Founded in 1995, RiverWatch is Western Canada’ largest non-profit river rafting organization, promoting science, education, and adventure on the province’s waterways. These programs are made possible in Edmonton by our presenting sponsor EPCOR.

OUR CORE PURPOSE

Riverwatch is Alberta’s leader in unparalleled river-based water education and positive impact urban river experiences that passionately engage the community to understand, monitor and protect our watersheds.

Join Calgary’s Official River Guides as they take you on a safe, fun, and personalized raft experience down the peaceful and uncrowded Bow River section in south Calgary. Escape the crowds and congestion by exploring this beautiful stretch of the river. The Bow River in south Calgary provides exceptional opportunities to observe deer, beavers, ospreys, nesting eagles, and other wildlife. Our daily guided EcoFloat tours provide a serene and awe-inspiring experience amidst breathtaking scenery and unforgettable wildlife encounters. Surprisingly, you’ll forget that you’re still within the city limits! Perfect for the entire family, including children as young as 6, each EcoFloat on the Bow River promises a delightful summer adventure. Relax and unwind as our knowledgeable guides share knowledge and stories about the city’s history, the river, and diverse flora and fauna. However, this tour is not just for entertainment; it offers an educational element too. Gain a deeper understanding of the science behind our watershed and discover how it supports our daily lives. Prepare for an inspiring and enlightening experience fostering a newfound appreciation for this vital natural wonder. RiverWatch is pleased to provide this NEW nature float experience on the Bow River. We are Alberta’s largest non-profit river rafting organization, which promotes science, education, and adventure on the province’s waterways.

Join Edmonton’s Official River Guides as they take you on a safe, fun, and personalized raft experience down the North Saskatchewan River right through the heart of Edmonton. Your 4-hour “Eco-Float” takes guests on a 12.5km tour that passes under nine city bridges from the Laurier Park Boat launch in Edmonton’s west end to the Dawson Park boat launch, just east of downtown. Embark on a journey of discovery with our guides as you learn about the fascinating history of the city, river and the surrounding area. But it’s not just about entertainment – you’ll also learn about the science behind our watershed and gain a deeper understanding of how it supports our daily lives. As you navigate the river’s currents, you’ll discover how our dedicated stewards work tirelessly to safeguard our most precious resource – our drinking water. Prepare for an inspiring and educational experience that will leave you with a newfound appreciation for this vital natural wonder.

Embark on an unmatched culinary journey with the “RiverWatch Feast & Float” experience, set against the picturesque Bow River in south Calgary and the North Saskatchewan River in Edmonton. Each week, this adventure blends the natural beauty of the rivers with gastronomic delights from a surprise top-rated local restaurant. Relish the thrill of dining on delectable dishes while floating down the river, where your meal is delivered to you shoreside, akin to a romantic picnic. The restaurant’s identity is kept a secret until the Monday before your adventure, adding a thrilling twist to your evening. We meticulously choose each restaurant to ensure they accommodate all dietary needs, guaranteeing a comfortable and enjoyable dining experience for everyone. This experience offers a unique dining adventure and celebrates local culinary talent committed to sustainability and using local ingredients.

At the heart of RiverWatch are our Interpretative River Guides, who bring the science of the river, its watershed, and the city’s history, culture, and geology to life. We are incredibly fortunate to have a team of super smart and highly skilled guides who are passionate about nature, science, and the river and excel in communicating with our students and guests. To become a RiverWatch guide, individuals must complete an intense week of training covering a range of topics, including rafting, emergency response, health and safety, equipment maintenance, water quality monitoring, natural history interpretation, science curriculum, and wastewater tours. This comprehensive training program ensures that our professional river guides are fully prepared to work with students and clients on Alberta’s rivers.

For many, being a RiverWatch Interpretative River Guide is the perfect summer job, particularly for post-secondary students studying environmental sciences. Our team also includes nationally certified nature interpreters and skilled whitewater paddlers, creating a diverse culture that supports one another to provide the best possible experience on the river for our students and guests. For more details on our leadership team, click HERE.

• All our river guides complete an intense week of training involving rafting, emergency response, health and safety, bus driving, equipment maintenance, water quality monitoring, and local/natural history interpretation.
• The result is an experienced group of certified and professional river guides ready to provide a safe, engaging and fully immersive rafting experience.
• Your RiverWatch raft guide will help participants gain new insights and appreciation for our rivers’ history, culture, bio-diversity and stewardship.
• Everyone will finish the day more connected to nature and the river.

• We float Thursday through Sunday twice daily, at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.. Remember to meet your shuttle one hour before the float time (details below).
• Opening weekend for 2024 is Saturday – June 15 (depending on weather and river levels).
• The actual time on the river is between 3 and 4 hours and depends on river levels and flow rate.
• For details on where to meet, what to bring, children on board and more, please see our “FAQ Section” below.
• All float dates are subject to weather and river levels.
• In the unlikely event of a cancellation or date change for your float, see our cancellation policy below.

• Good news, no experience is required!
• Within the city limits, the river is classified as Level 1 and are perfect for beginner rafters.
• Our professional and certified guides will also take you through a safety session with you before embarking on your experience.

Caution: This Activity May Present Challenges for Individuals with Mobility Concerns.

• While our skilled river guide navigates the raft, passenger participation and paddling power is crucial, necessitating some paddling.
• Please be prepared for some moderate physical exertion.
• Accessing and exiting the rafts may involve negotiating slightly rocky/pebbly beach terrain, requiring agility. Moreover, a short uphill walk of approximately 50 meters from the shuttle drop-off is anticipated.
• Additionally, maneuvering in and out of the raft demands flexibility and dexterity, potentially posing challenges for those with mobility limitations.
• Please Take Note: Light to moderate lifting is involved. At the onset and conclusion of the float, the entire raft group will engage in teamwork, assisting in gently lifting the raft to and from the river’s edge. This collective effort enhances the overall experience, fostering a sense of camaraderie and fulfillment.

• Once you’ve secured your seats for your chosen float date, a confirmation email will be promptly dispatched to your inbox.
• If you don’t see it immediately, check your junk or spam email folder within 10 minutes of booking.
• If you still can’t find it, there might be a slight typo in the email address you provided during booking.
• Simply email us at ecofloats@riverwatch.ab.ca, including the full name under which the reservation was made and the correct email address where you’d like the confirmation email to be sent.

• Each city has specific shuttle meet-up locations and meeting times. These are subject to change.
• Once you complete your booking, you will receive a confirmation email detailing when and where to meet.
• Meet your Edmonton shuttle at Dawson Park at approximately 9:30 am for morning floats and 4:00 pm for evening floats.
• Meet your Calgary shuttle at the Fish Creek Provincial Park Boat Launch parking lot at approximately 9:30 am for morning floats and 4:00  pm for evening floats.

At times, parking may be very hard to find. Here are three suggestions to help avoid the disappointment of arriving and not finding parking:

• Our shuttle meeting points in local parks are very well used during the day and evening.
• Please carpool your group to the location. It’s better for the environment anyway 🙂
• Parking within designated parking zones (not on grass or near the big commercial garbage bins) to avoid ticketing by bylaw enforcement.

• 100% Guided River Rafting Experience
• Free shuttle from the parking lot to the starting point.
• Certified and professional raft guides.
• Large commercial rafts that can seat up to 12 adults.
• Paddles, PFD’s, rain-gear and rubber boots (if required).
• A SAFE, FUN AND MEMORABLE RIVER EXPERIENCE!!

• It’s a breeze to reserve a float just for your group!
• For a more intimate experience with your group, you can secure an entire raft by booking up to 12 guests per raft on your chosen date. This is ideal for birthdays, anniversaries, youth groups, science clubs, photography enthusiasts, and birdwatching clubs.
• Need a stellar team-building event to make your staff’s day? Look no further!
• We specialize in VIP hosting, too. Whether you’re sealing a major deal or wowing a potential recruit, celebrity, or government official, we’ll craft a private hosting experience that’s both unforgettable and discreet.
• To reserve your group corporate or VIP hosting experience, contact us at ecofloats@riverwatch.ab.ca.

For your convenience, there are various public washroom facilities along the journey:

• You’ll find the first public washroom at the meeting points where you board the shuttle.
• During the midpoint stop in the float, washrooms are also available nearby.
• As you wrap up your adventure, back where you parked, public washrooms will still be accessible.

• Age/Weight Requirements: To ensure the safety and well-being of children during our rafting activities, we have established a minimum age requirement of 6 years old and a minimum weight requirement of 60 lbs.
• These criteria are in accordance with our insurance requirements and safety standards. s
• RiverWatch must provide our own personal floatation devices (PFDs) to each guest. Guest may NOT bring their own
• Adult/Child Ratio: To maintain adequate paddle power and ensure a safe experience, we enforce a minimum adult-to-youth ratio of 1 adult for every 2 participants under 13. This ratio is necessary to maintain control and supervision during our rafting activities.
• We are bound by our licensing and insurance bodies to adhere to these requirements.

• For the comfort of other guests, no pets are permitted on rafts except for service animals.
• Only dogs with proper harness identification will be recognized as service animals.
• Service animals must wear a PFD (life jacket) and be on a leash at all times except when performing work or tasks where such tethering would interfere with the dog’s ability to perform.

• It’s summer in Alberta, and anything can happen! Please dress for the weather and bring warm or cool clothes, a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water.
• This trip includes time for a snack or a quick dinner on the raft or a brief stop on shore, so please bring whatever you’d like to eat.
• We provide rubber boots for footwear, but if you are more comfortable, bring your closed-toed water shoes, which can get wet!
• RiverWatch provides all other safety equipment, such as first aid kits, PFDs and rain jackets.
• Please note: guests CANNOT use their lifejackets due to insurance and safety regulations in our industry.

• Yes, we float and sing in the rain!! Don’t worry; RiverWatch provides rain gear on each raft.
• Trips may be modified or shortened in the event of light rain, cold or wind but are usually not cancelled.
• Forecasts can change or be inaccurate, and in the event of an unlikely cancellation due to lightning or high-water events, you will be notified as soon as possible.

• YOUR SAFETY IS OUR HIGHEST PRIORITY: Our RiverWatch safety team continually monitors weather conditions for air quality (due to smoke), rain, thunderstorms, lightning, potential high winds, rising water levels and high flow rates on the river. While we rarely cancel floats just for rain (we love to sing in the rain!), we must consider other factors, including escalating river conditions, that may
  jeopardize our valued guests and staff’s safety and comfort.
• ADVANCE NOTICE OF POTENTIAL CANCELLATION: Should we determine that it MAY be necessary to cancel the float due to high water, changing weather, heavy rain, excessive wind, and/or lightning, we will provide you with advance notice through a “RiverWatch Float Update” 12-48 hours before your scheduled float, indicating that cancellation may occur.
• NOTICE OF CANCELLATION: RiverWatch reserves the right to cancel your float due to high water or weather-related safety concerns within 24 hours or less before your designated float time. In the event of an actual cancellation, RiverWatch will notify you via email and text as early as possible before your scheduled float time.
• REBOOKINGS AND REFUND DUE TO WEATHER CANCELLATIONS: If your float is cancelled due to high water levels or adverse weather conditions, our rebooking process will commence within 48 hours after the cancelled float date. You will receive instructions from our booking team on how to promptly initiate the re-booking process. Our team will try to secure another suitable date for your group this summer. If we cannot find a suitable alternative float date, RiverWatch will issue a credit for a future float. RiverWatch does not refund weather-related cancellations; only re-bookings or credits for future floats are offered.

• At RiverWatch, we understand that unforeseen events may arise, necessitating changes or cancellations to your travel plans. However, we kindly ask for your understanding that when you book your trip with us, we allocate resources, schedule staff for your raft(s), and make necessary arrangements to ensure a seamless experience tailored to the details and requirements of your booking.
• Recognizing that many expenses cannot be recovered once incurred is crucial. With each cancellation, RiverWatch incurs further costs in attempting to resell these tickets. Therefore, our cancellation windows for both regular and group bookings are designed to provide RiverWatch with the necessary time to re-sell your cancelled seats and mitigate these costs.
• We prioritize transparency and aim to ensure all guests understand this policy. If you have any questions or require further clarification, please don’t hesitate to reach out to our team.

• All cancellation and float reschedule requests by guests require a minimum of seven (7) days’ notice before departure.
• Bookings are 100% non-refundable within seven (7) days of departure.
• Our rescheduling policy allows you to either reschedule your booking or receive a gift certificate, provided the request is made at least seven (7) days before your scheduled float. To initiate the rescheduling process, please email us your last name, booking ID, and the desired date and time (subject to availability).
• Rescheduling your float within seven (7) days of the booking is not permitted. Cancellations or no-shows within seven (7) days of your booking will not be refunded. Please note that RiverWatch reserves the right to enforce this policy strictly.

• Full refunds for group bookings require a minimum of fourteen (14) days’ notice before departure.
• Group bookings are 100% non-refundable within fourteen (14) days of departure.
• Our group booking rescheduling policy allows you to either reschedule your booking or receive a gift certificate, provided the request is made at least 14 days before your scheduled float. To initiate the rescheduling process, please email us your last name, booking ID, and the desired date and time (subject to availability).
• Rescheduling your group float within fourteen (14) days of the booking is not permitted. Cancellations or no-shows within fourteen (14) days of your booking will not be refunded. Please note that RiverWatch reserves the right to enforce this policy strictly.