Is Golden, British Columbia Worth Visiting? 10 Reasons to Visit!
If you’re wondering, “Is Golden, British Columbia worth visiting?” The answer is YES! Golden, BC is an absolutely underrated adventure destination. It’s the perfect little mountain town surrounded by six Canadian National Parks. If you’re looking to get away from some of the crowds, explore some of the most beautiful mountains on earth, and find unique outdoor activities – Golden, British Columbia should be your next destination.
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1. It’s the Perfect Base to Visit National Parks in the Canadian rockies
Golden, BC is an absolutely perfect town to stay in for your Canada National Parks adventure. You’ll have 6 National Parks within driving distance and an unlimited amount of adventure at your fingertips.
- Golden to Yoho National Park: 20 minutes drive
- Golden to Glacier National Park: 45 minutes drive
- Golden to Banff National Park: 1 hour drive
- Golden to Kootenay National Park: 1 hour drive
- Golden to Revelstoke National Park: 1.5 hours drive
- Golden to Jasper National Park: 4 hours drive
If you plan to visit the National Parks in Canada, check out our guide to Glacier National Park Canada with Kids & Mount Revelstoke National Park with Kids & Yoho National Park with Kids & Kootenay National Park with Kids!
AND if you’re looking to plan an epic 7 Day Canadian Rockies Itinerary with your kids – we’ve got you covered with incredible hikes and all the best stops!
2. Skip the Crowds in Golden, BC
If you choose to stay in Golden over somewhere like Banff or Canmore you’ll definitely skip some of the crowds. We love Banff, but it is absolutely packed during the busy season (especially if you go anywhere mid day). If you’re looking for more of a chill vibe where you can walk downtown without being shoulder to shoulder with someone else, Golden is the place to be!
3. Save Money by Staying in Golden
Because there are so many less people looking to stay in Golden, you’ll probably pay quite a bit less for your accommodations. You’ll find less touristy type activities compared to Banff and a smaller restaurant selection, but it’s definitely worth it to save money. There are also tons of free things to do in Golden if you want to save even more money while on vacation!
Affordable Places to Stay in Golden, BC
- Log Dovetail Bison Cabin – the perfect mountain getaway (sleeps 5!)
- Whitetooth Vista Downtown Condo – sleeps 4
- Alpine Meadows Lodge
- Cedar House Restaurant and Chalet
- Comfy Quiet Camper (Watson’s Place)
4. The Views from Downtown are Amazing!
Golden has incredible mountain and river views from town. Whether you’re at the Kickinghorse Pedestrian Bridge overlooking the river and mountains, walking across the highest suspension bridge in Canada (with epic mountain views in the background), or hiking in the surrounding mountains or National Parks, you’ll have beautiful views everywhere you look.
5. It’s a Family Friendly Destination
If you’re looking for a family friendly outdoorsy destination, Golden, British Columbia is worth visiting for sure! Every person we encountered in Golden was so friendly and nice. We always felt very welcome with our kids (which isn’t always the case when we travel). And there were so many family friendly things to do in Golden. We loved our time there with our kids and will definitely be back to visit again.
If you’re ready to plan your trip, here are our favorite 13 things to do near Golden, BC with kids!
6. Golden, Canada is a Photographer’s Dream
If you like to take beautiful pictures, Golden is the perfect place to base yourself. If you choose to stay in Golden, you will have access to a ton of stunning photo locations. Even if you never leave town, you’ll have beautiful views. So whether you stay local in Golden or go on a day trip to a cool location, you’ll have so many options.
7. Golden is Very Safe
If you’re wondering if Golden, BC is safe – the answer is YES! Downtown Golden is quiet and seemed to be mostly filled with friendly locals. If you’re venturing out of town and into nature, you’ll be safe if you take appropriate precautions to protect yourself from wildlife (pack your bear spray!) and pay attention to news about wildfires.
8. There are Unique Things to do
Golden, BC is an adventurers dream. There are so many unique things to do in Golden including visiting the highest suspension bridge in Canada, hiking at one of six nearby national parks, wildlife viewing, whitewater rafting, or even something as adventurous as heli-skiing.
9. Golden is Full of Friendly Locals
If you’ve heard that Canadians are some of the nicest people in the world, you’ll definitely believe it after visiting Golden. From our vacation rental host, to servers at restaurants, to the people at the grocery store – we met some of the nicest people we’ve encountered on all of our travels.
10. Outdoor Adventure Opportunities are Endless
You could spend the entire summer (or winter) in Golden and not run out of things to do. Depending on what kind of outdoor activities you enjoy, there is something for everyone in Golden. We’ve listed some (but not all) of the fun outdoor adventures you can do in Golden in Summer!
- Hiking
- Mountain Biking
- Whitewater Rafting
- Kayaking
- ATVing
- Mountaineering
- Golfing
Frequently Asked Questions About Golden, BC
Is Golden, BC a Nice Town?
Yes! Golden is a great town. Don’t expect it to be the same as Banff (it’s much less touristy), but it’s a great quiet town with river and mountain views. There are some tasty restaurants and fun things to do. Everything was clean and nice when we visited.
Is Golden Close to Banff?
Golden is close to Banff. It’s less than a 2 hour drive from Golden to Banff! It’s also close to five other Canadian National Parks so it’s the perfect hub for all your adventures if you’re interested in visiting National Parks and being outdoors.
Is Golden Part of a National Park?
Golden isn’t technically inside a National Park. However, there are five different National Parks within a 2 hour drive!
Should I stay in Golden or Banff?
As I’ve said above, we absolutely love Banff. It’s a stunning area and it’s popular for good reason. We prefer to stay in Golden to escape some of the crowds and save some money while still having access to beautiful hikes and the epic views. It really depends on the type of vacation you are looking for, but our current travel style favors Golden.
Is Golden, British Columbia worth visiting? We sure think so!! We hope you enjoy your visit to Golden. We loved our time there and can’t wait to visit again.
