Rafting in the Canadian Rockies on Athabasca River
There is something magical and powerful about the glacial blue rivers diligently carving their path across the majestic Canadian Rockies. Looking at them from a distance, they seem laid back but they are so powerful that they’ve cut enormous mountains to create valleys and plains! I felt some of their power on the Athabasca River rafting experience.
Luckily, we had our Jasper Raft Tour on the rainy day of our trip to the Canadian Rockies! That morning, we couldn’t have done much else outdoors. Athabasca river rafting was amazing fun, with or without the rain.
Disclaimer: Our rafting tour was provided by Jasper Raft Tours. However, all the opinions are entirely my own.
Rivers are best experienced at their origin, especially by rafting in the pristine Canadian Rockies. They supply fresh and pure water from the enormous glaciers that feed the planet. Glacial rivers are special not only because of their beauty but also they are the source of water, and life for much of the planet.
Canadian Rockies Rafting Adventure
On the morning of our Jasper Raft tour, we were the last ones to be picked up from the Alpine village before we headed out to the river rafting adventure on the Athabasca River.
We were dressed for the weather in long pants and jackets, because of the rain forecast. Additionally, the friendly staff provided rain ponchos and life vests to everyone in the group. But all we had was a drizzle and splashes from the river.
We had two awesome guides on our raft, a seasoned guide with a wealth of information who sat with us and a 20-year old Australian ski instructor who did all the rowing. Together they provided a fun experience with lots of humor and information about Jasper.
River rafting with Jasper Raft tour is of the most fun things to do in Jasper National Park because it offers something for everyone in the family.
The Athabasca River was full in the summer of 2019 because of plentiful rains and snowmelt. But the river was not too choppy. Much of the Jasper rafting tour was level 1/2 rapids so anyone can enjoy it – little kids, the semi-adventurous, water enthusiasts, naturalists, people wary of water and the elderly. There was something for the entire family. The guides, took us into several areas with gushing waters, just for the thrill.
Fun on Athabasca River Rafting
While the tour was on level 1/2 rapids, it included several thrills. I was highly impressed by the young guide who took us into the whirls of choppy water and was able to take us all safely out of it too. He did that at least 3 times.
We fearlessly forged into rapids on our Canadian Rockies rafting adventure. A few moments into the whirl, half the raft was screaming. Our young guide put all his energy into steering us out of the whirl. These mini rapids made our Jasper rafting adventure thrilling for the kids.
Three-quarters of the way into the rafting experience, our guide asked if we would like to row the raft. I wasn’t going to miss the fun experience, so I took the first opportunity. It was a blast and now I know I should not be the one to row the raft because we would definitely get stranded by the trees.
The previous evening we took a walk along the Athabasca river, not knowing we would be rafting down the same section of the river.
While on the raft, it was fun to pass by our little villages and hotels.
Frequently Asked Questions
Our Jasper raft tour was 2 1/2 hours long.
The tour was listed at $75 per adult and $25 per child during our visit. For current prices please visit their website.
The tour has multiple start times. On the day that we took the tour, they had three options 10:30 am, noon and 3 pm start time. We took the noon tour because it was cold that morning and evening. A yellow school bus picked us up just before noon.
The river raft tour is suitable for all ages, families, singles or couples. Our tour offered low to medium level adventure at level 1/2 rapids. During the tour, we got splashed but nothing too scary.
Following is a picture that was taken by the Jasper Raft Tours company and we purchased it from them –
Even if you have a car, you’ll need to get picked and dropped off by the rafting company because Jasper rafting starts at one point and ends a few miles downstream. I didn’t see taxies in the area and it would be a very long hike to return to the car after the rafting experience.
We hoped to see wildlife while rafting in the Canadian Rockies. In African safaris, it’s easier to spot wild animals from water as the animal and birds visit the water for drinks. Sadly, we learned that it’s fairly uncommon to see the larger animals during Canadian Rockies rafting.
In general, it’s best to not set high hopes for wildlife viewings from the Jasper rafting adventures. We spotted some large birds but no elk, deer, moose or other land animals.
It’s not recommended to carry large cameras or iPhones on Jasper river rafting tours because its very likely to get them wet from the water splashes. Its also quite easy to drop them into the river.
We took our large SLR camera and iPhones with us. We did not want to miss a photo opportunity in case we saw some wildlife. We were super careful the entire time with water protection gear and a firm hold on our cameras.
There were two rafts on our tour. Most pictures are of the other raft. We did not have a drone with a camera.
Entire hillsides in Jasper NP have turned red with dead pine trees. The trees were infested by the mountain pine beetles that have killed the pines. Read all about it my article on red trees in Jasper National Park.
Some sections of the river were rough which was perfect for some adventure. The guide explained that the roughness is caused by a few reasons like –
– Speed and volume of water the river.
– Constrictions in the flow of water such as a turn or bend.
– Level changes that cause waterfalls.
The Athabasca river and the many rivers in the Canadian Rockies continue to chop off bits of land furiously. It’s common to see sights like the tilted tree below. As the river erodes the soil away, the trees continue to grab on the remaining anchor. Until finally one day, the tree will fall into the river and be carried downstream somewhere to begin a different phase of its life.
Thanks to the hardworking staff of the Jasper Raft Tour for providing an amazing experience. The young guys packed the rafts and went off to the rest of the
Check out my video to get a more immersive experience of our river rafting experience in Jasper.
We will have to return and go rafting when the sky is blue and the glacial river is sparkling. It may be prettier with the majestic mountains towering all around us.
Related Articles
The Canadian Rockies
- 7-Day Itinerary of Canadian Rockies
- 3-Day Itinerary of Banff in Winter
- Itineraries of the Canadian Rockies
- Accommodations in Jasper and Banff
- Rafting in Jasper National Park
- Banff’s wildlife crossing
- Red forests in Jasper National Park
- Calgary to Banff to Jasper Drive
- Jasper to Banff Drive
- Things to do in Banff and Canmore
- Things to do in Lake Louise and Moraine Lake
- Things to do in Jasper
- Things to do on Icefields Parkway
- Things to do in Yoho National Park
The Rockies in the United States
- Colorado 6-Day Itinerary
- Rocky Mountain National Park with hikes, vista points, and itineraries.
- National Park travels during Covid Pandemic
- Pikes Peak Drive or Hike
- Outdoor rock climbing in Colorado Springs
- Glacier National Park Gallery
More on Canada
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Dani Gill
November 29, 2019 @ 6:30 pm
Ahhh this brings back memories as I used to live in Jasper! I didn’t do any rafting though so I will keep this for when I go back.
Jyoti
November 29, 2019 @ 9:27 pm
Hi Dani, I can totally relate. I had been yearning to go back for 23 years since our last trip. This time I prioritized more experiences to connect with the parks.. and loved it!
Soumya Gayatri
November 29, 2019 @ 7:34 pm
This looks like so much fun. I have never been rafting and rafting on the Canadian rockies would be a daunting prospect for me had I not read your post. Maybe I will give it a try when I am there. 🙂
Jyoti
November 29, 2019 @ 9:25 pm
Hi Soumya, this was a very easy level 1-2 rapids, perfect for a family of all ages. Also, because it’s more like a river float, it would be easy to spot wildlife along the Athabasca river, if they choose to stop by.
Pia
November 30, 2019 @ 6:43 am
That looks like you had a ton of fun! I´m not sure if rafting is for me, but I would love trying kayaking one day!
Nicky
November 30, 2019 @ 7:14 am
That looks like a lot of fun! I think looking for wildlife would be my priority, as well as trying not to drown! 😊
Kelly
November 30, 2019 @ 7:42 am
This looks like so much fun! I love white water rafting! I did it recently in Thailand and fell out of the boat. Lol.
Carryn
November 30, 2019 @ 11:59 pm
This looks awesome! I’ve been rating in Korea but the river was nothing like this. The scenery here is beautiful.
Nele
December 1, 2019 @ 1:51 am
It looks so fun but also a bit scary haha! Not sure if I’d have the guts to do it!
arv
December 2, 2019 @ 2:57 am
It is a lovely treat for nature lovers. I loved the picture with the chairs on the banks of the river. What a place to relax and chat with friends or family! This adventure ride is so tempting!