Jasper: Athabasca River Mile 5 Whitewater Rafting Tour

Get a little wet and have a lot of fun on the Athabasca River. Your white water river adventure on the Mile 5 section of the glacially-fed Athabasca River begins 10 minutes south of Jasper townsite.

This section of the river is a great introduction to white water river rafting as it begins gently before the splashy Class II rapids start. If you are looking for a great Jasper experience with a limited amount of time, paddling this approximately two-hour excursion of stunning scenery, gentle thrills, and refreshing splashes is the one for you.

After meeting your guide in the town of Jasper, head 8 km south of town to the put-in point. After suiting up in clean gear and receiving a safety talk, start heading down the river. The section begins with about a 10-minute float. This allows the paddler time to feel comfortable in the raft, experience the river environment, and take in the 360-degree mountain view.

After this short float, the grade 2 rapids begin. Grade 2 is big enough to get everyone who wants to get wet, but it is unlikely anyone will go for an unexpected swim. After 4 or 5 sections of rapids, the Miette River joins the Athabasca, highlighting the color difference between a rain and snow-fed river and a glacier-fed river.

The trip ends just around the corner at Old Fort Point. After getting out of your wet gear, it is a 3 km drive back to town. All trips are in 8 person-guided rafts. Rain or shine, this trip is great for ages 5-95.