I was scared to death to go rafting but my family likes fun exciting adventures so I had to include this in our trip to the U.P. as we were driving right past it. After white water rafting at Wildman, I can't wait to do it again!! What an awesome resort surrounded by fun activities!
Bring water shoes!! We also put on sunscreen & bug spray before our trip. Everyone (even the girls) wore athletic type clothing that doesn't stick to you & dries fast. I kept my sunglasses on with no problems. There is a changing room & bathroom available in the gift shop (they sell water shoes too).
We arrived early but our trip started right on time. 8 people in each boat plus the guide. A full boat of friends/family would have been more fun than going with strangers, so bring your whole crew along! You put a helmet & life jacket on then board a bus to get to the river. Not a long ride 10-15 min. The guide tells you all the safety rules when you first get onto the river. His knowledge & experience made me feel safe even though I was very nervous. He spoke & demonstrated so all ages would understand. We were on the water between 1-2 hours & our trip time ended early. I'm sure time varies a lot with water/weather conditions.
We are middle aged & a bit out of shape. Paddling was NOT a problem, anyone can do this & there are plenty of breaks with no paddling. No one was sore after the trip. Heavier people are not an issue, they never asked weight & never proportioned the boat evenly.
We had kids on our raft, the under 12 yr olds had to get off the boat during the level 4 Rapids (insurance reasons) & walk with a parent on a trail to meet the boat again. (One kid that got off the boat was bigger than the kid that stayed on, they will ask you the ages of your children when you reserve your activity).
After the trip, we changed into dry clothes & enjoyed a beer at their bar, which is just like a normal tavern. We tipped our awesome guide & looked at the photos of our trip that were available to purchase.
I would highly recommend this resort to anyone looking for an adventure, a great family experience or an adrenaline rush. I felt safe the entire trip - thanks to our guide & everyone had a blast! The kids will always remember this incredible experience!
Note: there is a time change near this area, Wildman is in central time zone. Also, prices are listed on their website.