Recommend Boating/Rafting Locations in the Rockies?

[Hack&Lube]

Some friends are interested in doing some boating/rafting in the Rockies this weekend. It's a rubber raft and something more like a summer ride down the Bow River in Calgary. We're looking for something more laid back and generally just floating around so no white-water rafting.

What are some good locations in Banff or Kananaskis to do this? I've never tried this there before. Glacier fed lakes will be too cold to swim in right? We will have our own raft.

[burn_this_city]

I'm not sure there's any lazy rivers that you could float a dingy down. I'd be concerned your raft isn't designed for rapids and the water temperature is pretty low.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by burn_this_city

I'm not sure there's any lazy rivers that you could float a dingy down. I'd be concerned your raft isn't designed for rapids and the water temperature is pretty low.

Then maybe just a bike lake to float on?

[DownhillGoat]

Anything for lakes fed off the bow are going to be about 4-6 degrees. I fell in Barrier last week and it was unpleasant. A quick dip to cool off maybe but nothing out that way is going to be a swimming lake, except for a few shallow ones that you're going to have to hike to.

The Bow from Ghost to Cochrane is pretty sweet, some rough patches. Not whitewater but I wouldn't take it with a $20 walmart raft either. You can stop at Wildcat park in the middle of the river (near the gas plant) for a break and snacks and whatnot, and there's a few little eddy pools you can stop at if you don't want to ride the river but just want to float.

If you're just looking at lakes to float on I'd go to Kananaskis, Spray, or Barrier. At least two of which have boat launches and good parking.

[GGG]

Not much in terms of rivers. everything there is intermediate for Kayaks and Canoes or beginner for a proper raft.

So you can lazy float the bow between Banff and Canmore (Start below the falls) or from Ghost to Bearspaw if you rent a self bailing 8 man boat. Though you will get some exciting stretches.

For lakes, Johnson Lake in Banff on the Lake Minniwanka loop is pretty warm for a mountain lake and perfect for dingys.

[GP_Matt]

I think you can float down the Kananaskis River if you put in below the slalom course. It is dam fed so it should be a bit warmer. I have swam in the Kan in April with a wetsuit and don't recall it being overly cold.
Google it to be sure though, I have only run the upper sections.

If you want some adventure instead, put your raft in above Widowmaker and see if anyone can stay in the boat.