Menominee River Whitewater Rafting – Wild Ride

Menominee River Whitewater Rafting – Wild Ride

Image of Menominee River Whitewater Rafting – Wild Ride

Menominee River Outpost
N22200 Bomber Road
Niagara, WI 54151

The Wild Ride is not for the faint of heart!

This adventure is catered towards those with some rafting experience who are looking to get the most out of our class IV rapids in Pier’s Gorge!

The Wildman Wild Ride is our most intense whitewater experience. You’ll tackle the same legendary Menominee River and Piers Gorge rapids, but in a much smaller raft—just 2 to 4 guests plus your guide. That means more bounce, more splash, and a much higher chance of getting tossed into the action.

When booking the Wild Ride, you’re booking the entire raft for your group. This means you have space for up to 4 people per raft. If you have a group larger than that, you can book several rafts! If you have a group over 8, please call us and we can help set up your trip over the phone!

This is not the trip we recommend for beginners or those nervous about swimming. Compared to our standard 8-person rafts, these smaller crafts are easier to flip and swimmers are not uncommon—making this trip a full-on adrenaline surge through the largest whitewater that’s commercially rafted in the Midwest.

If you’re up for a challenge and want to feel every surge of the river firsthand, this is the trip for you.

If you want a private raft experience but prefer a less extreme ride, you can still book a standard Menominee Whitewater Rafting Trip and request the private raft option—up to 8 people in your own raft, just your crew and your guide.

Here is what to expect:

  • Private raft for up to 4 people —just you, your crew, and your guide
  • Our most extreme rafting option
  • Not ideal for first-timers or guests uncomfortable in the water
  • Standard Rate:: $872 per raft (Fri-Sun) (up to 4 people)
  • Weekday Rate:: $792 per raft (Mon-Thurs) (up to 4 people)
  • Dates: May – October
  • Trip Duration: 3-4 hours
  • Minimum Age: 15 years old
  • Trip Times: 9:00 am & 2:00 pm
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Description

Take on the biggest rapids in the Midwest in a 4-person raft private to just your crew and your guide. Raft the biggest rapids through Piers Gorge State Park twice!

Note: In all types of whitewater rafting there is a risk of falling out of your raft and being in the water. The risk is higher within the confines of this trip. Participants should be comfortable in the water and should be good swimmers.

For more information, check out our blog on what to expect if you fall out while rafting.

THE RAPIDS

We thought you might like a real-world view of what you’ll be encountering on the Menominee River. This spot on the Michigan side of the river provides the best viewing vantage point.

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FAQs About the Wild Ride

Do we need experience for the Wild Ride?

We recommend some prior experience with whitewater rafting before trying the Wild Ride. If you are a beginner but still want to try out our highest adrenaline adventure, you should be comfortable with swimming whitewater rapids! Remember, we’ll still provide all your safety equipment and a guide, but these rafts are designed to get tossed around for the most thrilling experience on the Menominee. If you’re a first-timer and think “BRING IT ON,” we’re happy to have you!

These 10-foot rafts seat 2-4 guests and your guide. If you have a group larger than 4, you’ll book multiple rafts to fit everyone! For groups larger than 8, contact us directly to discuss options.

Your raft is private to your group and your guide. You’ll gear up and ride the shuttle with other guests, but will have your Wild Ride raft all to yourselves.

Both trips run the same stretch class II to IV rapids on the Menominee River, but the experience feels completely different.

Traditional Menominee Rafting

  • Large raft with up to 8 guests

  • Guide steers from the back

  • Team paddling experience

  • Big rapids with a stable ride

Menominee Wild Ride

  • Small 10-foot raft

  • Only 2–4 guests plus a guide

  • More responsive to the river

  • Bigger splashes and stronger hits

  • Much more intense overall

Because the raft is smaller, you’ll feel every wave, drop, and surge of the river. You’re also more likely to flip a raft or go for a swim in the rapids.

When you book a Wild Ride at Wildman, we’ll handle all the details! We provide all your gear (lifejacket, helmet, and paddle), shuttle you to and from the river, and pair you with an experienced Menominee River guide!

For many of our guests, yes.

The Menominee Wild Ride is one of the most intense outdoor adventures available in Wisconsin and the Upper Midwest. Running the powerful Class IV rapids of the Menominee River in a small 10-foot raft creates a much more dynamic and adrenaline-filled experience than traditional rafting.

With fewer people in the boat, you feel the river’s power much more directly. Waves hit harder, drops feel bigger, and every rapid demands your attention.

If you’re looking for extreme outdoor adventures in the Midwest, the Wild Ride delivers a level of excitement that surprises even experienced adventurers.

The Menominee River delivers strong rapids throughout the rafting season thanks to dam-controlled water releases, which help maintain consistent whitewater even during the summer months. That means you don’t have to rely on spring snowmelt or heavy rain to experience exciting rapids.

Generally, the river tends to feel biggest and most powerful in the spring and early summer, when natural water levels are higher and the rapids push more volume through the gorge. During this time, waves can feel larger and the river moves faster.

Later in the summer, the rapids are still fun and exciting, but the experience may feel a bit more technical, with guides and paddlers working more precisely through the features.

No matter when you visit, the Class IV rapids of the Menominee River’s Piers Gorge deliver one of the most thrilling whitewater rafting experiences in Wisconsin and near Michigan’s Upper Peninsula.

The guided trips here at Wildman are a great way to be introduced to the many adventure opportunities available here in the Midwest. We are here to help you plan a great trip that will suit your interests and experience level. Let us know how we can help!

Call us at: 715-757-2938