Private River Rafting Calgary: 2–12 Person Raft

★★★★★★★★★★ 4.94 (264 reviews) 96% rated it 5 stars

Free cancellationExcellent quality

1/7

Duration3h

GroupPrivate

Mobile ticketAccepted

Float through parks and city views without a guide steering you

Private self-guided rafting on the Bow River in Calgary lets you choose your raft size (2 to 12 people) and departure time, floating past Bowmont Natural Park, Shouldice Park, Edworthy Park and Eau Claire Park on a two to four-hour drift to Prince's Island Park. All PFDs, paddles and safety gear are included; no rafting experience is necessary, and dogs and service animals are welcome.

The Experience

The raft arrives sanitized and inflated at West Baker Park at your chosen time. You step in with your group—whether that's two people in a solo kayak or twelve in a full raft—and push off into a leisurely float that winds through nature, parks and residential stretches before opening onto the cityscape. The current does most of the work; your paddles let you steer around bends and slow down when something catches your eye. Two to four hours on the water, depending on river flow, means you're not racing through the sights but drifting past them at the pace that suits your group.

The route passes Bowmont Natural Park, Shouldice Park, Edworthy Park and Shaggannapi Golf Course before the river opens into Eau Claire Park and your final stretch across from Prince's Island Park in downtown Calgary. You see the city from an angle most people never get—water-level views of the skyline, the parks that line the banks, and the quiet of the Bow even as you're floating through the heart of the city. When you reach the end, the Lazy Day crew meets you at the landing; you disembark and head on your way.

Free parking is included at the launch point. If you prefer not to drive, shuttle bus seats are available for $9 per person. All safety gear—PFDs, paddles, the full kit—comes with your raft, so you bring yourself, sunblock and whatever snacks you want on the water. Dogs are welcome, and the launch and landing areas are wheelchair accessible. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and the activity suits all fitness levels.

What’s included

All PFDs, paddles and safety kit.
free parking at the launch point.
choice of raft size from 2 to 12 people.
your preferred departure time.
dogs and service animals welcome.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearby

Operated by Lazy Day Raft Rentals

Is this one for you?Book this if your group wants to control the pace and the timing—no guide narrating the sights, no fixed schedule, just the river, the parks and the city views at whatever speed suits you. The self-guided format works especially well for families with young children or dogs, since you're not keeping up with a group or a tour boat.