Sunwapta Challenge Whitewater Rafting: Class III Rapids
Recommended by 98% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Jasper, Canada
- 4 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Take on the Class II and Class III white-water rapids of the Sunwapta River on this morning or afternoon rafting adventure from Jasper, and enjoy views of the Jasper National Park that can only be seen from the water. You’ll paddle alongside an experienced river guide, splashing over an 8-mile (13-km) stretch of fun rapids. This whitewater rafting trip includes all necessary equipment and instruction, as well as round-trip transport from a central location in Jasper.
- Enjoy a unique perspective of Jasper's UNESCO-listed Rocky Mountain scenery
- This beginner-friendly tour is ideal for your first white-water rafting experience
- Combine big thrills with wildlife-watching: look out for grizzly bears
- Hassle-free day trip including round-trip transport from Jasper
What's Included
- Highly experienced, certified river guide
- All necessary technical equipment
- Return transfers to and from the river, departing from our Downtown Location
- Wet Suits and all on-river equipment
- 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.Itinerary
Make your way to a central location in Jasper, then travel to a put-in spot by the Sunwapta River in Jasper National Park. Wear a swimsuit under your clothes so you’ll be ready for a quick change into a wetsuit, neoprene booties, and a paddle jacket, and on cooler days, bring a pair of wool socks to wear inside the neoprene booties.
Meet the river guides for a briefing on white-water paddling technique and safety, then hit the river in self-bailing rafts that accommodate up to six passengers. The name of the Sunwapta comes from the Stoney Indian term “turbulent river,” and during the highest-water months of mid-June to late July, it lives up to its name with a consistent mix of Class II and Class III rapids.
Watch for wildlife at the edge of the water, as Jasper National Park is habitat for everything from tiny pikas to grizzly bears and moose, and enjoy views of the dramatic Rocky Mountain landscape. After roughly 1.5 hours on the water, steer to shore at a take out point—it’s a great idea to bring a towel and warm clothes to change into when you get off the river.
This trip concludes with return transfer to Jasper.
Meet the river guides for a briefing on white-water paddling technique and safety, then hit the river in self-bailing rafts that accommodate up to six passengers. The name of the Sunwapta comes from the Stoney Indian term “turbulent river,” and during the highest-water months of mid-June to late July, it lives up to its name with a consistent mix of Class II and Class III rapids.
Watch for wildlife at the edge of the water, as Jasper National Park is habitat for everything from tiny pikas to grizzly bears and moose, and enjoy views of the dramatic Rocky Mountain landscape. After roughly 1.5 hours on the water, steer to shore at a take out point—it’s a great idea to bring a towel and warm clothes to change into when you get off the river.
This trip concludes with return transfer to Jasper.
Maligne Adventures (Pass By)
1
Jasper National Park
4 hours • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- All day parking is located in the parking lot directly across the street.
- You are required to check-in and sign waivers 15 minutes prior to departure time
- 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 wetsuits, spray jackets, neoprene booties, helmets and lifejackets, 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)
- Participants must be at least 12 years of age and weigh a minimum of 90 lbs (41 kg)
- Participants under 18 must be accompanied by an adult
- Not recommended for those with back injuries
- All departure times listed are in Alberta Mountain Standard Time Zone (MST)
- The duration of transfers are approximate, the exact duration will depend on the time of day and traffic conditions
- 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
- No Pets – Service Dogs with Valid Paperwork Only
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 18 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Featured review
Bryan_W
The staff there are amazing and so friendly. Very safety conscious without being bossy. Would definitely go again. I would Highly recommend to anyone staying with in the Jasper area. I went on the afternoon trip and we saw Elk and mountain goats on the way back to town. Thanks again B
Reviews
4.9
based on 139 reviews
Chad_D, Aug 2025
Great crew with plenty of Experience. Mason was a fun guide, made it memorable. Would highly recommend to future travelers.
Response from Host, Aug 2025
Thank you for the great review! We're so glad you had a memorable experience with Mason — she’ll be happy to hear your kind words. Our crew takes pride in what they do, and it’s always wonderful to hear that it shows. We truly appreciate the recommendation and hope to see you again on your next adventure in Jasper!
Chris_A, Jul 2025
Guide was excellent. Very knowledgeable. River was challenging and very entertaining. Highly recommend.
Response from Host, Jul 2025
Thank you for the review of your time rafting with us on the Sunwapta River! We're glad you found it to be both challenging and entertaining.
Bryan_W, Jul 2024
The staff there are amazing and so friendly. Very safety conscious without being bossy. Would definitely go again. I would Highly recommend to anyone staying with in the Jasper area. I went on the afternoon trip and we saw Elk and mountain goats on the way back to town. Thanks again B
James_R, Jul 2024
Guides were fun and funny and put us at ease. One of us was nervous lol I had never gone on a whitewater raft before.
We had Josh- driver, photo, security great job!
Austin guiding our boat-he was excellent and Ty Antoine and Thomas on our trip. All were very kind and fun. The scenery was amazing! Lessons were clear. Gear was great and made it easy that it was all provided. Would 100% recommend this excursion.
Iryna_K, Jul 2024
Very good guide, very informative. It was a very interesting experience and beautiful views. Rafting was comfortable for beginners.
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Thank you for sharing your positive experience with Maligne Adventures! We're thrilled to hear that you found our guide very good and informative, and that you enjoyed the interesting experience and beautiful views.
Simrandeep_K, Jul 2024
If you are looking for something thrilling this is not that adventurous. I did rafting in Golden last year it was much more worth it.
Response from Host, Jul 2024
It sounds like you're comparing your rafting experiences, and you found the rafting in Golden more thrilling and worth it compared to this one. Each location and experience can vary in intensity and excitement levels. If you're seeking something more adventurous next time, it might be worth researching specific rafting trips that offer higher rapids or more challenging routes. If you have any more questions or need further assistance, feel free to let me know!
Regards,
Maligne Adventures
Andrew_W, Jun 2024
A fantastic experience. 10/10. Staff were rockstars; friendly, knowledgeable and a good time. Lead a bachelor party weekend and it was the highlight of our trip. Absolutely plan to go again. I would only suggest they invest in change rooms for before and after. The whole bus stripping down in front of each other or in the bush felt a little weird.
Response from Host, Jul 2024
Thank you for sharing your enthusiastic review of your recent Sunwapta Challenge tour with Maligne Adventures. We're thrilled to hear that you had a fantastic experience and that it was the highlight of your bachelor party weekend. Our team works hard to provide a memorable and enjoyable adventure, and it's wonderful to know that our staff's friendliness, knowledge, and good spirits made such a positive impact on your trip.
Tamara_B, Aug 2023
This trip was AMAZING. So much fun, beautiful scenery, guide was an expert and humorous. Highly recommend!
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Thank you for joining Maligne Rafting Adventures on the Sunwpata river! The guides really enjoy taking people down the river and making sure you have a fun time!
Joani_S, Aug 2023
Beautiful scenery and just the right amount of exertion/excitement. Guide was very knowledgeable and kept us engaged throughout the trip. I was a little nervous about the rapids but they were very navigable.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
It's great to know that the level of exertion and excitement matched your expectations perfectly. Our aim is to provide an exhilarating yet enjoyable experience for all our guests, and we're glad to hear we hit the mark for you. Thank you for choosing our adventure and for your kind words. We look forward to the opportunity to welcome you back for more breathtaking scenery, excitement, and engaging journeys down the river.
David_G, Aug 2023
Austin was very humerous, as well as managing to keep us all in the boat while we meandered the tricky Sumwapta river. Excellet value for a fun ( not too wet ) day out.
Response from Host, Aug 2023
Thank you for sharing your experience with us! We're thrilled to hear that Austin, your guide, brought humor and skill to your rafting adventure on the Sunwapta River. Maintaining a lighthearted atmosphere is important to us, and it's fantastic to know that Austin's humor added to the enjoyment of your day. Navigating the tricky waters of the Sunwapta River requires expertise, and we're glad that Austin managed to keep everyone in the boat while providing a memorable experience. We understand the balance between fun and getting wet, and we're pleased that you found our tour to be excellent value for a day filled with enjoyment. Thank you for choosing us for your adventure, and we hope that you'll consider joining us again for more rafting excitement in the future.
Anonymous, Jul 2023
So much fun!!!! Your crew was excellent, cracking jokes and just it made it a wonderful excursion! Made us feel safe!
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Thank you for joining Maligne Rafting Adventures for the class 3 Sunwapta River. Ensuring that our guests have a fantastic time is our priority, especially for those trying whitewater rafting for the first time. We are delighted that you found the experience enjoyable and memorable.
Our guides take great pride in providing clear instructions and ensuring the safety and enjoyment of our guests.
Sunil_B, Jul 2023
It was one of our best experiences. The crew is great. Craig and team, thank you for sharing your knowledge and experiences. I had a lot of fun.
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Thank you for choosing Maligne Adventures for the Sunwapta Challenge Whitewater Rafting trip and sharing your experience with us ! We're glad to hear that you had a lot of fun during your raft trip and that you enjoyed your time with our crew. We hope to have the pleasure of welcoming you back in the future for more thrilling adventures in the Canadian Rockies!
Michael_B, Jul 2023
From the beginning to the end of the trip, everything was well organized. The members of our group that had never gone rafting before felt confident after the short lesson and safety briefing before going on the water. Ty was an amazing river guide and made the experience unforgettable for all of us. To top it off he gave us some local knowledge on fun places to explore after rafting. 5 stars!
Response from Host, Jul 2023
Thank you for taking the time to share your review of your recent experience on our Sunwapta Rafting trip with Maligne Rafting adventures. We truly appreciate your feedback and are delighted to hear that you had an enjoyable and well-organized trip from start to finish.
We are thrilled to know that even those in your group who were new to rafting felt confident and prepared after the short lesson and safety briefing. Ensuring our guests' safety and comfort is of utmost importance to us, and it brings us great satisfaction to hear that we were able to provide a reassuring experience.
Walter_M, Aug 2022
fun and exciting our guide craig was very informative and entertaining - great family activity- beautiful
Response from Host, Aug 2022
Hi Walter
Great to hear that you enjoyed your recent Sunwapta whitewater raft trip with Maligne Adventures. Craig really know his 'stuff'. Hope to see you again on future outings with us.
Regards
Leanne_W, Jul 2022
Overall good but was expecting more. As a rapid III we were expecting more at the beginning instead of a long leisurely pass down the river
Response from Host, Jul 2022
Thank you for joining our team at Maligne Adventures for your Sunwapta raft trip. Our goal is for you guys to have fun and laugh lots. The start of that trip is a little bit more easy breezy until you get into the whitewater that lasts for 45 minutes. Our apologies that the start wasn't what you thought it would be, its pretty hard to start right in the whitewater depending on where we can put in off the road in a National Park. We hope you still enjoyed the experience and the Class Three rapids!
Steve_A, Jul 2022
Professionally run, great safety awareness and briefing, friendly guides, and a superb stretch of river.
Response from Host, Jul 2022
Thank you for joining our team at Maligne Rafting Adventures for your Sunwapta Class 3 raft trip. Our goal is for you guys to have fun and laugh lots, we always laugh when we are comfortable. Thank you for taking the time to write a lovely review.
Tafi_M, Jul 2022
The whole experience from starting instructions, enthusiastic staff, the safety measures and the whole trip down the river
Response from Host, Jul 2022
Thank you for joining our team at Maligne Adventures for all your Sunwapta Rafting needs. Our goal is for you guys to have fun and laugh lots. Thank you for taking the time to write a lovely review.
Jane_G, Jul 2022
The kids loved the guides, they were funny, kind, and knowledgeable, which made the whole experience a fantastic one. We took a group of 11 kids, some who had never gone and some who had gone a few times and each one said it was a blast and they would definitely do it again.
Response from Host, Jul 2022
Hello Jane
thanks to you and the kids for taking the time to review your Sunwapta River Raft trip with Maligne Adventures. Great that all the kids had such a good time, see you again on future adventures with us.
Bob_B, Jun 2022
Enjoyable 1/2 day rafting experience. Guides were great. Water is of course cold, but they provide all the necessary equipment. It was a little odd not having a changing room/ area, especially after rafting and trying to get into warm/dry clothes. We opted to keep our wet bathing suit for the return ride home rather than strip everything off.
Response from Host, Jun 2022
Hi Again Bob
Looks like you participated in more than one of our Maligne Adventures, great to hear that you enjoyed both of your trips. Unfortunately due to Parks Canada regulations we are restricted in the changing facilities, sorry to hear that you were uncomfortable on your trip home. Hopefully the overall rafting experience made up for this inconvenience.
Kathie_L, Aug 2021
The whole family enjoyed every minute. It was well organized and well run. We were in good hands with our guides.
Response from Host, Aug 2021
Hello Kathie
Great to hear that your family enjoyed their Sunwapta River raft trip with Maligne Adventures. We look forward to seeing you again on future outings.
Regards
Trevor
Janessa_G, Aug 2021
Lots of fun. Friendly and knowledgeable guides. This was our first time rafting and we had such a great time we can’t wait to go again.
Response from Host, Aug 2021
Hello Janess
Thank you for taking the time to comment on your Sunwapta River raft trip with Maligne Adventures. Great to hear that you enjoyed your first time rafting adventure. We look forward to seeing you again on future trips.
Regards
Trevor
Naomi_S, Aug 2021
Great family fun !! We all had a great time and got soaked . Safety was a priority and the whole trip was quite enjoyable .
Would definitely do this again !
Response from Host, Aug 2021
Hello Naomi
Great to hear that your family enjoyed their experience with Maligne Rafting Adventures. We hope to see you again on future outings.
Regards
Trevor
Evelyn_K, Aug 2021
The staff was friendly and lots of fun. They knew their job well and didn’t waste any time.
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Response from Host, Aug 2021
Hello Evelyn,
thank you for rafting with Maligne Adventures. We are glad you had a good time with us. Hopefully we will see you again in beautiful Jasper.
Kind regards
Petra, Maligne Adventures Office
George_B, Jul 2021
Excellent service. The guide, Ty, very professional, knowing the river's every corner. and very helpful. Thank you Ty.
Response from Host, Jul 2021
Hello George,
thank you for your kind words. We are happy you've had a great time with us. I'll make sure to pass your words onto Ty.
We hope to see you again in Jasper.
Kind regards
Petra, Maligne Adventures Office
Berlynn_H, Sep 2020
Had a great time with friends!!! Looking forward to doing more intense rafting for next time. Thanks for a great time!
Clarice_K, Aug 2020
So much fun! We were lucky, the weather was hot and being splashed was a great way to cool down. Our guide, Liz, was fantastic.
Response from Host, Aug 2020
Hi Clarice
Thank you for taking the time to review your Sunwapta Raft trip with Maligne adventures. Great to hear that Liz provided a positive experience and we will be sure to pass your comments on to her!
Regards
Trevor
Mark_F, Jul 2020
Greatest time with the best guides will definitely go back again highly recommend the level 3 rapids
Response from Host, Jul 2020
Thanks Mark
Great to hear that you enjoyed your rafting experience with Maligne Adventures on the Sunwapta River. We look forward to seeing you again on future trips!
Regards
Trevor
John_S, Jul 2020
My wife and I and 5 of our children went on the 9:30am rafting trip down the Sunwapta Whitewater Rafting Tour..... WOW! What a BLAST OF FUN! Talk about the perfect Family Adventure to share together = Lifelong Memory. Thank you to our guide Kalib (forgive the spelling error?), he was just the absolute best. He guided us down the waterfalls and sinkholes with such precision... kidding... he was a total pro. It was a safe, fun, incredible experience, and our heartfelt THANKYOU's go out to all at Maligne Rafting Adventures. John & Catharine & Family
Response from Host, Jul 2020
Hello John, Catharine & Family
Thanks for your review of your recent Sunwapta Raft trip with Maligne Adventures. Great to hear that our guide was able to provide such a positive experience for you and your family. We will be certain to pass your comments on to all of our 'crew'.
Regards
Trevor
Ronald_I, Jul 2020
Fabulous time. Jason provided us a safe, fun afternoon. Ride was exhilarating and not your common floater trip. Be prepared to work with carry raft to /from river and paddle.
Response from Host, Jul 2020
Hi Ronald
Thanks for joining us on the Sunwapta River, the Maligne Adventures crew will appreciate your positive comments.
Regards
Trevor
Dan_S, Jul 2020
Our family had an amazing experience with the Maligne rafting group. The guides were tons of fun, very conscientious, and eager to serve. The Sunwapta River did her part in providing an exhilarating ride. Thanks Maligne team for having us along!
Response from Host, Jul 2020
Hello Dan
Thank you for your favourable review of your Sunwapta Raft trip with Maligne Adventures. Happy to hear that the guides and the river provided you with such a great experience.
Regards
Trevor
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Sunwapta Challenge Whitewater Rafting: Class III Rapids
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