The Sunwapta River is a major tributary of the Athabasca River in Jasper National Park. The confluence of the two rivers lies three km west of Sunwapta Falls. Sunwapta then turns southeast where it is followed by the Icefields Parkway past the Columbia Icefield where it finally peters out at the Banff National Park boundary. Near the Columbia Icefield, a small stream feeds the river from Sunwapta Lake , at the toe of the Athabasca Glacier .

Tributaries:

• Poboktan Creek
• Jonas Creek
• Grizzly Creek
• Diadem Creek
• Beauty Creek
• Tangle Creek