Red Fridays 50 percent off whitewater rafting
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Canadian Forces Week

Canadian Forces Appreciation Week

At Wilderness Tours, Red Fridays have never gone away says WT Founder and former soldier, Joe Kowalski. We offer active/retired military personnel and their immediate family 50% off rafting day trips, every Friday. Next week we are extending Red Friday to be the entire week!

Save 1/2 price on all arrivals for Canadian Forces Appreciation Week from June 26th to July 1st at Wilderness Tours. We offer both High Adventure Rafting (ages 13+ and 90lbs or more) and Gentle Family Rafting (age 5-12 and 50 lbs or more)

All active duty or retired military with photo ID raft at half price every Friday and every day during Military Appreciation Week.

Book any trip or package and receive 50% off your adventure with Wilderness Tours.  To book your package, all you need to do is call 888-723-8669 or book online with coupon code RFMD.   We do require proof of military ID as well as dependents.

Look forward to seeing you on the Ottawa River!

Canadian Forces Week
Opening Weekend 2022
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Open for Rafting

Surf’s Up!

Throughout the adventure world, there are calls to action which make the blood run faster and smiles turn giddy. Examples are “surf’s up” or it’s a “powder day”. On the Ottawa River, it’s “Bussie’s In” which means a giant surf wave for kayakers and for rafters, it means the best two days of rafting found east of the Rocky Mountains. While the Ottawa is always good, there are some levels that take it from good to great and we have it now.

 

Day 1

The Main Channel with two of the rapids rivalling the Grand Canyon. Bus Eater is world famous rafting as you paddle hard into the “soft spot” between the river wide white-faced monster with Bus Eater on your left and Big Bus on your right. With all big water runs, an unscheduled swim is possible and with the zodiac rescue boat on patrol below, river time is brief. Further downriver is “Coli-West” with its rolling towering waves. For enthusiasts, the rafting just doesn’t get better.

 

Day 2

After a well-deserved dinner, campfire entertainment and good nights sleep, is the Middle Channel which is peaking as well. Favourites like Little Trickle and Lower No Name cap the best two days of rafting anywhere. It’s just that great at these water levels.

This offer is time sensitive as the river moves to summer levels in a few weeks. We want to make your decision to act by making the overnight part easy. Every group of 4 gets one free night of accommodation (out of two).

 

Sound the alarm and spread the word. Hope to see you very soon.

Opening Weekend 2022
Best Weekend Package
Make it a Long Weekend Any Time
London House Accommodation at Wilderness Tours Center Apartment
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Ontario Stay-cation Tax Credit

Did you know that Wilderness Tours accommodations are eligible for your Ontario Stay-cation Tax Credit! That’s right, you can save even more on your Wilderness Tours Ottawa River Vacation.

Receive up to $1000 tax credit when you book accommodation upgrades with Wilderness Tours. For full details on how to receive your tax credit, please visit the Government of Ontario Website.

Full Details of Tax Credit
Valentines Day Sale Whitewater Rafting
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Valentines Day Sale

Matt McGuire

Valentines Day Sale 3 Days Only! Save up to 30% off on rafting and meal packages.

There are two ways to buy with confidence.

  1. Visit any of our applicable programs, and check out with the correct coupon code (see below for applicable codes) it’s that simple.
  2. If you don’t know your date, you can buy a gift certificate now and book your trip later.  (Give us a call)

High Adventure Trips (ages 13+)

Save 30% of rafting trips on all arrivals on or before June 21st, 2022.  Book with your coupon code: VAL30.

 

This sale will only last for 3 Days.  All gift certificates or trips must be booked on or before Tuesday, February 15th, 2022.

Browse All Activities
Call for Gift Certificates
The Fine Print - Deal Policies and Limitations

Please find our important policies regarding our promotion.  The paid value of the gift certificates never expire.

  1. The deal does expire at the end of the season it was issued
  2. 30% Off are not valid on accommodations.  If you book online your accommodation discount will be reversed before processing the final payment for your rafting portion.
  3. They are not valid on the following specialty programs:  Keener Programs, Adult Keeners, Kids Kayak Camps, Eric Jackson Clinics.
  4. They also cannot be used in combination with any other discount or offer.
  5. All  sales are final and non refundable.
  6. Trips are transferable to other guests.
  7. All Trips must be paid in full to receive the deal.
  8. If Covid Restrictions end up being in effect during your reserved dates, we require minimum reservation numbers per raft. Minimum numbers are: High Adventure Raft (10); Sport Raft (6); Gentle Family Raft (6); Guide Your Own Raft (6); Sport Yak (2); Middle Channel Adventure (6). We strongly suggest to our guests that they plan their trips with these numbers in mind.

Buy yours today as this sale ends midnight on Tuesday, February 15th, 2022.

Canadas best whitewater rafting resort
Kayaking on the Ottawa River
CategoriesCompany News, Whitewater Kayaking by

Paddler’s Takeout Access

Matt McGuire

TAKING EFFECT IN 2022: WILDERNESS TOURS TO PROVIDE FREE TAKEOUT ACCESS TO THE PADDLING COMMUNITY.

Foresters Falls, Ontario – November 25, 2021

 

Following the last 6 years of pay-per-use takeout access, Wilderness Tours is removing access fees for private paddlers to provide a more equitable opportunity for all to experience the Ottawa River.

 

The pay-per-use fee structure for paddler’s takeout access was to offset the costs associated with providing this service to the public; including road maintenance, snow removal, emergency response, waste collection, theft, vandalism clean-up, insurance, and liability.

 

Wilderness Tours recognizes the strain the paid model has had on the community and the barriers it placed for some paddlers. We’ve reflected on this and with our core value of “sharing the magic of whitewater” we are committed to access to the Ottawa River and to supporting the long-term growth and development of the whitewater community.

 

Starting in 2022, a simple check-in at our entrance reception office is all that will be required for takeout access. Complete 2022 park policies and access information will be published soon.

 

This is a long-term commitment to access that we feel is in line with our renewed commitment to community, economic equity, and to benefit our local tourism community who also depend on access to the world-class whitewater as part of their own destination marketing.

 

See you on the water,

Joel Joe and Katie Kowalski

Joe, Joel, and Katie Kowalski

Owners, Wilderness Tours Raft & Kayak Resort / Ottawa Kayak School

1260 Grants Settlement Rd, Foresters Falls ON, Canada

1-888-723-8669

[email protected]

Ottawa River Kayaker Take Out
Keener Program National Whitewater Park Garvins Chute WT OKS
Medium Intensity OKS WT National Whitewater Park
National Whitewater Park Intermediate Kayaking OKS WT
Fall Colors on the Ottawa River
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Experience Fall Colors

Matt McGuire

While our programs have ended, we still welcome overnight visitors to the National Whitewater Park. Each season has its own allure and Fall is probably the best. The forests are ablaze with colour and sounds of overhead geese, seeing a deer standing close by, watching the turkeys strut their stuff and falling acorns add to the sensory overload. The forest even smells different as the blanket of fallen leaves starts to decay.

We are open to the end of October with a variety of self contained accommodation options at our two locations. On site at the Park Village is the London House, Manor and the Cottage. Off site about 15 minutes away is the Beach House and Log Cabin. All of our units have full kitchens so think about fall flavours as you plan your riverside outing. There is a two-night minimum.

While our rafting and kayaking programs are closed for the season, there are lots of hiking and rural roads for driving and cycling. We’ll provide you with maps and suggestions. Do keep in mind, we are now closed but our larger accommodation units are still open for your enjoyment. There will be parts of the property that will be unavailable due to ongoing improvements on site but there are many other local trails, boutique shops and farmers markets to enjoy

At the Park Village, hiking is right outside your door with the lookout and the adjacent Ottawa River Provincial Park. Other great hikes just a ten-minute drive away are Inspiration Point, the Grand View and Miami Beach. All offer spectacular vantage points to see the river. Please keep in mind you are on your own while you hike so prepare accordingly.

Available Rental Units

We have some amazing locations for you to experience fall colors in the heart of the Ottawa Valley.  These units are directly on or in close proximity to our hiking and biking trails along the river corridor.

London House

London House Accommodation at Wilderness Tours Apartment Center Living Area

The Manor

Living Area The Manor Rental Accommodation at Wilderness Tours Raft and Kayak Resort

The Cottage

The Cottage Rental Accommodation downstairs

Beach House

Beach House River View Rental Cottage Ottawa (2)

Log Cabin

Log Cabin Cottage Rental on the Ottawa River (2)

Lake House

Lake House Water Front Cottage Rental
Wilderness Tours Guide Staff
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Want to learn to be a guide?

Join our Staff

September 17th weekend, Wilderness Tours is offering a full intro weekend to learn to be a river guide.  Wet your whitewater whistle on the Ottawa River for the weekend to see if you have what it takes to become a river guide.

If this is something that interest you, and you’re available the weekend of Sept 17-19th, then for only $49 you can try out to be a river guide on the Ottawa River.

Full details and booking link
Wilderness Tours Guide Staff
2021 Opening Weekend Whitewater Rafting Ottawa River
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Open Day 2021

Together with our partners, customers and staff, Wilderness Tours continues to do its part to reduce the spread of Covid-19.

 

Beginning Wednesday, June 16th, we will be open for our 2021 Rafting Season

 

We ran successfully during 2020, keeping our guests as well as our staff safe. For this coming season, we are further strengthening our COViD-19 protocols to ensure we are exceeding the local health unit requirements. If you wish to read our full COViD-19 information. Please following this link here.

 

Rest assured, all of our guests trips who have been effected by lock downs are offered either full refunds, or alternate dates (where applicable, see COViD policies pages for full details). Our phones and emails are open 7 days a week for any additional questions that you may have. We look forward to hosting our rafting and kayaking guests soon.