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At Wilderness Tours, we have had the distinct pleasure of welcoming guests for nearly 50 years.
Beginning in 1975 as a regional summer adventure, our resort has transformed into a world-renowned adventure vacation destination. We’ve carefully designed our resort common areas, including numerous decks and porches to take advantage of our spectacular view of the National Whitewater Park.
This majestic backdrop combined with our attention to detail at every point of your stay creates a vacation experience like no other.
Nestled on the banks of the mighty Ottawa River, in the heart of the Ottawa Valley, Wilderness Tours is amid one of Canada’s most alluring and pristine environments. Tucked away just an hour from the City of Ottawa, offers a rare alchemy of secluded wilderness and opulent comforts.
Designed for the whole family, this fun-filled resort allows you to choose your adventure. Go kayaking, stand-up paddle boarding, or hiking on one of our extensive trails. Want to relax a bit more? Come relax in our timber sauna and go for a refreshing swim in the warm waters of the Ottawa River.
The Ottawa River’s Best Adventure:
What makes the Wilderness Tours experience unique from our competitors is the combination of whitewater rafting with access to our incredible resort and it’s amenities making for the premier experience on the Ottawa River.
Whitewater Rafting:
Wilderness Tours resort boasts not only the premier Resort Location on the Ottawa River but also is the first company to provide Whitewater Rafting experiences, established in 1975, on the Ottawa River.
From mild to wild, there is a whitewater rafting adventure for everyone here at Wilderness Tours.
Beachfront:
Our beachfront is where the fun is! Whether you’re young or at heart there’s an option for you here. Choose your own adventure from our inflatable water park, stand-up paddle (SUP) boards, sit-on-top kayaks, or soak up the sun in one of our conveniently located Muskoka chairs
Hiking Trails:
Our resort location provides our guests with direct access to over 17km of hiking trails from our riverside resort! Hike through hardwood and cedar forests, and explore caves along the way. Last but not least, enjoy the incredible vistas featuring the mighty Ottawa River.
Moutain Bike Trails:
One of the newest additions to the Wilderness Tours Resort is our Downhill Flow Mountain Biking trails. With roughly 10km of down hill trail and access to BORCA mountain bike trail network within 5 minutes of our main resort. there is an option to connect almost 60 km of trails without ever using a shuttle.
Don’t own a Mountain Bike? Rent one of our from $40 per 2hrs.
Rafter’s Pavilion:
The centre of gravity at the Wilderness Tours is the Rafter’s Pavilion and is where you can find our fully licensed restaurant and bar. Enjoy hearty meals, live entertainment, access to our bar, and our retail shop!
Sports Courts:
Directly adjacent to the Rafter’s Pavilion are our Sport Courts and Games area. With options from ball hockey, basketball, beach volleyball, bocce ball, and corn hole the choice is yours!
Timber Sauna:
Protecting and revitalizing the Ottawa River has been the mission of Wilderness Tours.
This vision has been applied to our new Timber Sauna. This 150-year-old timber cabin has been revitalized into a sauna. The Timber Sauna also features the most exclusive site at the Park Village, the riverside deck for you and your group.
Perfect for groups, this space can be rented for an hour and a half at a time.
Need some more information? Check out our FAQ’s section or send us an e-mail at [email protected]
*Please ask your trip leader about our coin operated lockers or you always have the option to leave your personal belongings in your car or accommodation, our trip leaders will have a lockable key box which you’re welcome to leave your keys in prior to each of your experiences.*
When Wilderness Tours Founder, Joe Kowalski, first paddled the Ottawa River, he was overwhelmed by the magic found in its whitewater and wanted to share it with his friends and family.
Over the past 50 years, Wilderness Tours has grown to become Canada’s largest and leading adventure company, and has had the distinct pleasure of hosting special groups from the likes of the Canadian Armed Forces, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), Hilti, Tomlinson Group, Carleton University, Lakefield College School, Algonquin College, Modern Niagara, Student Works, and College Pro just to name a few.
Special Group offerings include but are not limited to: Destination Weddings, Bachelor/Bachelorette Parties, Forces Swiftwater Rescue Training, Corporate Meetings & Seminars, Outdoor Education for Schools, Camps, Youth Groups and Family Reunions.
Our resort location has several smaller private venues (Sunset Point, Timber Sauna & Patio, Timber Lounge, and the River Barn) which can be rented for your private event or if you’re looking to rent the entire resort, we do that too!
Why should I choose Wilderness Tours?
Great question, and one we take very seriously. Probably the easiest way to answer it is with a simple fact – more people raft with Wilderness Tours than all our competitors combined. Wilderness Tours also employs more full time professionals than everyone else combined. The quality of our staff is incomparable. Add on great food as well as wonderful resort facilities and programs. That is why Algonquin College chose Wilderness Tours to run its very popular 2 year diploma program in Outdoor Adventure.
This looks awesome! Can I bring my (insert group type) to Wilderness Tours?
Yes, we love hosting special groups here at Wilderness Tours. We’ve hosted all types of events from weddings, bachelor/bachelorette parties, corporate retreats, family reunions, to school groups.
Check out the highlights from the 2023 Carleton University Eng Frosh event at Wilderness Tours!
Are there opportunities to partner with Wilderness Tours?
Absolutely, yes! Wilderness Tours’ main Resort Center is 650 acres with lots of opportunity for entrepreneurs seeking to run their own business under the Wilderness Tours umbrella. Ideas like paintball, zip lines, massage, mini-golf and driving range are a few ideas that come to mind. These are ideas that would work at Wilderness Tours but we don’t want to do them ourselves. If you have a proposal, please send it to [email protected].
I’m coming up on a weekend, is there anything at night?
Stay up to date with all that is going on at Wilderness Tours by visiting our Calendar of Events so you can plan to join us on our themed weekends. Throughout the Summer enjoy live entertainment and a DJ on Saturday night every weekend in May/June/Sept and every night during July/August. Additionally, our sport courts have lighting and are open in the evening.
Do you have a beer store nearby?
Actually, we have a full bar where you can let us get you whatever you want while you enjoy the sunshine on our licensed deck. If you really want to purchase alcohol, there is a store about 20 minutes away but will need to be consumed at your campsite.
Can I work at Wilderness Tours?
Yes we’d love to have you join our team! Do us a favour first, take a look at one of our many different job opportunities you’re not just limited to one role at Wilderness Tours!
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