Athabasca Falls
Unrivalled Beauty
Set out for a white water rafting adventure on the Athabasca River, beginning at the base of the thundering Athabasca Falls. Surge through Class II rapids as you take in breathtaking views of Jasper National Park’s snow-capped peaks and evergreen forests.
The first half of your adventure will take place amongst the towering canyon walls found below the Athabasca Falls, before you emerge to see the Athabasca River Valley open up before you.
Your Itinerary
Times will vary depending on water levels, punctuality, pickups, weather, etc. The times below are to provide a general itinerary.8:45 AM - Meet at the RV Parking Lot
With your swimwear on (underneath some warm clothes) on, you will meet our team at the RV Parking Lot, located just across the railway tracks from downtown Jasper. When you see our blue or yellow school buses, you'll know you're in the right spot!
9:00 AM - Depart the RV Parking Lot
Once everyone has arrived, and signed a waiver, it's time to set off! To get to the put-in, you'll enjoy a half-hour drive on the spectacular Icefields Parkway. Once introductions have been made, one of our professional raft guides will explain the trip, go over the gear, assign everyone's rafts/guides, and answer any questions you might have.
9:30 AM - Arrive at the Put-In
After a quick glimpse of the Athabasca Falls, you will arrive at the put-in. Once your bus has parked, we will start the process of getting you geared-up with our river attire, and will provide everyone with a safety talk.
9:55 AM - Walk down to the river
While you are gearing-up, one of our guides will have carted at least two of the rafts down to the river for you. However there may be one left for some eager volunteers to carry. To get to the river, you will be following in the footsteps of Marilyn Monroe as you walk down an old dirt road, learning about its surprising Hollywood history.
10:05 AM - The Adventure Begins!
It's time to hop on the water! The Athabasca Falls gets you right into the action with a set of Class II rapids just a few seconds downstream. It's here that our bus driver will take some action shots of you experiencing the first set of Class II rapids. These rapids will be relatively consistent for the first 15 minutes, after which you will enter the serenity of the Zen Gardens, a beautifully calm section of river sure to soothe the soul. For the remainder of your adventure, you will alternate between calm sections of Class I water, and turbulent sections of Class II white water as you make your way through, and out of the Athabasca Canyon.
11:20 AM - Arrive at the Take-Out
Roughly an hour and 15 minutes later (depending on water levels), you will finish your adventure at a small rest stop just past the confluence of the Whirlpool River. Here our bus driver will be waiting for your arrival. After helping us bring the raft onto shore, you will go through our finely honed gear-down process.
11:40 AM - Depart the Take-Out
After everyone has geared-down, and a final headcount has been completed, it's time to return to the RV Parking Lot. During the drive back into town, we will have a slideshow of all the photos taken during the trip.
12:00 PM - Arrive back at the RV Parking Lot
Before hopping off the bus, you will double and triple check under your seat to make sure you have all of your belongings. After some high fives from the crew, and some sad goodbyes, you will have the opportunity to purchase the trip's photos from the bus driver (if desired).