Sunwapta River

Nature & adventure

Enjoy an adventure at the Columbia Icefield Discovery Center. Get a guided tour around the Athabasca Glacier on Ice Explorer, admire the stunning mountains and glaciers and listen as your guide informs you of all the facts and history. Meet your guide, who will take you to the Athabasca Glacier. At the scheduled time, board your Ice Explorer, a massive vehicle designed explicitly for glacial travel, and set off on an exciting ride. During your ride, hear stories and facts about the Columbia Icefield and the glaciers around you. Once on the Glacier, hop off the vehicle to walk on the thick, 25,000-year-old ice and drink cold, pure water from the glacier itself. This is an experience you will never forget. Then, take a short ride to the Columbia Icefield Skywalk. Heighten your senses by walking on a platform where only glass separates you from a 918-foot (279-meter) drop. Marvel at the spectacular views of the mountains, glaciers, and the Sunwapta River with its waterfalls.

Enjoy a white water rafting adventure on the Sunwapta, a narrow, steep, glacial feed river in the heart of Jasper National Park. The Sunwapta is the only grade 3 whitewater offered in Jasper National Park. The river is glacial fed and as long as the weather is warm we can have great water up until closing. Begin the trip with a float where crews can practice their paddling technique before the show begins. Once the rapids start they just build and build until the Whopper soaks everyone just before the take-out. Once the rapids start it is still important to look at the 360-degree mountain views. The river follows the jagged ridge of the Endless Chain.

A 45-minute bus journey brings you to the arrival point where you will be given all the necessary equipment and will change into your wetsuit. You will be given an in-depth briefing on all rafting procedures and safety precautions before getting wet and wild on this turbulent ride. ‘Sunwapta’ is the Stoney Indian term for ‘turbulent river’ and this river lives up to its name. Traveling in 6 passenger self-bailing rafts, your expert guide will maneuver your group skillfully down the 13 kilometre stretch of river punching through a consistent flow of Class 2 rapids in between several sections of Class 3 whitewater. Set in a pristine wilderness area of Jasper National Park, the Sunwapta is a low volume, technical river that follows the Endless Chain Mountain Range from its source at the toe of the Athabasca Glacier. You will be surrounded by spectacular Canadian Rockies scenery in a prime wildlife habitat, giving you the opportunity to spot elusive native wildlife from the raft or during the scenic bus ride. All technical equipment will be supplied including paddles, wetsuits, long sleeve neoprene shirts, neoprene booties, paddle jackets and helmets. You will need to wear a swimsuit or a t-shirt and shorts under your casual clothes and be prepared to get wet. Bring dry clothes, a towel and on cooler days, wool socks to wear inside the booties, a fleece or wool sweater to wear under the splash jacket and a warm jacket to put on afterward. We recommend you bring snacks and water to enjoy on the bus to and from the river.

Experience the thrill of whitewater rafting on the Sunwapta River in Jasper National Park. Meet us at a designated parking area, located on the Icefield Parkway, halfway between the Columbia Icefield and the Jasper townsite. This is where our bus will meet you to begin your journey. Hone your paddling skills at the beginning before it gets wet and wild. No experience is required for this thrilling whitewater adventure. After grand views of the Endless Chain mountain range, your journey ends with a full glacial facial from The Whopper - a locally renowned wave. Tackle the swirling whitewater currents with your guide, and watch the riverbanks for sightings of native wildlife living within the Jasper National Park. After an exhilarating river trip, we deliver you back to your car. Digital photos are available for purchase immediately after the trip