Top Alberta White Water Rafting

The UNESCO-listed Jasper National Park is a uniquely impressive place to experience nature, and a gentle adventure on the Athabasca River is a great way to do it. This float trip takes you down several miles on the Class II rapids—expect a few splashes along the way, but nothing too scary. Your National Park-licensed guide will share stories of the area as you go, and all necessary gear is included for your convenience.

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.

Experience the excitement of a whitewater rafting adventure on this guided, 2-hour excursion. Choose from a morning or afternoon departure time, then ride along Alberta's Athabasca River in Jasper National Park. This ‘Mile 5’ trip is the river’s most popular, challenging class II rapids. The guide will be taking photos along the way which will be available for purchase at the end of the trip. All the necessary rafting equipment is included.

Experience the Canadian Rockies from the water on this thrilling white-water rafting adventure with round-trip transfers from downtown Jasper included. Spend about two hours on the water, passing Class 3 rapids and swirling eddies, and enjoying unique views of Mt Robson and Rearguard Falls. Keep a lookout for wildlife like black bears, waterfowl, and—in season—spawning salmon along the way.

No roads lead to the parts of the river you will travel on this expedition. Raft the white water on the Athabasca River through places you can only reach by boat. This guided tour takes you through two exciting sets of rapids (wear your bathing suit!) linked by a serene stretch through the canyon. Take in the Rocky Mountain scenery only paddlers and wildlife get to witness.

Head to Kicking Horse River for a thrilling whitewater rafting experience in the Canadian Rockies. Known for its waves and rapids, Kicking Horse offers mild to wild whitewater options. After being outfitted with top-of-the-line gear, you’ll receive a safety briefing before hitting the water where you’ll expertly maneuver past stunning scenery and through turbulent, challenging or gentle waves and rapids. Base amenities include heated indoor change rooms.

Jasper’s Sunwapta River is a stretch of grade III rapids, where challenging twists and turns and spectacular scenery come as standard. On this tour, spin along the Icefields Parkway road and admire sweeping views over the famous Rocky Mountains. Tackle the swirling white-water currents with your guide, and watch the riverbanks for sightings of native wildlife living within the Jasper National Park.

Get a little wet and have a lot of fun on the Athabasca River. Travel with your small group to the put in point and raft the Mile 5 section of the glacier-fed river. This section of river is a great introduction to river rafting as it begins with an approximately 10-minute float before the class II rapids start. Experience the gentle thrill of some bumps and splashes on your excursion.

Make whitewater rafting part of your Icefields Parkway road trip. This self-drive Sunwapta River adventure is ideal for travellers exploring Jasper National Park or journeying along the Icefields Parkway between Jasper, Lake Louise and Banff. Meet right at the river, leave your vehicle at the take-out and ride our rafting bus upstream to the launch. From there, paddle 13 km (8 miles) down the glacier-fed Sunwapta River, taking on fast, technical Class 3 whitewater surrounded by Canadian Rockies wilderness. After approximately 1.5 hours on the water, you'll finish back at your vehicle—ready to continue along the Icefields Parkway or explore nearby attractions at your own pace. No previous rafting experience is required.

Bring the whole family along on this moderately challenging—yet totally fun—river rafting excursion down the Athabasca Valley in Jasper National Park. Join a guide in an 8-person raft for a multi-rapid run down the Athabasca River Canyon for a trip challenging enough to be counted as an adventure but relaxing enough for you to enjoy the beautiful canyon scenery along the way.

Get ready for Jasper’s only class 3 rapids on the Sunwapta River. Be prepared: you’re going to get wet. Wear your bathing suit under your wetsuit and bring a towel and your sense of adventure. If you have your own wheels, you can save a bit by meeting the guides at the river instead of paying for the shuttle from the Jasper townsite.