The Athabasca River originates from the Athabasca Glacier of the Columbia Icefield in Jasper National Park in Alberta. Athabasca Falls upstream about 30 km from the Jasper townsite in JNP is noted for both the ferocious falls anf the sound produced. This river has been designated a Canadian Heritage River because of its importance to the fur trade and the construction of railways and roads opening up the Canadian west.

The Athabasca River travels 1500 km before draining into Lake Athabasca in Wood Buffalo National Park. From there, its waters join the Mackenzie River system which flows into the Arctic Ocean.

Major tributaries include the following rivers:

• Clearwater
• Lesser Slave
• Pembina
• Sunwapta

In Cree, the word "Athabasca" means "grass here and there".