. In less than a minute, traversed the 305 metre / 1000-foot ziplines across the canyon. They look so small up there, suspended 152 metres / 500 feet in the air. With bated breath, we make our way to the staging area.
Once we’re outfitted with harnesses and helmets, and have stowed loose items in our backpacks, we climb the spiral staircase of the zipline platform. We’ve ziplined before, but never from such a lofty height! The elevation adds a bit of nerves, but the view from the top is stunning.
When it’s our turn to fly, I give a holler and set off across the canyon, taking in the sights. Below, a couple in the Giant Canyon Swing freefall from the canyon’s edge, then swing back and forth. Families take selfies on the Lower Skybridge, and the next thing I know, I’m on the other side.
My youngest later shares, “I didn’t go right away.” But that’s ok! She only hesitated for a couple seconds, and ended up loving the zipline. It’s smooth sailing all the way across; all you have to do is sit back and enjoy the view!
Who can ride: Zipline participants must be at least 7 years old, minimum weight 27kg (60lbs), max weight 113kg (250lbs), minimum height 158cm (62″/ 5’1″) with fingertips stretched overhead so the harness will fit properly.
Climbing Wall
The 28-foot climbing wall has easy, moderate and challenging routes, so climbers of all ages can challenge themselves. With automatic belay (when you let go, you will be automatically lowered slowly to the ground), no experience is necessary.
Axe Throwing
Axe throwing is harder than it looks, but oh-so-satisfying when you hit the bullseye!
Axe Throwing participants must be 10 & up, and participants under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Treetop Play Area (Kids’ Area – Free with General Admission)
With climbers, walkways, swings, and a mini zipline, your kids will love the Treetop Play Area! A huge plus is that the play area is shaded by tall trees and has picnic tables. It’s a great place to enjoy some ice cream after all that walking, or sip a cold drink in the shade while your kids play.
The Village
The Village is home to a concession, food truck, picnic area, washrooms, and gift shop. You’ll also find the Treetop Play Area (kids’ area – free with admission), Axe Throwing (free with Adventure Pass), and Climbing Wall (free with Adventure Pass) next to The Village.
Check the Events Calendar for details on the Summer Concert Series (Saturday Nights, July – September, 7 pm – 9 pm) and Golden Night Market (every 2nd Saturday, July 1 – end of August, 6 pm – 9 pm).
Know Before You Go
1. The Golden Skybridge Adventure Pass includes admission to the Canyon Edge Challenge Course (tree course), Sky Zipline, RailRider Mountain Coaster, climbing wall, and axe throwing.
- For the Adventure Pass, it’s necessary to book timed-entry tickets in advance. The last Adventure Pass ticket time is 2 hours before closing time.
- For everyone’s safety, there are age, weight, and height restrictions in place for the tree course, zipline, and mountain coaster. See the Golden Skybridge FAQs for more info.
- You can do each experience (tree course, mountain coaster, zipline, climbing wall, axe throwing) once. If you’d like a 2nd go, purchase an “Adventure Pass Replay” ticket.
- Wear shorts or pants and closed toe shoes that won’t fall off on the zipline or tree course.
- Wear good walking shoes – there’s a 3 km one-way trail from the entrance to all the attractions.
- You can enjoy the bridges and kids’ play area as long as you like.
2. When to go? What to do first?
- Golden Skybridge is open May 4 – October 14, 2024, weather permitting. Visit Pursuit | Golden Skybridge for hours and rates.
- Arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled arrival time so you have time to check in, get wristbands, walk the path, and cross the Upper Bridge.
- Visit in the morning if you can, in order to avoid long lineups.
- Do the Canyon Edge Challenge Course (tree course) and RailRider Mountain Coaster first. When you’re done adventuring on the far side of the canyon, the Sky Zipline will take you back to the Village where you can try climbing and axe throwing (there usually aren’t lines for the last two activities).
- Note that the Touch the Sky Viewpoint and Lower Bridge are past the Sky Zipline, so you should check out the viewpoint before doing the zipline (or plan to walk the one-way 3 km path again if you’d like to cross the Lower Bridge).
3. How long does it take?
Allow 3-4 hours to walk the 3 km path and do all the Adventure Pass activities. In 4 hours, we did the main attractions – rope course, mountain coaster, and zipline – and walked the path twice (to see the Lower Bridge), played in the kids’ area, had gelato, and took a ton of photos. The rope course line was the longest (about 15 minutes), but the mountain coaster line was super short (1 minutes), and the zipline took us right away. There was no lineup for axe throwing or climbing.
3. What to bring:
- Bring sunscreen, water, and your phone or camera.
- Pack light! Backpacks are not permitted on the tree course or mountain coaster, but you can leave them (at your own risk) at the loading area. You can wear your backpack on the zipline if all items fit inside and your combined weight is less than 113kg (250lbs).
- There are small lockers (for valuables like wallet, phone, keys) at the tree course and mountain coaster. There is no charge to use the lockers.
- Leave pets at home – pets are not permitted at Golden Skybridge.
More Info / Book Tickets Now
For more information, or to book your Golden Skybridge Adventure Passes now, please visit Pursuit | Golden Skybridge. Save 10% when you book tickets online at least 48 hours in advance.
Getting Here
Golden Skybridge is located 2 hrs 45 minutes west of Calgary in Golden, BC. Only 1.5 km off Highway 1! If time allows, hike to beautiful Wapta Falls, or visit Emerald Lake and Takakkaw Falls on the way home.
Where to Stay
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Holiday Inn Express Golden Kicking Horse has a pool, hot tub, and free breakfast, and is conveniently located 5 minutes from Golden Skybridge.
Basecamp Lodge Golden is a riverfront lodge with loft suites (kids can have their own twin beds upstairs) 6 minutes from Golden Skybridge.