Sunwapta River · Jasper National Park
Sunwapta River Rafting
Jasper’s wildest whitewater experience. 9 km of relentless Class III rapids through Jasper’s most remote corridor — with waves like The Whopper and plenty more where that came from. Ages 12+.
The Experience
Jasper’s Wild Water Rollercoaster
The Sunwapta River is Jasper’s only Class III whitewater experience — and it earns that rating. Beginning 50 km from its glacial source, the river builds into relentless waves and continuous swift-moving whitewater with no road access. Once you’re in, you’re committed.
The name “Sunwapta” means turbulent river in the Stoney language — and it earns it. You’ll paddle through 9 km of river beneath the sweeping Endless Chain mountain range, working through non-stop Class II and III rapids including The Whopper and a whole lineup of waves that keep coming right to the finish. The trip exits just above the famous Sunwapta Falls.
No prior rafting experience is required, but minimum age is 12. High water and the biggest rapids run mid-June through late July — the peak season for maximum thrill.
What’s Included
- Full river equipment — wetsuit, boots, helmet & PFD
- Certified interpretive river guide (max 6 paddlers per raft)
- Town Pickup option: round-trip shuttle from Jasper townsite
- Does not include Parks Canada Levy or GST
2026 Departure Times · Jun 3 – Aug 20
Arrive 15 min before departure · Self-Drive meets at Hwy 93 rest stop, 300m south of Sunwapta Falls Rocky Mountain Lodge (~45 min from Jasper)
Arrive 15 min before departure · Town Pickup departs from RV Parking Lot, Jasper
Photo Package
All photos: $40 | Choose 2: $20 — Available for purchase after the trip
Prefer to call? 780-852-4292
Two Ways to Go
Self-Drive or Town Pickup?
Self-Drive
$117 CADDrive yourself to the meeting point — a Highway 93 rest stop located 300m south of Sunwapta Falls Rocky Mountain Lodge, approximately 45 minutes south of Jasper. Save $15 per person and enjoy the scenic Icefields Parkway drive at your own pace.
- 3 departures: 9:45 AM, 12:45 PM, 3:15 PM
- ~2.5 hours total
- Ideal if you’re already driving the Icefields Pkwy
Town Pickup
$132 CADHop on our shuttle bus from the RV Parking Lot in Jasper. Your guides ride with you — sharing stories, wildlife spotting, and getting you pumped for the rapids. Round-trip included.
- 3 shuttles: 9:00 AM, 12:00 PM & 2:30 PM from Jasper
- ~3.5–4 hours total including bus
- No car? No problem — we handle everything
Gallery
See It For Yourself
Testimonials
4.9 Stars Across 1,500+ Reviews
Jasper’s wildest whitewater — and the guides to match
“We did the Sunwapta trip and had a fantastic time — Nate and Seb guided us beautifully down through the rapids and gave us a great experience of the local area. Choosing the bus option from Jasper was a great idea as it gave us the chance to meet other rafters from around the world. We had Annaja as our bus driver on the way there and she did a great job of explaining how things would work on the way to the launch site and also kept everyone laughing along the way.”
Verified Guest
TripAdvisor · 2025 · Town Pickup
“Amazing experience with Jasper Rafting Adventures! It was my first time rafting and the team — Annaja, Luke, Jimmy and Andre — made me feel totally at ease. They showed us all the safety features and ensured us that we’d have fun. I had Annaja as our guide and she was great! Really passionate and knowledgeable about rafting, great sense of humour and fun to be around. She made sure we felt at ease, that we were safe, and we had an amazing time.”
Verified Guest
TripAdvisor · 2025 · Town Pickup
“Great trip, really well organised and high energy guides made it really fun and informative. Our guide Nate made our tour truly unforgettable. Every single employee we dealt with — from sign in, to the bus drivers, to the photographer, and the entire raft steering team — was professional and outstanding. We went on a very cold day but Nate was super enthusiastic which made the entire experience. Highly recommend!”
Verified Guest
TripAdvisor · 2024 · Self-Drive
FAQ
Common Questions
No prior experience is required — our certified guides will walk you through everything before you hit the water. That said, the Sunwapta is a genuine Class III river with powerful rapids, so guests must be at least 12 years old and physically comfortable in a fast-moving water environment. If you’re looking for a gentler introduction to rafting, our Athabasca Mile 5 (Class II, ages 5+) or Athabasca Falls (Class II, ages 6+) trips are great starting points.
Self-Drive ($117) means you drive yourself to the meeting point — a Highway 93 rest stop about 45 minutes south of Jasper, 300m south of Sunwapta Falls Rocky Mountain Lodge. It offers 3 departure times (9:45 AM, 12:45 PM, 3:15 PM) and is perfect if you’re already driving the Icefields Parkway.
Town Pickup ($132) is a shuttle bus that departs from the RV Parking Lot in Jasper at 12:00 PM and 2:30 PM. Your guides ride with you, narrating the drive and spotting wildlife. Arrive 15 minutes before your chosen departure.
We have a 48-hour cancellation policy. Cancellations are accepted up to 48 hours prior to your trip departure time with a 100% refund. Within 48 hours, your trip is 100% non-refundable. Please note that bookings made through third-party companies may have different cancellation policies associated with them.
For Private Excursions or Groups travelling with more than 8 people, cancellations are accepted up to 72 hours prior to departure with a 100% refund. Within 72 hours, the tour is 100% non-refundable. Please contact us at 780-852-4292 if your plans change.
We supply everything for the water: a full wetsuit, neoprene boots, helmet, life jacket, and splash jacket. Wear a swimsuit or light synthetic/quick-dry clothing underneath — avoid cotton, which stays cold when wet. Because the Sunwapta is glacially fed and temperatures can be cool, a thin wool or synthetic underlayer is a smart choice. Bring a complete change of dry clothes and sturdy footwear for after the trip. Sunglasses with a strap are recommended.
No — the listed prices do not include the Parks Canada Levy or GST, which will be added at checkout. The Parks Canada Levy is a mandatory fee for commercial activities operating within Jasper National Park. If you already have a valid Parks Canada day pass or annual pass, please let us know.
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