Golden Bodies of Water

Breathtaking scenery surrounds this Columbia Valley Lake and the popular day hike between it and Golden. Overnight use, motor use and campfires are not permitted. The lake is excellent for fly fishing, trout fishing and full of wild life.

This is a reservoir lake for Mica Dam that is located along the Columbia River. A campground is located at the lake with amenities that include cabins, tent sites and RV pads. A few of the lake's activities include fishing, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, mountain biking and more.

Located 60 km (37 mi) north of Golden, Cummins Lake Park features picturesque glacier-fed waterfalls and crisp, mountain lakes. The park preserves virtually untouched landscape that is home to a variety of species, including grizzly bears, caribous and mountain goats. The park is remote and offers little in terms of facilities, so visitors must prepare accordingly.

The Columbia River is one of the largest rivers by volume in North America and has been traveled since the late 1700s. Lewis and Clark mapped it out during their expedition and it became an important trade route in the early 1800s. The river forms in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia and flows south through Washington State and then west to form the border between Washington and Oregon before draining into the Pacific Ocean. It is home to over a dozen hydroelectric dams and one of the most innovative irrigation systems in the United States.

The Kicking Horse River, named in the 1850s by an expedition member when his packhorse kicked him while crossing the river, is located in southeastern British Columbia and flows southwest from Yoho National Park. The glacial-fed river passes through the community of Golden to eventually meet the Columbia River, and is the region's most popular river for rafting excursions.