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Athabasca Canyon Run Family Rafting: Class II Plus Rapids

Recommended by 100% of travelers
Jasper, Canada
Viator Experience Award
High interest
Booked 2 times today.
  • 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

5.0
·
· Andres_A ·
Aug 2026
Amazing experience. The tour guide Beth was awesome. She let us jump in the water which was a unique experience. Extremely fun and exciting. Time goes by so fast while on the water. Highly recommended
· Charla_H ·
Aug 2026
We went on this tour in a group of 8, 4 adults, 3 teenagers (15 & 13) and one younger one of 9 and had so much fun! It was just the right amount of activity and intensity for us! It lasted a good amount of time and our guide was great! I would definitely recommend it!

Overview

Not all white-water rafting tours are extra exhilarating. Paddle through the dramatic Athabasca Canyon on a half-day white-water rafting adventure from Jasper that takes on fun, family-friendly Class 2+ rapids. You’ll start at the base of Athabasca Falls, then paddle a 7.5-mile (12-kilometer) stretch of river with a certified river guide. This half-day rafting excursion includes all equipment and transport from downtown Jasper, and both morning and afternoon departures are available.
  • All equipment is provided for a hassle-free experience
  • Pickup from a centrally located meeting point
  • Choice of morning or afternoon departure times
  • This beginner-friendly option is an ideal choice for families

What's Included

  • Highly experienced, certified river guide
  • All necessary technical equipment
  • Return transfers to and from the river, departing from our Downtown Location
  • Gratuities
  • Souvenir photos (available to purchase)
  • Food and drinks

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • 638 Connaught Dr, Jasper, AB T0E 0A8, Canada

    Check-in 15 minutes before your tour at 638 Connaught Drive (Corner Connaught Dr. & Hazel Ave) — next to public washrooms & across street from Shell gas station. Look for black Maligne Rafting trailer.

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

Make your way to a departure point in downtown Jasper, where you’ll board a bus for the trip to Athabasca Falls. Wear a swimsuit under your clothes for a quick change to a wetsuit, then join the river guide for a briefing on rafting technique and safety.

Grab a paddle and climb into a six-passenger white-water raft, then leave the shore with the thundering sounds of Athabasca Falls just behind you. The guide will steer you into the current as you paddle into a channel between the high rock walls of Athabasca Canyon.

You’ll take on a series of fun, exciting Class II rapids, then the river will flatten out for the relaxing final stretch. After a couple hours on the water, the guide will steer you back to shore for the return trip to Jasper, where this tour concludes.

Please note: Wetsuits, neoprene booties, and paddle jackets will be provided, as you’re sure to get wet while splashing through the rapids. Wear a swimsuit and bring dry clothes and a towel, as well as wool socks and a warm, post-paddle jacket for cooler days.
1

Athabasca River

2

Maligne Adventures

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Near public transportation
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • All day parking is located in the parking lot directly across the street from Shell Gas station on Connaught drive
  • All departure times listed are in Alberta Mountain Standard Time Zone (MST)
  • Children must be a minimum of 5 years of age. Children ages must be confirmed to Maligne Adventures before date of rafting experience.
  • Dress with a swimsuit underneath your street clothing and bring warm clothing for afterwards. It is also recommended to bring a drink and snack for after the tour
  • This trip runs in all weather conditions. Participants will be provided with all the necessary technical equipment including wet-suits, spray jackets, neoprene booties and life-jackets, however on cooler days, those prone to feeling the cold should bring either a fleece or wool jacket to wear underneath the spray jacket (no cotton should be worn)
  • Minimum numbers apply. There is a possibility of cancellation after confirmation if there is not enough passengers to meet requirements. In the event of this occurring, you will be offered an alternative or full refund
  • Participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult
  • The duration of transfers are approximate, the exact duration will depend on the time of day and traffic conditions
  • No Pets – Service Dogs with Valid Paperwork Only
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 18 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

James_H
Being new to rafting, we chose the Canyon Run trip and it was outstanding. We saw 2 bull elk & osprey. Our guide Eric is absolutely stellar. Maligne Rafting has all new rafts, gear and wetsuits for rafters. Despite the 2024 fire, there's plenty of beauty. DO wear a swim suit, you'll completely change clothes into safety neoprene suits. We had great fun.

Reviews

5.0
based on 239 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Sort by: Most recent

Awesome worth it

Tim_M, Aug 2026
Absolutely amazing worth every penny the guide was awesome the river wasn’t too difficult but still had excitement

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Hi Tim, so great that you were able to join us on our Athabasca Canyon run raft trip. We hope to see you again on further Maligne Rafting adventures.

Whitewater rafting

Eveline_O, Aug 2026
Great experience for first time rafting, Beth was great with instructions, let us jump on river and try and steer the raft.

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Hello Evenine Thanks for letting us know that your enjoyed your first rafting experience with Maligne Adventures. We will pass on your review to Beth and hope to see your again on future outings,

Great fun

Cheryl_S, Aug 2026
Easy peasy for first timers. Lots of laughs. Instructions and safety protocols well explains. Tour guides personable.

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Thank you for the great review! We’re so glad you had a fun experience, especially as first-time rafters. It’s wonderful to hear that the safety instructions were clear and that our guides kept things personable and full of laughs. Thanks for joining us on the river!

Amazing Experience- Fantastic Guides

Paul_P, Aug 2026
It was the first time my family had been white water rafting- they were definitely nervous. Shane and team (Chelsea, Beth, Tyler) kept everything light on the ride out, and our raft guide, Chelsea, was amazing. She gave clear instructions and kept the entire raft ride safe and, more importantly, super fun!!! If you’re on the fence, definitely do it- and book with this team. Not all tour groups in Jasper are created equal and the Maligne team was great from beginning to end!

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Thank you for the wonderful review! We’re so glad your family chose us for your first white water rafting experience and that Shane, Chelsea, Beth, and Tyler helped turn those nerves into a fun and memorable adventure. It’s great to hear that Chelsea’s clear instructions made everyone feel safe and comfortable while still keeping the trip exciting! We’ll be sure to share your kind words with the whole team. Thank you for the fantastic recommendation!

A fun way to experience one of Jasper’s rivers

Rachel_S, Aug 2026
The team were really friendly and helpful. The bus ride was about 30 mins to the river where we were suited and booted. We were then given a safety briefing and headed out. The rapids were exciting but not at all scary. We enjoyed the commentary that our guide gave us- she was very knowledgable about the area and very enthusiastic. We also enjoyed that we weren’t paddling all the time and we were given time to sit back and take in the scenery. The ride down the river took about an hour and then we were picked up by the bus. We didn’t need our change of clothes. We were wet but we just put our clothes on over our damp swimming clothes as there wasn’t much space to get fully charged. We highly recommend this trip, you won’t be disappointed. Thank you!

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Thank you for taking the time to share such a detailed review! We’re delighted you enjoyed the whole experience, from our friendly team and guide’s commentary to the exciting rapids and beautiful scenery along the river. It’s great to hear you appreciated having some time to relax between paddling and simply take in the surroundings. Thank you for the recommendation, and for choosing to raft with us during your time in Jasper!

Amazing experience,...

Kieran_M, Aug 2026
Amazing experience, thanks to our guides, Colin, Tyler and Scooba Steve our driver! Glad we upgraded to the class 3 rapids!

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Thank you for the great review! We’re so glad you had an amazing time and enjoyed stepping it up to the Class 3 rapids! We’ll be sure to pass your shout-out along to Colin, Tyler, and Scooba Steve. Thanks for rafting with us!

Amazing experience. The...

Andres_A, Aug 2026
Amazing experience. The tour guide Beth was awesome. She let us jump in the water which was a unique experience. Extremely fun and exciting. Time goes by so fast while on the water. Highly recommended

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Hello Andres, Sounds like your Athabasca Canyon raft trip with Maligne Adventures was a great success, we will be certain to pass your comments on to Beth. And hope to see you again on future river trips.

Good fun and amazing scenery

Kevin_A, Aug 2026
Great (safe) fun and very nice views! The guides are very professional and make you feel relaxed with their explanation

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Hi Kevin, Thank you for taking the time to let us know you enjoyed your recent Athabasca Canyon raft trip with Maligne Adventures. We hope to see you again on future trips.

I would give this activity more stars if I could!

Charla_H, Aug 2026
We went on this tour in a group of 8, 4 adults, 3 teenagers (15 & 13) and one younger one of 9 and had so much fun! It was just the right amount of activity and intensity for us! It lasted a good amount of time and our guide was great! I would definitely recommend it!

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Thanks for taking the time to review your recent Canyon Run rafting trip with Maligne Adventures. It is great to hear that your group had such a positive experience. We hope to see you again on future trips.

Great River Rafting for 1st Timers

Jessica_N, Aug 2026
This is for first time on the raft. Our guide named Ryan was super cool. She made our trip fun & exciting.

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Thank you for your great review! We're so glad your first rafting experience was such a fun and exciting one. Ryan will be thrilled to hear your kind words—we'll be sure to pass them along. We hope this was the first of many rafting adventures, and we'd love to welcome you back again soon!

Wonderful all around

Amber_W, Aug 2026
I went with my 12 year old daughter and this was her favorite activity of our whole trip. The views were spectacular and the guides made it so fun for the kids. All of the workers were wonderful. Would highly recommend!

Response from Host, Aug 2026

Thank you for your wonderful review! We're thrilled to hear this was your daughter's favorite activity of the trip. It's fantastic that you both enjoyed the spectacular scenery and that our team helped make the experience so much fun. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another adventure!

Jasper Rafting

Debra_S, Jul 2026
The Class 2 rafting was perfect for us as first time rafters. Exciting enough to have lots of fun without feeling afraid of not being able to handle the raft. Our guide was confident in her ability to guide us. She gave us information on rafting and the Athabasca River we were traveling on and area around it. She also gave us information on herself and what she did in Japan and why she traveled to the Rocky Mountains to work. She was very interesting.

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Hello Debra Thank you for taking the time to review your recent Athabasca Canyon raft trip with Maligne Adventures. It is great to know that Aki made you feel comfortable and informed during your time on the river. We will be certain to pass your comments on to her. Regards

It was a great family...

Tracy_F, Jul 2026
It was a great family experience. The kids loved it and the guides were very friendly and knowledgeable.

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Hi Tracy, Great to know that you and your family enjoyed their Athabasca Canyon Run with Maligne Adventures We hope to see you again on future outings. Regards

Don’t worry about safety....

Jerry_C, Jul 2026
Don’t worry about safety. These guys will take care of you. Protective gear will keep you warm but not dry. Overall a fun experience.

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Thank you for your great review! We're so glad you had a fun experience on the river. Safety is always our top priority, and we're pleased you felt well looked after by our team. Thanks for joining us, and we hope to welcome you back for another adventure in Jasper soon!

great experience

Ali_S, Jul 2026
such happy, friendly and skilled guys they are. we thoroughly enjoyed river rafting. Aki in particular, is a great guide. she was captain of our ship and she even allowed me to use her oars/paddles for some time which was an awesome experience. everyone must try river rafting but only and only with Maligne Rafting Adventures Ltd. (and ask for Aki to be your guide)

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Thank you for your fantastic review! We're thrilled to hear you had such a great time rafting with our team, and we'll be sure to pass your kind words on to Aki. It's wonderful that you even had the chance to paddle the raft yourself! We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome you back for another adventure on the river soon.

Regal River Rafting

Leann_G, Jul 2026
The staff is fun, skilled, knowledgeable. Great introduction to rafting for our 8 and 10 year old grandchildren. Our guide Beth was amazing. She made our day. .

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Thanks for the wonderful review! We're delighted your family had such a great introduction to rafting. It's fantastic to hear Beth helped make the day so memorable for both you and your grandchildren. We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to her. We hope to welcome you all back for another adventure soon!

Fun and amazing

Christina_L, Jul 2026
Amazing experience! So much fun, it was our first time rafting. Great for all age groups. Amazing guides. It was one of our favorite things to do.

Response from Host, Jul 2026

Thank you for the fantastic review! We're thrilled your first rafting experience was such a memorable one. It's wonderful to hear our guides helped make it one of your favourite activities, and that you found it fun and enjoyable for everyone. We hope to welcome you back for another adventure on the river soon!

Excellent morning rafting on the river

Pamela_M, Jul 2026
Very well‑organised trip with great equipment. Wetsuits and life jackets were provided and everything felt safe and well managed. Tyler was an amazing guide — knowledgeable, professional, and genuinely fun to be around. A brilliant guide who made the whole experience exceptionally enjoyable

Amazing Family Rafting Adventure

Amy_C, Jun 2026
This rafting experience was great! We had a family ranging from 10 years old up to 19 years old. There was enough of some rapids to appease the older teens while not being “too crazy” for the 10 years old. Perfect length of time. And Chelsea was AMAZING and super fun as our raft leader. We all would highly recommend this adventure!

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Thank you for your fantastic review! We're so glad the trip was the perfect balance of excitement for your whole family. It's wonderful to hear Chelsea made the experience so much fun—she'll be thrilled to receive your kind words. We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope to welcome your family back for another river adventure!

Sublime Maligne

Clare_S, Jun 2026
Fun morning rafting from the Athabasca falls. Very organised company provided all the gear we needed great instruction from Tyler accompanied by Ookie. Tip ladies wear a swimsuit so you can keep keep it on under your wet suit. We survived the rain and the rapids. We saw an Osprey, Bear and on the journey up on the school bus we saw Elk. In the sandy bank we checked out Moose prints. We had many laughs along the way and would highly recommend the trip. The heating was turned up on the way back to warm up on the Yellow school bus. Go and book don’t worry if it rains.

Fantastic rafting adventure down the beautiful Athabasca River.

Craig_J, Sept 2025
Fantastic rafting through the beautiful Jasper wilderness. Amazing mountain views. Wonderful guides, friendly, helpful and knowledgeable. Perfect tour for families even with youngsters.

Response from Host, Sept 2025

Hi Craig, thanks for letting us know how much you enjoyed your Athabasca River raft trip with Maligne Adventures. The guides will love your positive comments as well.

Such a fun experience!

Cassandra_K, Aug 2025
Collin was a fantastic guide down the Athabasca river. Ready to do a class 3 rapids as class 2 we didn’t have to do much which was to be expected since it’s for little kids. But still so much fun and my favorite experience so far in Jasper/Banff vacation.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Hello and thanks so much for your great review of your Athabasca Canyon run on the river with Maligne Adventures. Glad you had fun and now you will have to come back and run the Fraser River (3+) Regards

Great fun, very safe

James_H, Aug 2025
Being new to rafting, we chose the Canyon Run trip and it was outstanding. We saw 2 bull elk & osprey. Our guide Eric is absolutely stellar. Maligne Rafting has all new rafts, gear and wetsuits for rafters. Despite the 2024 fire, there's plenty of beauty. DO wear a swim suit, you'll completely change clothes into safety neoprene suits. We had great fun.

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Hello James Thank you for your great review of your recent Athabasca Canyon raft trip with Maligne Adventures. We appreciate hearing that Eric was able to provide you with such an outstanding experience. We will be certain to pass your comments on to him. Regards

First time rafters!

Stephanie_S, Aug 2025
This experience exceeded expectations. I chose the level 2 family option as my youngest is 10 and we had never been before. From start to finish the company made everything so easy and enjoyable. Check in was easy and everyone was very friendly. Employees answered questions about the area on the bus ride to the starting point. Mini learning session before setting into the water was great for us first time rafters. Our captain, Collin, was friendly and made the experience fun for everyone. My 10 year old was able to sit in the front of the raft in the center and she got SOAKED! She loved every minute of it as we paddled and pushed through the water. Collin was great at giving directions and knew we were in it for a full experience, lots of splashes!! My three daughters (and the parents) even had a chance to steer the boat at the end of the trip in calmer waters. We are definitely excited to try a level 3….when the youngest is old enough. Our first time white water rafting did not disappoint!

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thank you so much for your amazing review! We're thrilled to hear that your first whitewater rafting experience was such a hit for the whole family. It’s wonderful to know your 10-year-old loved the splashes up front and that Collin helped make the trip both fun and memorable with his guidance and energy. We’re so glad the whole process felt easy and enjoyable—exactly what we aim for! We can’t wait to welcome you back when you're ready for the Level 3 adventure!

A real blast!!!

Shirley_B, Aug 2025
Awesome river trip! Very fun rapids😄 our river guide Thomas was very skilled at getting us into those fun rapids so we could get the best bang!!! Would highly recommend this trip for anyone that wants to have a fun day😉

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Thanks for the awesome review! We’re so glad you had a blast on the river and got to experience the rapids to the fullest. Thomas will be thrilled to hear your kind words—he’s great at making the ride both exciting and safe. We really appreciate the recommendation! 😄

Perfect for beginners and first timers

Karen_E, Jul 2025
Perfect for beginners. We had a blast. Even tho it was raining. And cold..it was super fun. Loved our guide chris. He was fantastic

Response from Host, Aug 2025

Hello Karen, Great to hear that Chris made your first raft trip on the Athabasca Canyon Run with Maligne Rafting such a positive experience. We'll see you again on future adventures

Highly recommend this fantastic family float!!

Kelly_K, Jul 2025
The team was outstanding (Thomas was fun and really great with our crew of boys!) and the rafting was super safe but with just the right amount of thrill.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Hi Kelly Thanks for your great review of your recent Athabasca Canyon run raft trip with Maligne Adventures. We are happy to hear that you and your family enjoyed the adventure, and we look forward to seeing you again on future trips.

Amazing rafting experience

Jon_T, Jul 2025
Well organised from start to finish. Amazing experience and really good family fun. Highly recommend.

Response from Host, Feb 2026

Thank you for the lovely review! We appreciate you joining our tour!

Great time on the Athabasca!

Julie_H, Jul 2025
We had an awesome adventure with Beth down the Athabasca River. Would 10/10 recommend to other families especially those who are new to whitewater and/or are hesitant around water. Beth, Mason and the whole crew did a great job ensuring that all members of our group felt comfortable, supported and were having fun the entire duration of our time on and off the river.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Hello Julie, thank you for taking the time to review your recent Athabasca River Raft trip with Maligne Adventures. Great to hear that Beth, Mason and the crew were able to make your experience comfortable and enjoyable. We will be certain to pass your comments on to them. Hope to see you on future adventures with us!

Maligne Adventures - Guides with passion

Michael_Z, Jul 2025
It was our first whitewater rafting trip and it was great, even for two senior citizens (one of which was apprehensive). But the guide was great and my wife quickly overcame her fears) The experience allowed to see Jasper national park from a different perspective- from the athabasca river. Lastly, while in Jasper, we too two tours with Maligne Adventures (wildlife and whitewater rafting.). Both of tour guides were great. They have a passive for both their job and nature. We loved seeing it and having them transfer their passion to us.

Response from Host, Jul 2025

Thank you for the awesome review! We love hearing that you had a great time on both your whitewater rafting trip and your wildlife search, and that your guides made your experience both comfortable and memorable!

From $93.68

per person

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

Book ahead!
On average, this is booked 51 days in advance.

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