We are excited to be opening up for the 2021 season. While things still remain very dynamic with respect to restrictions, lockdowns, etc, Wilderness Tours has been going with the flow since 1975. We were open through the 2020 season so have had first hand experience about how to keep our guests and staff safe within the restrictions to make it the best trip for all our guests.
Having written the book on whitewater safety in Canada, our guides and staff have become excellent at pivoting when there are any changes to regulations to keep both our guests and staff safe.
Pre-booking Questions
Currently we plan to open after the lock down is lifted on May 21st, 2021.
Our regular cancellation policy applies to all bookings for 2021. Full payment 30 days before all arrivals and no cancellations within 30 days of arrival.
In the event of a government mandated shut down, if we cannot find a suitable alternate date you will be eligible for a full refund. (exceptions are non-refundable purchases such as gift certificates and any special deals such as Black Friday etc)
If you do not purchase the entire boat, Wilderness Tours can add others to the boat to ensure there are enough people in the boat to safely run the river. We leave an empty row of seats between the groups as well as guides.
100% for our Gentle boats (6 paid spots), High Adventure (10) and for sport rafting (6). Please call or email us to book.
What to expect when you arrive
Due to Covid 19, we moved our operations to the National Whitewater Park in 2021.
Wilderness Tours’ is now located at 1260 Grants Settlement Rd.
Whether you are a returning guest or new to Wilderness Tours’ we will be doing everything we can to ensure we are offering you a great experience on and off the river, that being said we have had to modify some of our programming and trips for your safety and the safety of our guides and staff. Please be patient and understanding of our COViD procedures. By now, everyone is aware of the restrictions. We are asking that you be positive and help us navigate these different times smoothly.
Check ins will happen from your car at our Gatehuts, which are the first small buildings you will see upon arrival at 1260 Grants Settlement Rd. Please stay in your car, and be patient as there might be a line up. Please have your reservation number ready, and online waivers MUST be completed prior to arrival. (as there will not be any paper waivers/ or waiver stations to complete your waiver on site.) If you have not received or have misplaced the link for the online waiver please email our reservation staff at [email protected] and they can resend the link. Please forward the link to the other members or your group. Ensure you leave enough time for check in, morning trips should arrive 1 hour prior to the briefing time on your confirmation. Afternoon trips should check in between 11:30am and 12pm to allow time for lunch prior to your briefing.
WHEN COMING RAFTING WITH US, HERE IS WHAT WE ARE ASKING YOU TO DO.
- Please do not come rafting if you feel sick or have symptoms of Covid 19, have been around someone who is sick, or have returned back to Canada within 14 days of the trip date.
- Practice physical distancing (2 metres) as much as possible from people not in your bubble. We are all used to doing this by now. Lets keep it up! Face coverings will be worn when physical distancing isn’t possible.
- Sanitize and wash your hands often and be ok with mandatory sanitizing times. We have many stations with hand sanitizer at the resort.
- Bring a non medical face covering. Recommendations are a buff, bandana or other cotton like face covering. You might already have a few by now. Please don’t bring anything that will fall apart when it gets wet. We will be wearing face coverings on the bus ride, and in situations where 2 m spacing is not possible, including any covered buildings or public spaces. If you do not have a face covering, or forget yours, we will have buffs available for $10 at the store in the pavilion.
- Arrive with your swimsuit on under your clothes when possible. This will keep the change room less crowded and speed up the changing process while keeping physical distancing. Please bring your own beach towels as we do not provide them. Best thing to wear rafting is a bathing suit, shorts and quick dry tee! Shoes are required and must be able to stay firmly on your feet, running shoes, water shoes or sandals with a strap behind the heel. No flip flops or croc style clogs. Can’t make it to a store before your trip? Not to worry, we have all your rafting necessities in our Rivershop. (Water shoes, quick dry tees, go pro rentals etc)
- Keep all of your personal items (besides medications) in your vehicle. Don’t bring things down the river with you that you could possibly lose or that can’t get wet. Any items you do bring must be able to be clipped to your life jacket in something like a small dry bag or fanny pack. NO backpacks.
- Sign your waiver online, before your trip. When you book, you will receive an email with a link to complete your online waiver. Along with filling out your own waiver please forward it to all members of your group and make sure everyone has filled it out. It is mandatory to have it filled out prior to arrival. Adults 18 or older must sign in with their own email and password. Children and teens can be included with a parent or guardian, ensure you select ‘I am signing for myself and minors’ to ensure all waivers are submitted. Click Add a Minor until all children have been included. https://wildernesstours.com/my-trip/participation-agreement/
- Meal changes. Due to Covid-19 we can’t serve our famous river lunch on our trips this summer. Trips that normally include lunch will have a snack and drink provided instead, and lunch will be provided back at base before or after your trip. No buffet this year but still the same great food. Masks are required when picking up your meals.
- Transportation. Please arrive at the Wilderness Tours/National Whitewater Park with a non medical face covering, everyone needs to wear a mask on the bus ride. (If you do not have one, we have Buffs and Bandanas in our RiverShop for sale)
- We have moved locations! Wilderness Tours will now be operating out of 1260 Grants Settlement Rd, Foresters Falls, ON.
- Please be patient and understanding of our new and extra procedures. By now, this is nothing new to everyone. We are asking that you be positive and help us navigate these different times smoothly. We all just want to get outside and have some funs
HERE IS WHAT WE ARE DOING
- Staff health being checked daily.
- Checking the health of all guests who arrive for a rafting trip. You will be asked: Have you experienced cold or flu like symptoms in the last 14 days? Have you been in contact with anyone who has been sick in the last 14 days? Have you been outside of Canada in the last 14 days?
- We will politely enforce physical distancing and wearing of face coverings when necessary. These are 2 very important changes to our program. These are required of us by the health unit and will ensure we get to keep operating through the summer so all our guests can come and have a great time.
- Additional and very thorough cleaning and disinfecting of all gear worn, used and touched during each trip. Touch points will be wiped and disinfected several times during the trip. Additional cleaning and fogging of our accommodations and areas at the resort.
- Outdoors as much as possible. Check in, intro and safety talks etc. will all be outdoors where we can easily maintain physical distancing. No crowded indoor spaces. We have a wonderful new bar, cafe and patio area to enjoy that all have outdoor access.
- A limit for number of people in the washroom building at one time.
- A limit to our total trip size. We will be having reduced trip numbers
- Staff training on all new procedures that will be documented and signed.
- Rotating gear. We have a lot of gear. Wetsuits, helmets, PFDs (personal flotation devices) and paddles. This means that after it is sanitized and cleaned it will be put at the back of the rotation.
- Signage and sanitizing stations to remind all of us to wash up and keep distance from others.
- Our staff will be provided with PPE when required.
All of this is to help keep you and our staff as safe as possible while having a great time rafting the Ottawa River.
We require everyone to comply for this to work, we are trusting you with this. Remember, we are not making the rules, we are complying with them. Anyone who doesn’t comply will be asked to leave.
We are looking forward to rafting with you this summer!
