The water level and rapids was perfect today for my first time experiencing whitewater rafting. We arrived a little after 9am, we made reservations ahead of time and there was a couple of big groups checking in ahead of us. The process was quick, check in, sign waiver forms, get your paddle, life vest and helmet and you're ready to go. Before we got in the water we got some instructions how to go down the main rapids: Wildcat Falls, Lone Star Dam and the Narrows. The Wildcat falls, go towards the right of the river, aim center of the two giant boulders and go down left. Most people went way right down it and got stuck at the bottom boulder and some fell in the water. We manage to go down successfully after watching a few rafters. The Lone Star Dam, stay close to the right side to go down it. The rest of the dam has a under tow that can be really dangerous and can pin you down specially if you go down sideways. The Narrows, make sure to hit it straight on and just ride the rapids. That was my favorite section. Yes, this can be dangerous. Just follow the instructions, ask a lot of questions and know your ability. Their is no guide on the raft with you. Tips before going. -Make sure to watch the safety video first, link provided on their website. -Make sure to check the water level and speed at the US coastguard link provided on their website as well. -Lastly know your ability or skills/experience paddling/kayaking/rafting. -I also watched a few YouTube videos to have an idea of the areas mentioned above. -They only accept cash or check. Today, 6/8/19, the water level was 8 feet deep and flowrate of 1500. Classified as Class 3. There was a huge group of boys scouts out the same time we did it and everyone got through it safely and had fun. read more

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I went white water rafting yesterday and it is seriously beautiful! So much wildlife, nature and the path is very nice you can even see a waterfall at the end, it is dangerous if you don't know what you're doing or go alone but go in a group and research before you do this activity you will be fine. It is kind of sad that there is garbage every now and then left on land, people ruining the nature but still beautiful for the most part. As other reviews state, avoid the dam area , paddle to the right. read more

Before I get started, I have a beef with some paddlers that went out Memorial Day weekend. They claim in their reviews that they were not provided safety gear, but the outfitters provide you with a helmet, life vest, paddle, and raft or funyak (I prefer the funyak). They also provide every single boat with clear instructions on what to do at both of three rapids (there are only two), so PAY ATTENTION. The girls in question did not know how to paddle, and admit that none of them had even been canoeing in their life. I think to blame the river, the baby rapids, or the people they rented a boat from for their incompetence is idiotic and irresponsible. And with that, I can start my actual review. I LOVE this place! It's very mild white water rafting, but still white water, so you should definitely know how to paddle and what to do if you flip your boat. It might be good to also know how to spot an eddie so you don't get stuck. Be sure to listen to the instructions that your given. There are only two rapids on the river, Wild Cats being the tricky one. I've never had a problem with it, but my boyfriend has flipped the first time we went, and got trapped in an eddie the most recent time. I stuck myself into an eddie on accident trying to wait for him while he went "surfing". Getting stuck is a huge work out! It can also be a little scary. I LOVE this river because there's virtually no signs of people anywhere. Coming from Chicago where there's virtually no signs of nature, this is a real treat for my psyche, which needs nature! When I lived in Florida I was kayaking Rock Springs every weekend, and I miss that up here in Chicago. Because the river is so easy, you don't get a guide, which, in my opinion makes it even better. Last time we went out there, about two weeks ago, there were three other families running the river, all the boats went out with kids, two parents and one elderly person (i love seeing family outings). I say that to illustrate how easy the river is. I've done HUGE rapids on the Ocoee River in Tennessee, and that was fun but non-stop stress for me (I wasn't able to swim back then but have since started learning), but I prefer Vermillion River because it's relaxing. The boat rental people are great, they are very knowledgeable. Be sure to ask about the water levels so you can have a good idea of what to expect at Wild Cats. Higher water levels mean an easier time (and faster trip overall), lower levels mean a bigger drop at Wild Cats, and a slower (longer) time down the river. Oh! One other thing, there's a lot of Asian Carp out there, there seemed to be more this year than last year, it's pretty exciting when they jump out next to your boat when your going through a rapid. It's sad though because they're an invasive species. read more

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Such an awesome experience! It was very relaxing going down the river. It took us about 3 1/2 miles to complete and the family working there were very friendly. We'll definitely be back! read more

This. Was. Sooooo. Much. FUN!! My boyfriend and I just did the Vermillion River Rafting today and we had an absolute blast. I read all the reviews before going and I have to admit that I was a little nervous....maybe a lot nervous, but it ended up being the favorite thing we did on our camping trip to the Starved Rock area. There are two areas that are like water slides: "wildcat" and the "dam". We followed the instructions and stayed to the right side, paddled through it and crouched low. We did not even come close to falling out! We both commented that we wished we could go back up and do it again! After Wildcat, we did pull onto a rocky patch of shore and emptied the water that got into the raft. We probably didn't need to but decided to do it while we had a good opportunity. The remaining 90% of the trip was literally a lazy river with occasional "wavy" areas (small waves). I was able to lay on the raft, close my eyes, and just relax. We wore watershoes from Walmart ($5) and lots of sunscreen. I recommend to bring water bottles with you and you can ask the staff to hold your keys for you if you are worried to lose them. When you arrive, you follow the staff to the endpoint, park your car, and then they drive you in the van back to the start point. Overall, a great experience. The scenery is so beautiful and we would come back again. The rafts were nice, life jackets were new, and the staff was friendly and helpful. I would recommend this and want to come back!!!! read more

I have just started picking up rafting as a hobby after going in Colorado. Of course this was nothing like Colorado, but I didn't put my expectations to high! The staff gets you all set up, tells you where you should and shouldn't go. The experience is what you make of it. We had a great time, I'd do it again. read more

Three years ago myself and four others went rafting here, everything was great and had no issues... we got lucky. The following year I once again made a reservation by giving them my name, number, and group size. Four out of the five of us took off work for this and drove an hour and a half to get here only to find out they were closed do to the river being too low. Once I finally was able to get someone on the phone I was asked what I wanted them to do about it? I don't know, maybe call me to let me know your closed? The other day I made the unfortunate mistake of making a reservation again. I made it for five but then had to call the day before and let them know it would only be four however I was trying to get one or two more people to go with. The confused old lady said that wouldn't be a problem at all and either way we would be getting a six person raft so don't worry. The following day the six of us show up and they don't have a six person raft... go figure. The confused old lady had us down for a reservation of three causing us to lose the six person raft! They instead offer us two three person rafts for the same rate. Me being the only experienced one made my group a little nervous as half would not be with me to navigate the one rapid and the one damn (those are the only "rapids"). We had three girls in our group that were very nervous about not having me to help but I was able to convince them otherwise. One of my group noticed they had a two person kayak and said I should take the girls in a four person while they took the two person in an attempt to make it safer. The confused old lady appeared and rudely explained that we would have to pay more money to do that. Yep, the person who screwed it all up wouldn't help unscrew things... go figure again. We go rafting and everything worked out as well as it could have for the situation. Unfortunately in an attempt to stay in a group by tying our rafts together we had some difficulties and the trip took longer then expected and went past the time we should have been in by. Once we got back I went to grab my keys and the confused old lady's husband was there to hassle me. He asked if I could tell time and me not thinking anything of it said I was sorry but we didn't have a watch nor a phone along with the two rafts taking a little longer. He then said I owed him more money for having to wait on us (he lives on the property... not that big of a deal) I was shocked at this considering they screwed things up. I then apologized again but he responded with calling us "a bunch of little a**holes". At this point I was done and told him not my problem and left for the very last time. read more

My honest opinion is that this was a lot of fun, HOWEVER I agree with the other reviewers that there was not enough explanation. We left singing RIGH RIGHT LEFT, because that's what they told us as far as avoiding dangerous areas. We started off backwards then spinning in circles so we were not off to a good start. We were definitely a below average paddle team.. By the time we reached the wildcat we were not sure if we were supposed to go right or left but we all agreed last minute that it was RIGHT because we didn't have enough time to see the huge rock. They did tell us about the rock and to avoid it but we made the wrong decision and BAM hit the rock. The person in the front of the raft was screaming THIS IS HOW THE TITANIC WENT DOWN, and my dear friend held on to me for her life screaming OH MY GOD OH MY GOD. I fought the rock with my paddle and our entire raft went under... we popped up a few seconds later and our raft was full of water. Bring a cooler because that's the only way we got the water out of the raft. Also bottles of water help but drink them before wildcat.. we saw some eagles and a raccoon. The views were actually really beautiful. Overall a fun experience and a life long story to tell. I would go again, but will be wearing a helmet. read more

One of, if not the best, nature trips I have had in Illinois. Beautiful scenery, and a lovely way to spend 3-4hours on a day trip from Chicago. The river does has 2 parts that were surprisingly challenging, but we were given a briefing about them before we left (you can also walk your boat over past the wild cat rapid if you want). The Wild Cat tossed my boyfriend out and the small dam got me. But the excitement leading up to them and getting through was what made the trip fun! The rest of the trip is lazy paddling or floating down the river. We are both novice kayak riders but they gave us helmets and life jackets. My bf did lose his sunglasses, so leave anything you don't need in the car! You really don't need anything but maybe some water. They'll hold onto your car keys too and they drive you back up from the river when you're done. It was a great trip and I'd love to come back and do it again with a group. read more

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Not safe. It's. Just. Not. There's no way for the outfitter to know if you're In any way capable of recovering the Rapids. The give you the gear and send you in your way. If you don't show up at the bridge, which by the way, just getting up the damn hill at the end is ridiculous, you're already in serious trouble. The raft just completely fills with water which makes it a major chore to continue to raft through the doldrums. The wonderful views of garbage in the hills are pretty redneck. Cue the banjos. Save your money and leave your kids at home. As an experienced paddler, this is not the place to try the Rapids... read more

They asked us to watch 5 video's - NOTHING about them was on white water rafting specific safety. This is a dangerous and life threating adventure - one person has already died. The poor organization and lack of quality instruction should be shutting these people down. My son-in-law tipped and he was also stuck on the rock for at least 2 minutes under water. He thought he was going to die. If you care for your life then I would pass on this organization. They are not worth it. read more

The Vermillion River is scenic and relatively calm. For a group with only one person ever having rafting experience, I suppose the river serves as a decent introduction to rafting. According to this company's website, the rapids encountered along the river are rated Class I and Class II. While most of the three hour+ journey is calm, there are two spots that novices will probably find challenging (and for us, unnerving). As other reviewers had mentioned, there are primarily two trouble spots. The first is called "Wildcat Falls." This area consists of a downward "chute" sandwiched between two large rock formations (we were told that this area might be more challenging than usual due to the river level being around 2.5 ft). For this area, we were instructed by the Company's staff to immediately paddle to the left one in the chute to avoid a boulder. For all intents and purposes, there was not enough time to do so (perhaps because of the low water level) and all we could do was lower our center of gravity and lean to keep the raft as balanced as possible as it hit both rock formations within seconds. We were lucky and our raft hadn't flipped over. Our other party's raft did and they were very shaken up from the incident. We were told by other rafters that our raft was the only one they'd seen all day that hadn't flipped. One gentlemen told us that he had gotten trapped under the raft after it flipped and almost drowned, albeit with a smile on his face. The second area is called Lone Star Dam. This area wasn't as troublesome as I had pictured it would be in my mind. We were instructed to stay to the right of the buoys which lead to a 20ft section cut from the dam to allow rafters to pass over the top without encountering reverse currents. The anticipation was worse part of it despite one of our other party's rafters being thrown from the raft. As for the Company itself... Pros: very fair rental rates, easy to find location, rafts seemed to be in excellent condition, they sell sunblock for $1 for those that forgot to bring it. Cons: life vests looked old and worn down. very basic instructions, especially regarding the "trouble" areas. I would have appreciated it if they had more pictures of those areas (they had none), so novices like me would know what to expect and look for. One last thing: Bring lots of water, don't bring anything you would hate to lose or get water damaged, and for god's sake...it's not a "booze cruise" (as at least one reviewer has said). Someone died in 2009 because they were intoxicated and got caught in the dam's current. Be smart and be safe, no matter how "lazy" the river is. read more

The people there were great and helpful. They explained the 2 dangerous drops even though we only payed for a chauffeur for our kayaks. Everytime I've called they explained if the river was too low or high to go on. The river was gorgeous and rapids were great. The size of the rapids and dnager greatly change with water level. Due to size of some rapids, if you are not experienced paddler I would recommend checking out yorkville's rapids first. read more

The management does not provide an instructor or someone to come with you in case of any problems. You will be left to your own intuition to get out of any tricky situations. Although it sounds good its not in this case. We went as a group and none of us were experienced. The management assured it wouldn't be a problem and set us off. We fell into the water in the first rapid and hit our heads on the rocks, we were not provided any helmets ir safety gear, except for life jackets(Thank god). Luckily none of our injuries were extreme and we kept on until we fell into the river again at the next rapid. At this point the stream is infected with schools of Asian carp which started jumping out of the stream and hit us all over. We managed to survive and rowed to the end. DO NOT TRY THIS PLACE! read more

We all had so much fun!!!!! Our group of five got there being a little nervous after reading all the reviews because we have all never been rafting before. We were given instructions on what to do and we all really enjoyed it. The Wild Cat falls were a lot of fun, but did not last very long. The trip is short enough to manage, and not dangerous at all unless you don't listen to their instructions. I would recommend this trip!!! read more

I've done this twice. the first time, the water levels were really low so the trip took 6 hours and was easy. the second time, our raft flipped at Wildcat Falls and all of us went in the water. we lost one of our paddles, our snacks (oh the snacks!!), and almost lost our car keys. there was a group of about 20 people sitting on shore after the Falls and they told us their rafts had flipped too. one girl had to be rushed to the Emergency Room because she hit her head on the rocks. the website says that the rapids are level 1 & 2 but Wildcat seems much more challenging than that. i would not recommend this to first-timers or the easily panicked (like myself). if you want to do this: wear a helmet (an employee mentioned that someone last week had hit their head and went to the hospital as well - that makes two in two weeks) expect to get wet expect to fall in the water loop your car keys to your life vest or put it in a zippered pocket the employees are nice, the rafts are in good condition, the life jackets are new, helmets are in good condition. not bad for $30. read more

Arrived there at 12:30, the website says they do rides till 1:30 but the lady there turned us away with a snippy attitude claiming that the water was too low (it had been raining for several days prior) and that it was going to rain later that afternoon so we would have to come back tomorrow, the weather predicted about an hour of rain that afternoon, clearly this wouldn't make any difference in the water level... I pleaded that I was visiting from out of state and leaving the next day and the weather was supposed to be horrible as well but they didn't care, clearly just didn't want to do their job and go home. Dissapointed, I wonder if the owner is aware the workers are turning away patrons out of pure laziness. read more

I don't see how anyone can flip in this river, there is really only 2 spots where the rapids are strong and last for all of one minute. So on your 9 mile rafting you get about 2 minutes of fun. This place was not worth the 30 bucks per person, enjoyed my time going but will not be back. Also watch out for Asian carp, those things can knock you out. read more

Worst experience of my entire life!!! When they say there are not deaths there...they lie!!!! This is a common thing, especially around the dam area!! They do no training or safety first! There should be a guide to teach you these things!! We flipped our raft & almost lost 2 of our girls!!!! We ended up hiking about 2 miles back in high brush, trees & thorns until we could find a road...when we found a man to take us to our car he said this happens all the time! And when we got back to our car, the guy with the company told us he knew we had been stranded for about 30 minutes but hadn't even done anything about it! Worst thing is, everyone signs a waiver so there is NOTHING we can do about our experience except keep telling people about it!!!!! Horrible horrible horrible experience!!!! So glad to still be alive!!!!!! read more

If I could give a 0, I would. Yes. They told us that you should stay to the right both times... But there are NO safety plans in place if you get freaked out. Our raft tipped in wildcat canyon, and one of our friends got trapped behind a boulder in the top of the rapids. There were another set of people ahead of us, that got us out of the water. I started screaming for my friend when we didn't see her...thank goodness there were other people there. A guy started sprinting along the rocks, looking for our friend. He finally found her, and pulled her out where she was trapped. We stayed to shake off our panic for a while, then got back in the water. We knew that we were NOT prepared after that, and decided not to go over the dam. We ended up tying our raft to a log, and started to hike through heavy and dense brush up to the road. We got to road finally, and a bridge. We saw another set of rafters and yelled at them for help. We told them to please let the people know that we were there. We ended up hiking up to a house, and got a ride from a gentleman. After we arrived to our car, the man who ran the place said "Well hey! I heard about you guys around 30 minutes ago!" And we all look at each other like "REALLY". He KNEW that we needed help yet didn't lift a finger to do anything about it. I don't care what you have to pay, always have a guide. We had no idea what we needed to do or how to safely cross the rapids or dam. I know it doesn't seem like much, just 2 rapids, and the operators clearly didn't think it was that big of a deal, but it was to us. Enough to ditch our raft and hike back. Please don't do this raft trip unless you've rafted before. read more

I have gone on this rafting trip 6 or 7 times in the last ten years. As others have said, there are two areas where you have some actual rapids and some solid navigating that needs to be done. This amounts to probably ten total minutes of what can amount to a 3 hour trip (but I've stretched it to close to 5 at times). Along the rest of the river are spots where the river rapidly goes through a shallow or rocky area and you need to try to find the best way through. There are also long patches of calm water through some very peaceful and beautiful scenery. A few times I've actually beached my raft and carried it back over to do the rapids again. I've also popped out of the raft on 3 occasions. It can happen. Along the way are some occasional beaches and pebbly shores where you might want to pull to the side and enjoy a snack or lunch (that you'd bring). The trip is absolutely worth the $25 they charge. Go into it knowing what degree of rapids to expect, and you will have a great time. It's a nice way to spend a morning and early afternoon with some friends. read more

The owners of this place were very careless and only wanted their money. The water rafting has dangerous drops and there have been many deaths that have taken place there. The owners do not tell you the truth about the river and how many people were ACTUALLY injured from rafting in this river. This was the first time our group has ever done this, and we stated that to them, & instead of warning us, they tell us we'll be fine and took our money and sent us off. Definitely never coming back, & they need to shut this place down. The fire department had to come rescue us, & exposed this company, and they hope this place shuts down too. DO NOT GO THERE. read more

Amy R from roscoe villages post: I felt compelled to respond to this. When you are rafting in a river and there's risk involved, you cant blame the rocks or the water or your lack of skill on the rafting company !!!! Is it their falut you lost your paddle? That you got wet? You are kidding me. Stay in the city. You want GUIDES? Guides are not going to spend 3 hours with you for 25 dollars. Your complaints are a classic sign of someone who is a total novice outdoors person expecting a world class experience and safety and professionals to hand hold you the whole way. Seneca Illinois is not this place. For a guided experience, you WILL get all that hand holding and you will walk away after spending 100-200 bucks. They are little more than a shuttling service that also provides boats. Had YOU """planned" ahead and asked you would have known and never shown up. read more

Have been to this place with friends.Worst experience ever.No safety precautions or sign boards.They don't even care to give us a copy of route map.If you are beginner or don't know how to swim better don't go.Rapids were high.The 10 min guidelines which she gives at the beginning will not get you prepAred for the rapids.No restrooms or changing rooms.THEY JUST WANT MONEYAND THEY DONT CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY OF CLIENTs..No scenic beautie.dont even worth a star read more

Tried to make a reservation 3 times during the week and was told each time that the water was too low to raft but to call back again closer to the day I wanted to go. The third time I called was the day I hoped to go and was somehow told that the water was now fine and that they were booked for the day. Terrible communication/organization, and archaic lack of technology use (only booking over phone, etc.) read more

Our experience would have been a lot more positive had we not capsized in one of the rocky spots & dealt with this company during and afterward. There are no helmets or safety plans in place, aside from life jackets. It is a low class river, so we didn't expect to have any danger. My friend was injured on the rocks & we were freezing. Also, the staff merely "waits" for the rafters to show on the other side 3-4 hours later & if they don't, then go looking for them. There were only 2 of us & we were not given a guide. Our phone was damaged so there was no way to get a hold of anyone if we actually had a signal. We were only 1 hour into the expedition & felt completely alone as the staff has no plan in place for emergencies. We paddled 3 more hours to the other side with 1 paddle, which felt interminable. We asked the crew on the other side what they do in this type of situation and he said "good question." When we related our story, the owner was unapologetic and basically argued with me the entire time. Very unprofessional. He stated that he read the email I had sent regarding our experience but didn't respond due to being "busy." read more

This review is for the BEGINNER - novice, never white water rafted before, and looking for a fun experience. This is NOT a review for the experienced white water rafter. The website points out (1) there is a total lack of development along its banks, (2) there are 14 sets of rapids, most are class 1's and 2's, if the river water is up over 4 foot, you will get class 3's; and most importantly (3) it's a good beginner river, and (4) they "only cancel if the water is too low or too high". For the record, the water was too high the day we went. The FAQs point out that you do not get a guide, you go out on your own, and includes the question: "How many people to a raft? Answer: We put 4 people in our 4-man rafts and 5 people in our 6-man rafts." If you are a group of two, do NOT make the mistake and assume that you will be put in a raft with another group of 2 or 3. You won't. They provide each rafter with a vest and an oar, and raft(s) for your group. Definitely ask for a helmet, they don't offer them unless you are under a certain age, but they have them. Before you go, it's a good idea to google "white water rafting tips for beginners"; you'll get a lot of useful information that you will not get from anyone here. (Note, we didn't do that and, after the fact, wished we had. The website FAQs say they give you instructions on what to do.) They say it's a good beginner river, but the instructions you get are no different than any other group - even if you point out to every VRR employee that you encounter that you are a beginner, have never done this before. (When I told one of the VRR employees this, I was told, this was PERFECT for beginners, you WANT the water to be high.) (Note, the FAQs say it is a good idea to know how to paddle and have been canoeing before. For the record, we know how to paddle and we have been canoeing before.) The safety instructions are basic and mainly for two rapids - Wildcat Falls and Lone Star Dam. We went on Sunday, June 28, 2015. The level had more than doubled from Friday to Sunday making it dangerous definitely for beginners. (We found this out later when they closed the river to all recreational boating -- it was too dangerous for boaters as well as rescuers trying to get to the stranded and injured. There were at least 14 people stranded - including my niece and me - and one was injured. It was reopened on Friday, July 3, 2015.) Our raft flipped early on in the swift strong current. We heard the rush of water up ahead, rounded the corner, and navigated our raft to the right and in a matter of seconds, the raft turned, dipped and out we went. (I'm sure the experienced rafter would have been able to right the raft and navigate through it.) We lost our raft, oars, and cooler which had my car keys in the storage space on top. (Take note, find a way to keep your car keys on you so if everything else is lost and/or separated from you, you still have your car keys.) There is no safety plan in place if you get stranded. There are no spotters along the way. You have to rely on yourselves and other rafters. We were flipped in the absolute worst spot - there was no dry land to reach and still be seen and rescued. It was thick, thorny brush and trees, and so many downed trees. We still had my iPhone in a water-proof pouch, but we had no signal to make a call or send a text for help. We spent over 1-1/2 hours hanging onto tree branches waiting to be rescued. I was with my niece. Each time we thought it was a good time to try and move forward, the current picked up and was so strong - it was all we could do to hang on - and the water seemed to be rising. There were a few groups that attempted to rescue us, but the current was too strong and they could not stop or slow their rafts to get to us, other rafts were full. We were told by later rafters they knew about us back at the launch and help was on the way - and one even had a cell signal and was calling 911. We were finally rescued by a group in a raft that was full but had an experienced white water rafter in the group. She had received training on how to rescue people. We learned a lot from her about navigating the rapids. In the end, we didn't have the experience we had hoped for, but we met some nice people, and we had a story to tell. We ran into several groups who were relieved to see that we had been rescued and had made it out safely, and one group happy to see us who told us that they couldn't rescue us or our raft, but they rescued our cooler and my car keys. Other reviews say that this is like a lazy river with two rapids and that it's so easy to navigate, a guide is not necessary. For a river that is "perfect" for beginners, that is the experience we wanted, but did not get. read more

Do Not do this -- simply put it can be very dangerous -- as other reviews explain, the company does nothing except giving you access to the river. Thats it. Then your on your own. Several people have drowned because there are dangerous currents etc. They do not tell you about -- they just give you a waiver. Seriously -- stay away. read more

If you have no rafting experience and value your life health and well being DO NOT go on this trip. The company owners are liars and cheats they do not give you adequate safety training or gear. The directions are pitiful. If you have rafting experience I can see how this would be worth the time and money but for newbies don't do it. It's arduous and frightening. They said there were ways to portage pass the rapids totally untrue. I was thrown from the boat hit my head was knocked silly and if it wasn't for a kid in a boat ahead of us with life saving experience I probably would have drowned. I ended up with a split chin and bruised knuckles. The company attendant at the end of the run couldn't have cared less and was a total ass. The only reason there is one star is because I couldn't post this without putting a rating otherwise I would have not given it any stars. read more

This was my first time doing this to clarify. The people that run this are extremely nice and helpful and they deserve 5 stars. A friend and I went when the water was low (low to where they said they questioned operating) and our day definitely wasn't what we were expecting. The Vermillion can run fast so you do need to pay attention to maneuver your way through. Luckily the guy with me was outdoor savvy and strong and able to get us around the rocks or potential hold ups. My big issue was the dam. We stayed the right as instructed and when going over the dam the boat capsized being a nightmare experience. We lost everything (so don't bring anything important like keys, phone, whatever). The boat was floating off, we lost a paddle and the suction of the water in that area took my pants as well as his shoes. We are both strong swimmers but it was very difficult to stay afloat and get to shore even with life vests (wear your vests even when you are floating along-seriously I think this saved me). We paddled back to the end point smoothly after getting all the water out of the boat on land (which wasn't easy as the boat is heavier than expected especially full of water). At the end you walk up a lot of steep, run down wood stairs going uphill so keep that in mind and wear decent shoes. This was our 2nd date as we stood there shoeless, pant less, extremely dirty and never needing a drink more in our life. This is fun but caution really needs to be taken here-it was extremely dangerous and you're at a high risk for a head injury or drowning. If you go, best of luck! Seriously don't drink on this-this is one time I'm glad I didn't have beers before! read more

DO NOT GO HERE! The owners don't care and only want money. They leave you out there with little instructions and the water is very dangerous. There is a dam at the end which people get caught in and eventually drown from the current. I asked the owners if anyone had died or gotten lost and they lied to our group and said no. We found out through the rescue team that they rescue people here everyday and people have died in the past. The city has been trying to get them SHUT DOWN for years!!! There is no signal or stops if you get lost or drown. People from our group got hypothermia and barely made it back. read more

Horrible experience that shall be etched in my memory for the rest of my life. First off it is not a beginners course, they lied. Second off when the redneck woman that looks like she comes from the Catskills mountains says, "there are two times you need to stay to the right." She forgot to tell us the second time if you don't you are dead! Because there is an UNDERTOW, an unnatural fixture in the river from the plant that pulls you under and drowns you to death, that is so fierce an experienced rafter that was the forest park ranger got pulled under with his wife and almost died. How did I find this out. Well my group went rafting, and I remember saying as long as I can see the people in the front we are ok and I was making jokes we don't have to worry about dying as long as we see the people in the front. Well we went threw the rocky part and then the second "stay to the right part" came up. The rafters a head of us got pulled under, and one died at 19, college students. At that point we get off and we are stuck on the side of the river freaked out. I guy from the factory drives up and offers to take us to our cars and throw the raft in the truck I was very thankful. We told him what happened and he replied that the undertow kills a few people every year, and he does not understand why they do not inform the riders about the under tow. Do you know why because I guess 25 dollars is worth someones life. This man has worked at the factory for like 15 years and has been a part of some of the rescues because it is right on their property. Then he told us that one guy got pulled under they couldn't find his body for over 7days. It is no joke. Do not be fooled. And yes I signed a wavier, but you should tell people the real risk involved and I feel mortified for that girls parents, all for 25 dollars. If you want to water raft do it with and instructor and a viable company that actually cares. read more

This trip is NOT for kids. I brought my 8 year-old and 12 year-old sons and My husband and I thought this was going to be a safe trip. We hit Wildcat and did not cap size but did hit a very large rock and my husband's knee was injured. The raft filled with water. When we got to the next drop off the Dam we capsized and lost our raft down river. My husband and 12 year-old made it to the side of the river and my 8 year-old and myself held on to a rock in the middle river in turbulent water while we waited for another rafter to rescue us approx 15 minutes. My 8 year-old cried and screamed the entire time as he was scared. I was very scared due to all the Danger and warning signs stating the undercurrent was strong. This was a horrible experience for us. Finally another rafter pulling an injured person in a Kayak hit the dam and 2 of the 6 rafters were thrown from the raft while almost capsizing. The injured kayaker dislocated his shoulder at Wildcat. They rescued my 8 year-old and took him to safer ground and I let go of the rock and floated the rest of the way scared to death to their raft. 2 experienced kayakers retrieved our raft from down river and the other rafters gave us a lift to the raft and gave us some orrs to use. There was no help from the rental location. No way to contact them, no safety plan. I would not recommend this trip to anyone and especially do not bring your children as my children almost drowned when we capsized. I also sustained injuries several scrapes and bruises from capsizing and hitting rocks. My children had helmets on thank heaven! Gina F. read more

My husband and I did the rafting trip recently with our 7 year old and two 10 year olds. Kids are required to wear helmets. On Wildcat, 3 of us slipped out of the raft but grabbed on and were able to get back in without too much fuss. Just about everyone that day either flipped completely or had a person or two slip out. That's what made the trip fun. Be prepared to paddle as there are a lot of slow patches. And don't take anything with you that you would not be prepared to lose, or be sure your stuff is stored in a waterproof case and a zipped pocket. read more

This is not for a first time rafter..The drops were very dangerous, my daughter and I were thrown out of the raft. We were pulled under the water for several min. And had a hard time getting back in the raft. read more

I would like to say to the other reviews...yes the is dangeres but if u pay attention and follow there directions u wont die!!!!!!!!! Ive been on that river and others way more crazy and never had anyone die because we follow all the rules!! Ive takin my * yr old son and seen kids as young as 5 on this river and like i said if u follow the direction u will be alright. Things do happen on the river just like they do on the road!!I put not sure on the good for kids area because i think it all is how your kid is...great swimmer, follows directions and likes water :) read more

Read this before going there. It is just my view of it... If you know how to swim and you know what you are getting into-Don't continue to read, you are fine. If you don't know how to swim and you don't have much of an experience with rafting, you may want to think twice. Yes, it is true that the water depth is around 3-5 feet but it is only in certain places. Since the water keeps flowing and the rocks are slippery you cannot get down thinking that is only 3-5 feet, it is more than 3-5 feet in some areas. Keep in mind that you are going rafting without any professional rafter coming with you so you have to deal with the whole thing yourself. Please pay attention to the instructions they give before you set out, which are very little. The experience we had at Wild Cat rapids was something totally different from what was told by the people running it. We all fell in the water and some of us didn't know how to swim so we all got terrified, but there is no way to go back. You can only keep going forward. Crouching in the raft as they tell you to has no apparent effect as everyone falls in the rapids no matter what, so just be prepared. If you are not sure see if you can stop, assess it and then move. The rapids near the dam are not as bad as wild cat but the trick is to be very CAREFUL near the dam since there is a lot of water current in that area so you need to be on the right side of the river. After the experience at wild cat, we were scared to cross the rapids near the dam so we ended up stopping to assess the situation. We did decide to pull the raft along the banks. Though it was very tedious, we somehow managed to get thru. We heard some horror stories about what happened to people at the rapids in the dam and the internet confirmed it after we researched coming back home, so just keep that in mind as well. Most important thing, don't take any electronic device because you are sure to loose them/have water damage to them. If I ever go again, it will have to be with someone who knows rafting.. read more

We started our day celebrating our daughters 20th birthday. We wanted something fun and adventurous. This was a very BAD experience and decision. My son head hit the rocks and capsize. My boat capsized and my husband had to jump in and save me. There were a young man who jumped in and saved my son. My oldest daughter missed the spot to get off. Be aware if you missed the spot, the water is real fast and deep. This company does not have a speed boat. There is no emergency plan in place. I am a business owner and not to have a risk management plan in place is rediculous. I do not see how they in business. We travel the world and this is the worse experience ever. I thank God almighty we are still here. read more

Worst experience of my life! We took our children with us (ages 9 and 15) to enjoy some family fun! Boy, we were surprised, the kids actually have nightmares about this experience. This is NOT, I REPEAT NOT FOR BEGINNERS! AND NOT FOR CHILDREN! The river was low, thank god, on our adventure. The only 2 "rapids" are a nightmare. The first one, when you fly straight into rocks and capsize is mild and tame compared to the DAM, when you seriously could possibly lose your life! I feel like i almost did and am grateful for my survival. At the first rapids, we did capsize, we did lose everything, including our raft. Thankfully the next raft coming through helped us recover what we could and returned our raft to us. That dam is just a nightmare! There are "warning" and "caution" signs that your pass before you approach the dam. Heed the warnings people, DO NOT GO OVER THE DAM! The suction from the dam is terrifying! I, like another reviewer lost my pants, do to the suction. Sounds funny and sounds unbelievable, but SOOOOO true. This dam is no joke! Luckily i was holding on to the rope attached to the front of the raft or I seriously don't think that I would be here today. So my children experienced witnessing watching their mother almost drown and be torn up by the rocks and river current. Thank god it was me in the water and not one of them, i can not even fathom what that current would do to a child. I had MANY wounds and bruises, luckily noting too serious. The people that you pay to experience this horrible nightmare are RIDICULOUS and DO NOT prepare you for what is going to happen to you! You need to be an experienced rafter or be extremely prepared and knowledgeable on how to survive in accidents like this. Looking back on this, there are so many other things that could have gone MUCH worse. I am so thankful that my family and I survived this, really. This was a HUGE lesson learned and i hope everyone reading this reconsiders their decision to do this. read more

I had been so excited to do this for years, finally got the chance. My two friends and I had never been canoeing or rafting before and we made sure to tell the people this although they never asked. They told us several times oh don't worry you will be fine. Before the guys that put us in the boat sent us out I asked again what is the chances we will flip, he says you won't... So off we go. It was beautiful and relaxing until we came to wildcat rapids. All we were told is get down and stay to the right. Exactly what we did. But we smacked right into the large rock I. Front of us flipping us. I was stuck behind the large rock and large currents kept smashing me into it over and over and I kept going under not being able to catch him my breath at all. The life jacket I was given had no strap to go beneath my legs so it kept floating up above my head making things worse. Next thing I knew I was under water thinking I was trapped under a rock. I eventually came out. To find that a very similar experience had happened to both my friends. Luckily someone had grabbed our raft and paddles otherwise they would have been gone! We were terrified for over an hour not wanting to continue but not knowing what else to do. After getting home I decided to read a lot of reviews only to find that this happens to a lot of people. I just want to say maybe we shouldn't have been out there if we weren't experienced but we were grown adults and we were never told the dangers of this area. They downplayed it! Maybe it seems simple to them and others that have done it but to us it was a near death experience and it was very real to us. The owners need to take this more serious and take 5 more minutes to explain what to do if you do tip. And have some sort of safety in that area. If there were no other rafters at the time people would be stranded. Most people say the owners explain stuff well, but not to us, it was a minute speech saying nothing but stay to the tight and get down! Only advice I can give inexperienced people that may tip is to try and stay calm you will most likely be carried out by the currents eventually. I have to say this was the worst experience of my life so far and I'm not blaming anyone but myself. Just wish the owners could have been a bit more specific and realistic about what really happens! read more