Kicking Horse River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kicking Horse River |
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Kicking Horse River
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 Location in British Columbia
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| Country | Canada |
| Province | British Columbia |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Wapta Lake Hector, Yoho National Park |
| River mouth | Columbia River Golden 51°18′N 116°59′W / 51.300°N 116.983°W |
The Kicking Horse River is a cool river found in the Canadian Rockies in southeastern British Columbia, Canada. It got its interesting name way back in 1858. A man named James Hector, who was exploring the area, was kicked by his packhorse while near the river. Because of this funny (but painful!) event, he decided to name both the river and a nearby mountain pass "Kicking Horse."
This Kicking Horse Pass became a very important route through the mountains. The Canadian Pacific Railway used it to build their tracks in the 1880s. The railway even had to build special Spiral Tunnels and a section called the "Big Hill" because the river valley was so steep!
In the town of Golden, you can find the Kicking Horse Pedestrian Bridge. It's the longest real covered timber-frame bridge in all of Canada! Many volunteers, including carpenters from different countries, helped build it. The bridge is about 150 feet (46 meters) long and was finished in September 2001.
The Trans-Canada Highway crosses the Kicking Horse River many times as it goes from Yoho National Park to Golden. There's also a place called Kicking Horse Resort, which is a ski resort named after the river and pass. It's located near Golden, but in a different mountain range called the Purcell Mountains.
Contents
River's Journey
The Kicking Horse River starts its journey from a small lake called Wapta Lake. From there, it flows southwest. It soon meets another river, the Yoho River, near the town of Field.
The river keeps flowing southwest until it reaches Wapta Falls. After these falls, it makes a sharp turn, almost like a hairpin, and then flows northwest. Finally, it empties into the much larger Columbia River in Golden.
Amazing Waterfalls
The Kicking Horse River has three cool waterfalls along its path.
- The first one is the Kicking Horse Cascade. It's a long, rocky waterfall found just below where the highway first crosses the river after Wapta Lake.
- The second is the Natural Bridge Falls, located close to Field.
- The last and biggest waterfall is Wapta Falls. It's about 100 feet (30 meters) tall and over 500 feet (150 meters) wide! It's one of the largest waterfalls in Canada by how much water flows over it and how wide it is.
River's History
The unique name of the Kicking Horse River comes from an event that happened in August 1858. Sir James Hector, a surgeon and geologist, was exploring the area. He wrote about how one of his packhorses fell into the river. While trying to get his own horse, it kicked him in the chest, knocking him out for a while. Even though it was a tough situation, he named the river after this memorable incident.
About James Hector
James Hector was part of the Palliser Expedition from 1857 to 1860. He explored a huge area from what is now Winnipeg all the way to Vancouver Island. He learned a lot about the geology (how the earth is made) and the people of Western Canada and the Rocky Mountains. He was the one who discovered the Kicking Horse Pass and gave the Kicking Horse River its famous name.
Train Derailment in 2019
On February 4, 2019, a Canadian Pacific Railway freight train had an accident near the Big Hill in Kicking Horse Pass. The train went off its tracks and ended up in the river. Sadly, three crew members passed away in this incident.
Fun on the River
The Kicking Horse River is a popular spot for exciting activities like whitewater rafting, kayaking, and canoeing! Many companies offer rafting trips here. Kootenay River Runners was the first company to start rafting on this river.
The river has three main sections that people use for these water sports:
- The upper canyon is a fun whitewater run (Class 3-4 rapids). It's good for canoes, kayaks, and rafts. There used to be a tricky part called "Portage/Shotgun" where boats had to be carried, but now it's easier to pass through.
- The middle canyon has much tougher rapids (Class 4-5). This section is only for very experienced kayakers and rafters because it can be quite risky. Commercial rafting companies usually avoid it.
- The lower canyon is another Class 3-4 whitewater run that commercial rafting companies use when the water levels are right. However, access to this part of the river became difficult in 2016, which affected many rafting businesses.
The Kicking Horse River is also home to many types of freshwater fish, so fishing is another popular activity here.
Rivers Joining the Kicking Horse
Many smaller rivers and creeks flow into the Kicking Horse River, adding to its waters. Some of these include:
- Sherbrooke Creek
- Yoho River
- Emerald River
- Amiskwi River
- Otterhead River
- Ottertail River
- Porcupine Creek
- Beaverfoot River
- Glenogle Creek
Images for kids
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Kicking Horse River at Park Bridge rest area near Golden. The Trans Canada Highway is on the left, and the CPR mainline is on the right.
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Kicking Horse River flowing near Chancellor Peak in Yoho National Park.
See also
In Spanish: Río Kicking Horse para niños
