NOTE: Red Deer Discovery Canyon is closed for 2016
Add Discovery Canyon to your summer road trip list. It’s in Red Deer and it was the perfect destination for young kids. Tube rentals are available on site (for $5 + $15 deposit) and the water is shallow throughout the bottom of the tubing area - and clear, points for clear! Violet (18 months) was able to walk almost all the way across the small water area without going over her head. She loved walking out after playing in the sand, and greeting the older kids that were coming down on their tubes.
The tubing area is a little walk to the left of the sandy area. Once Olivia (4) was comfortable getting in the tube in the water, she made the walk and came down in their tubes. They enjoyed the tubing, and I loved the fact that the start was close enough to have some independence and go-it alone. Even her little sister, rode alone, as we let her go half way down the course to reduce it a little while she gained confidence to go it alone.
With no admission, and an awesome experience - I am so sad that we didn’t discover the park sooner and spend more days there. I imagine it’s quite packed in the summer, so I’m thinking we’re going to have to get there early next season.
What’s there to Do?
Bring along snacks (but don’t sit anywhere close to the trash cans) we were about twelve feet away and I think I killed a couple of dozen wasps while we were having lunch. There are very few larger, adult-sized tubes available (only five) so I would recommend you consider bringing your own if you’re not going to arrive early in the day.
There’s an ATM in the clubhouse at the golf course, but if you bring cash you can save yourself a trip.
Smaller kids can go in the tubes with parents, play in the sand or wade in the shallow water. Plus, there’s a small playground with concessions available close to the playground. The concessions prices looked like - $2.25 for pop/water, $1 for popsicles and freezies, $4 for hot-dogs.
Where is it?
Follow the signs for the Riverbend Golf course, that’s the easiest way that it was described to us about how to get there - once we were on 30th. This seasonal water park is located along the Red Deer River 3.5 km north of 30 Avenue from 67 Street (Riverbend Golf Course).
When is Discovery Canyon Open?
Seasonal opening and closing dates depend on weather conditions. For more information, please call the RiverBend Golf and Recreation Area at 403-343-8311. My tip for visiting? Take a week day off and head there in the morning to make sure that you’re going to get a tube rental - and that it’s not going to be too busy on the weekends.
