Golden Moments in Golden, BC, and a Thrilling Encounter With Boo at the World’s Largest Grizzly Refuge
My Father’s Day gift couldn’t have come at a better time. My daughter, Nurin, sent me one that allowed me to visit the beautiful town of Golden in BC. Accompanying the gift was a thoughtful card that artistic Nurin designed for me. My scan hardly does justice to the vibrancy and effort of Nurin’s work.
I made the trip to Golden even more exciting for myself by forgoing luxuries, staying at the Dreamcatcher Hostel in the heart of the lovely town, and spending a night in a Dry Cabin at a the Mountain View Campground about 25 km from Golden.
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There are many things to do in Golden, all within a short distance. The restaurants are absolutely fantastic. My favourite was the fabulous Mexican Reposados on the main street (9 Avenue). On the same street, I enjoyed a personal-sized thin-crust vegetarian pizza at Red Tomato Pies. The Kicking Horse River is just behind, and there are many benches to enjoy quiet moments and have take out food. Many restaurants offer patios, some by the River over which crosses The Kicking Horse Pedestrian Bridge, Canada’s longest freestanding timber frame bridge. It was built in 2001 through an international effort from locally sourced timbers.
From the Kicking Horse Pedestrian Bridge, I walked a couple of kilometres to the confluence of the Kicking Horse and Columbia Rivers. Of course, as a lover of books, I would be failing if I did not visit the Four Points Books, which has 2 floors of new and used books. It serves fantastic coffee and freshly prepared scones.
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The Golden Museum is worth a visit. Interestingly, a whole room has been dedicated to the Sikh migration to Canada and their history in Golden. I visited their Temple and was warmly welcomed by the Guruji on duty. Reflection Lake is just minutes away, and on a calm day, the mountains and trains passing through reflect beautifully in the lake. I was lucky that my arrival coincided with the weekly Farmers Market and a musical concert later in the day.
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I then spent a few thrlling hours at the Golden SkyBridge, Canada’s highest suspension bridge. For the more adventurous or daring, there are zip lines, giant canyon swings, railrider mountain roller coaster and other exciting activities that will take you through the sky across the canyon! This was followed by a visit to the exciting and highly educational Northern Lights Wildlife Wolf Centre.
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Thrilling Encounter with Boo, the Grizzly Bear
While I have shared a plethora of photographs from my short trip, I want to focus on a particular highlight — my visit to the Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. The anticipation was palpable as I set out on a gondola the top of the mountain, and then to meet Boo, the 22-year-old Grizzly Bear who has been a resident of the Grizzly Bear Refuge since 2002 following the tragic loss of his mother to a poacher.
What makes Boo’s home truly remarkable is that he lives just like his wild cousins, hunting, playing, foraging, and exploring within his natural 20-acre mountainside habitat. The vastness of the area means that Boo could be anywhere in the forest. I was fortunate to arrive at the Refuge Centre a little earlier than planned, foregoing lunch at the Resort’s Mountain Top Restaurant, Eagle’s Eye, and taking a separate ski lift to Boo’s home after coming down the Gondola to the base.
The interpretive tour was already underway. Boo was right in front of a dozen visitors. What a treat. He played in the pond and had some food that was in the pond. Before returning to the dense forest, he leant tall against a tree, scratched himself and disappeared into the woods.
As much as I was hungry, lunch at Eagle’s Eye would have cost me the opportunity of seeing beautiful Boo! However, I got a chance to talk to the following interpretive guide, Dominique, who lamented the fact that during both her duties on the day, Boo had gone into hiding! That, of course, allowed me to talk to her one-to-one and get to learn more about the unique refuge where Boo has lived for so many years.
I was one of the last persons to take the chair lift down, and as an icing on the cake I saw a black bear near the bottom of the mountain. If you visit Golden, make it a point to see Boo. More information about Boo and visiting him can be found by clicking HERE.
Golden truly impressed me. There are stores, galleries, restaurants, trails and sightseeing nearby that will keep you occupied and entertained for two full days! Do not pass this town as a coffee stopover. Stay for a day or 2.
Depending on the length of your stay, the excellent staff at Golden’s Visitor Centre — 1000 Trans Canada Highway — will guide you to the sights and activities you should do during your visit.
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During my drive back to Calgary, I was thrilled to watch rock climbers making steep descents by the cliffs at Takakkaw Falls. When I reached Lake Louise, I drove to Castle Junction through the Bow Valley Parkway instead of taking Highway 1. Luck was with me as I saw a CP freight train pass through the Storm Mountain Lookout Point, a sight I can keep watching repeatedly without ever feeling bored!
Date posted: July 3, 2024.
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incredible photos, Malik!