Calgary 
It doesn’t matter what kind of water adventure you’d prefer, the Grande Rapids Wilderness Adventures in Athabasca has something for all thrill-seekers.
The adventure outfitters specialize in exploring the Athabasca River and the boreal forest in a number of ways: by water, of course, but also by foot, or even by air!
And like I said, these adventures are for all sorts of skill levels and interests, so you can even find micro-experiences from Grande Rapids, just to give you a quick taste of different adventures. Grande Rapids are set up for campers and overnighters, too, as their adventures last 3-5 days. Your adventures include a stay in their remote wilderness lodge with some including meals, and the rest including access to meals as an add-on.
Grande Rapids Wilderness Adventures provides wilderness experiences from one of Alberta’s most isolated backcountry lodges.
Choose your experience from Grand Rapids Wilderness Adventure:
The Heli-Hiking + Signature Experience
The Ultimate Grand Rapids Wilderness Adventure is the company’s signature experience, and the optional enhancement is Heli-hiking. The adventure on its own includes 5 days and 4 nights in the wilderness, beginning with a jetboat ride along the Athabasca River to your camp, where they provide you with a basic cabin and meals. There are several land-based adventures you can take part in, like floats/paddles, hikes, or fishing. But with the helicopter ride added, you’ll be flown from the camp to Grand Rapids, where you’ll be led on a guided hike.
Experience one of Alberta’s best Fishing Spots
The Walleye River Fishing Adventure is also 4 days and 3 nights but is all about the walleye. You’ll get four uninterrupted days of remote wilderness fishing in the Athabasca River, and this all begins as early as your departure jetboat trip to camp! The camp location is near a confluence of House and Athabasca Rivers, where guests report catches on walleye, but also large Northern Pike, Goldeye, Burbot, or Rocky Mountain Whitefish. Your meals are included, and you’re free to have your own fish-fry of the day’s catch.
Jetboat down the Athabasca River
The Grand Rapids Discover the Athabasca experience is another 3-night adventure that starts with jetboating down the Athabasca River. But along the way, you’ll take time to discover the area’s nature and history by visiting abandoned sites and scenic viewpoints.
Embark on a Paddling Adventure
Explore nearly 200km of remote Athabasca River wilderness with the Grand Rapids Paddling Adventures. Your paddle tour will take you, in a canoe, to the lodge camp where you can spend two nights relaxing under starry night skies. Your meals are included with this adventure, and you don’t need to paddle or find your way back; they will send a jetboat to pick you up at the end of the 3 days.
Enhance any Experience with a Micro Adventure
If you need a little extra to do on your trip to the wilderness lodge (no matter how you arrive), you can book different micro-adventures with Grand Rapids. These include Hunting Trips, Dip a Paddle, Do a Little Fishing, or The Historical Tour. Some of these micro-adventures are already added to the bigger adventure packages; if they’re not included, they can be added for a low price.
Just downstream from Grand Rapids Wilderness Adventures Cabins, the Athabasca River valley is strewn with thousands of massive spheroid boulders, considered among the world’s finest, which have eroded from sandstone banks over millennia to form the impressive Class VI Grand Rapids.
Trip Planning
Where: Grande Rapids Wildland Provincial Park, Alberta
How much:
A 4 day 3 night signature trip including jetboat transportation from the town of Athabasca to lodge and return (over 400kms) including cabin, all meals, interpretive historical tours, fishing outings, paddle/float experiences, wildlife viewing and a number of other wilderness orientated experiences and activities that are available at the lodge start at $1200.00 per person.
Lower-priced packages are available for historically significant hiking tours.
Contact: Ph: 780-689-0567
