How long does it take to float the Bow?

We may be called Lazy Day Raft Rentals, but we know that many people have other things on their schedule beside drifting down the river. For that, you need to know how much time to set aside for your relaxing ride down the Bow. In this blog, we’ll discuss how long it takes to float the Bow and what might impact the amount of time your trip down the river will take.

The Basics

The simplest answer when we’re asked how long it takes to float the Bow is 2 to 4 hours. If you think that sounds like a big difference, you’re not wrong, but the time varies by time of year, and sometimes even by day, so that’s really as fine a point as we can put on it for a general answer.

If you’re wondering what causes the difference in times, the answer is the flow of the river. While the Bow is known for its calm, steady flow, it is a natural river, so its flow will vary depending on the time of year and the recent weather. There are no rapids to speak of, so no need to worry about that, but when the river speed picks up even a little bit, it can make the trip go faster. The float adventure we offer on the Bow is 15 kilometres long, meaning any difference in speed has a long way to add up.

Luckily, you have our experience crews to rely on. When the day of your rental arrives, you can ask and of our crew members their opinion of how long your trip will take based on the flow of the river that day. While they won’t be able to give you an exact time, they may be able to narrow it down a bit more than a 2-hour window.

The Variables

The 2-to-4-hour window that we have quoted above is the baseline of how long it takes to float the river without any stops. While that may be ideal for those on a tight schedule, if you’re still planning your day, we feel it’s important for you to know that your rental covers you keeping the raft for the entire day!

You may be wondering what the point of having the raft all day is if the float adventure only takes a few hours. That’s where all the little adventures along the way come in. The Bow River is dotted along the float path with parks, beaches, and islands — all sorts of fun places to stop and explore or enjoy a picnic! Some of these places are more rural, with lots of flora and fauna to check out, while others are populated, where you can stop and grab lunch or ice cream, or even take a bathroom break.

While we do encourage our guests to make the most of their day and enjoy as many stops along the way as they would like, we must also encourage those who choose to do so to keep a close eye on your raft. We have unfortunately had guests whose raft and/or belongings were stolen while they were at a stop along the river.

Transportation

As you’re planning your day, if you are tight on time you will also want to take into account the time it takes to get from one end of the river to the other prior to or after your float adventure. We start at West Baker Park boat ramp and end at the Lazy Day shop near Prince’s Island Park. Parking is available at both locations, though you will need a parking pass from the shop in order to park in the downtown location.

We offer an optional shuttle service for a low per person cost, while others prefer to take a second vehicle or call a car service to get to the starting or end point.

Lazy Day Raft Rentals

One of the best things about floating the Bow with Lazy Day Raft Rentals is how flexible it can be to meet your needs. If you just have a few hours in your day, you can rent a raft and enjoy the river with few to no stops, while if you have more time available, you can stop and enjoy the parks along the way. No matter how much time you have, the Bow River is waiting for you. Call (403) 258-0575 or stop by today to learn more about renting a raft to float the Bow.