Easy adventures for wildlife spotting in Golden, BC
In this story: seeing wildlife in Golden, BC, is easy; from bears to wolves to birds, you can hike, stroll or float through epic scenery, getting up close and personal (safely) with wild animals. Here's how.
Golden, BC Do you play “spot the wildlife” as you drive through the mountains? It's one of my favourites, but spotting crows and deer can get boring. Here’s your perfect opportunity to see up to 250 species of birds, a grizzly bear and a pack of wolves—all within 20 minutes of Golden, BC.
Some birders are really keen at keeping tabs on the species they see. They travel for miles in search of an evasive species. Me? I’m more of an opportunist. If a bird flies by, I’m excited to see it.
So a trip into the Columbia Wetlands is exactly the place for me. It’s like a drive-through for birders.
Birdwatching in Golden
There are over 250 known species of birds roosting or raising their broods along the shores, sloughs and marshlands. The Columbia Wetlands is one of North America’s longest intact wetlands. It starts in Golden and goes as far south as Radium Hot Springs.
We rented a few kayaks from Columbia Wetlands Outpost and, armed with binoculars, we dipped our paddles into the slow-moving channel.
Of course, there were crows, but getting further from shore we saw blue herons, grebes and mallards in the water while woodpeckers made short work of a dead tree along the shore and bald eagles drifted overhead.
Staying in the side channel it was easy to just aimlessly drift and listen to the songbirds.
“We love it here. We just got back from a four-day float from Radium,” says owner/operator Marie Desfosses.
“The wetlands are magic for wildlife. We see tons of birds especially when they are migrating. Seeing the beavers do their work to change the swamps and channels is fascinating.”
If you don’t want to paddle, Columbia Wetlands Outpost offers “cataraft” tours where up to ten people can focus on the birds while the guide pilots the raft and points to frequently used branches.
Or, just walk along the boardwalk and sit on a bench at any of the lagoons. That’s how we found the herons.
Say Boo to the bear at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort
In the winter as skiers and snowboarders ride the gondola to the summit of Kicking Horse Mountain Resort, many don’t know there is a big grizzly bear hibernating beneath them.
In the summer, Boo roams around a 20-acre oasis while we stay safely on the other side of the fence learning about the king of the hill.
A visit to the Grizzly Bear Interpretive Centre and refuge includes the Interpretive Tour offered three times a day.
Boo is most active in the morning so the 10am visit is the best. Guides take groups along the fence to locate Boo and use his daily activities to explain how bears live in the wilds.
It’s a perfect opportunity to teach children why bears are important and why they should be respected.
The Ranger Assist Program is something I highly recommend. It’s offered twice a day at 9am and 3pm (or 4pm during the hotter months) for up to only a handful of participants and can incorporate the Interpretive tour.
The morning tour was what I experienced. At 10 am when the general public arrived and the ranger went to greet the crowd. I lingered at the fence and watched Boo find the fruit and proteins hidden by the rangers.
Walking beside him as he strolled was a highlight for me. Those long yellow claws, massive feet and shimmering coat were almost within arms reach… almost. I pity any squirrel that ventures past that fence.
Boo is roughly 24 years old now and is expected to live into his 30s. He seems to enjoy the attention from the onlookers on the other side of the fence which is wonderful for us all.
Howl with the wolves at Northern Lights Wolf Centre
Remember the fairy tale, Little Red Riding Hood? That silly tale about the “Big Bad Wolf” probably did more harm than good for one of the keystone species of the Rockies.
At the Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre on the outskirts of Golden, BC. you can learn just how important the wolves are for our forests to be healthy.
Claire Van de Pol, took us on the centre's interpretive tour and shed light on the folklore, fearmongering and misinformation that has caused threat for the species.
“Wolves are blamed for killing domestic livestock but statistically they are responsible for less than 1% of the losses,” says Van de Pol.
“What they are responsible for is balancing environments that were tampered with by human intervention. We need to give them the respect they deserve.”
See Golden's wild side, with easy, safe and inspiring wildlife encounters
As she told us about the massive culling of wolves in the last century, behind the fence, basking in the glow of a warm spring sun was the resident blonde diva Flora, and her sidekick, Honi.
There are five wolves at the centre. While most of them were born in captivity, Honi was born in the wild and abandoned by her pack. Thanks to a few kind folks, she ended up at Northern Lights.
“The wolves have very keen senses and their hearing is exceptional. They can detect the distinct rattle of the truck that delivers roadkill as far away as a few kilometres,” says Van de Pol.
Did someone say “walkies?” The interpretive tour is roughly 30 minutes long and you are welcome to hang around and visit the wolves. But if you are a camera buff or want a once-in-a-lifetime event, sign up for the Blackwolf Photography tour.
For a few hours you and up to five other humans become part of the pack with at least one of the wolves as you hike off-site up the Blaeberry Valley.
If you’d rather just sit on a veranda with a cool beverage and a delicious lunch, ask for a table on the second-floor deck at the Island Restaurant in Golden.
As Petra sat us at the table overlooking the swift Kicking Horse River, she pointed out the avian locals. “That dead tree usually has a golden eagle watching the river, and over there is a nest of robins.”
As I sipped on a cool brew from Whitetooth Brewery, the snow still capping the Dogtooth Range, another dang crow flew by.
That’s okay. I can add him to my “seen it” list later.
Know before you go
Golden is a charming mountain town surrounded by six national parks with year-round activities.
Getting to Golden driving, Golden is:
less than 3 hours from Calgary, Alberta
roughly 3 hours from Vernon B.C.
Staying in Golden there is every type of accommodation to choose from, head to Tourism Golden to find your ideal home away from home.
What to do in Golden whether you like to hike, paddle or just relax with mountain views, you can meet some pretty amazing wildlife. Here's your Tourism Golden primer.
Included in this story
Columbia Wetlands Outpost is your access to the wetlands, where over 250 species of birds await. Just 16 minutes south of Golden, 2581 Highway 95.
The Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre is open year-round with hours of operation depending on the season. It’s located 15 minutes north of Golden at 1745 Short Road.
The Grizzly Bear Interpretive Centre at Kicking Horse Mountain Resort is open seasonally, from May 30 - Sept 27, 2026. The resort is 15-minutes' drive from town.