Golden

From the western boundary of Yoho National Park [1], the TransCanada Highway meanders down the beautiful Kicking Horse River Valley to the town of Golden (population 4,800), at the confluence of the Kicking Horse and Columbia Rivers. As well as being a destination in itself, Golden makes a good central base for exploring the region or as an overnight stop on a tour through the Canadian Rockies [2] that takes in the national parks on the western side of the Continental Divide.

The year-round British Columbia Visitor Centre is ensconced in an architecturally striking building beside the highway before it descends into town from the east (111 Golden Upper Donald Rd., 250/344-7125 or 800/622-4653, www.tourismgolden.com [3], daily 9 a.m.–5 p.m., until 8 p.m. in summer).