Wilderness Canoe Trips

Gionna Forte

2023-09

Roger, the owner, is very nice and brought us up river during the off-season, after a quick phone call and reservation.My partner drove from NJ to do a 2 night, 3 day canoe down the Manistee River, starting at Baxter Bridge.The pull off at the end was easy, the primitive campsites along the river were great and the flow-rate was perfect to took us down the river without any effort in our part.We’ll definitely be back the next time we find ourselves in Michigan!

Kelly Stoner

2023-08

Very busy, popular place that is well-run. The raft was in excellent condition, and the float was peaceful and easy for kids and beginners.

Ryan Fauble

2023-09

I’ve taken countless trips from Wilderness Landing to the M-115 Bridge landing. It’s one of the premier routes Michigan has to offer. Great for tubing, kayaking and canoeing, lots of great places to stop and swim and very scenic and peaceful. Roger and his team and very friendly and professional. If you come to Northern Michigan you should check out Wilderness Canoe Trips.

Angela VanTol

2023-09

We enjoyed a beautiful later summer trip down the river. It was a really nice trip. The beauty and hush of nature was perfect.

Amy Burgess (BarefootBurgess)

2019-05

We were in town for another event and decided to take a 2 hour canoe trip. The staff was very helpful and knowledgeable, although we're experienced canoers. The route is very peaceful with plenty of areas to get out and explore along the way. We had a wonderful time!

Crystal Schrader

2023-05

We go through wilderness every year for our family's labor day canoe trip. It has turned into an annual thing. We're loud and usually take forever getting around. They always laugh and joke with us. Super great people.

Tammy Bailey

2021-05

Beautiful, peaceful, seen and heard beautiful nature seen an eagle, wood ducks, huge flock of Turkey buzzards, deer. Very enjoyable and we had fun

Artie McFly

2020-05

Friendly owners and staff, fair prices and lots of assistance picking out a float that's right for you. We did the Fire Lane 5 hour float and it was GORGEOUS!

Kevin Jones

2024-05

Did the 2 hour float on Manistee. This area is not too developed .

Jennifer Zurick

2022-05

Really nice tandem kayak excursion on a lovely river with lots of turtles. We were able to rent and get on and off the river very efficiently.

Gregory Lamothe

2023-07

Nice place, nice people. We brought our own kayaks, they offered us many options for P/U down stream or drop off up stream. Very reasonably priced.

Karen Young

2023-05

Professional and friendly business. We reserved our kayaks only hours before we wanted to paddle the river. We were promptly greeted and driven to our take out point with no wait. Staff is courteous and helpful. Reasonable prices. We will return soon. We highly recommend! Thanks so much!

Sarah H (Lace and ink)

2022-05

It was a great River for a lesurely float or for beginner kayakers, good pricing and friendly staff

Dawn Marie

2023-08

Had so much fun going down the River. Owners were very nice! Highly recommend coming here.

Shannon Elliott

2022-05

They can accommodate a lot but nearly every worker we talked to was so pushy about everything, it made our hopefully relaxing trip way more annoying. I can understand you must have a lot of business but you shouldn't be teaching your employees to be so pushy about literally everything. We had a big party and had to wait for some people at the end and the man who was driving asked us 4 different times (over the course of maybe 10 min) if they had come back yet so he could hurry and get us out of there.

Justin King

2018-05

I have had a blast using this company for the past 10 years on the 4th of July and everything's always smooth.

Katy Hopkins

2021-05

Excellent trip! Convenient drop off and pick up, they showed up pretty quickly to get us. Everyone was super friendly and the directions were easy to follow. There are a couple good places to stop and swim/wade/ or have a sandwich. My favorite was right before the last bridge.

Mr. Banjos

2023-05

So I have my own fleet of kayaks to take friends on trips. Get my best friend since I was nine and his wife to spend the weekend away from their kids and I regret choosing this place to take them!The staff at this place quoted me per KAYAK to use their beachhead to launch the kayaksUntil they found out I had a double seater kayak, suddenly it’s per PERSONI feel ripped off!Then!!!! They find out we didn’t need to pay for them to pick us up we have two vans and that set out to argue and tell us not to use the drive down to the waterfront to pick our kayaks up. So we have to carry them way up out of the river basin, almost like a punishment for not paying this company to pick us upWoe to anyone who has their own kayaks and wants to paddle the Manistee! This place wants you to pay for the pleasure! And punish anyone who doesn’t pay them to do it

Eric Egan

2023-07

We had a great time with a family of 6 and 1 dog on the two hour trip. Could have done the one hour trip.

Sarah Swenson

2021-05

We'll be back. The owners and staff really care about their customers AND the river. We were given a full run down of the river (depth, bridges, shallow places to swim) with a very detailed map. This was the 3rd river my husband and I had been on this year and it was by far our favorite. The Manistee is beautiful, and the owners do an awesome job to help keep it that way. They even gave us a little bag to tie to the boat so we wouldn't lose cans. I was able to stay and talk to the owner after our trip and he seemed very genuine when asking how our trip was. He also said that every few weeks they get in a boat to clean up any trash they may see. Also the DNR does an amazing job keeping the river free from debris. I cannot recommend this place enough!!!!

Eden McIntyre

2020-05

The owners are amazing! We just had a wonderful day canoeing along the river. Came back and the gentleman helped us find a place to stay (we are from out of town and have a camper). They were so helpful we are beyond thankful for their generosity. Highly recommend coming here.

Anna Coghlan

2021-05

The trip was amazing! Only place in the area that could get us a canoe with a last minute reservation. They were super friendly and they will pick you up from downriver and bring you back to you car. The dogs had a blast and there were a few good sand bars to stop and play :)

Desiree

2023-05

We've been to Wilderness Canoe 5+ times, and have enjoyed every kayak trip we've been on. One time we went on the 4hr trip and didn't see a single person on the river!

Amy Schroeder

2021-05

Had a wonderful trip tubing down the river. Would recommend not to slow but no rapids very easily navigate away from any trees hanging over the river. Very friendly set out at canoe livery and someone was waiting at the end till drive us back

Jill Gilson

2019-05

Awesome time! We went tubing with our adult kids and everyone had so much fun. Their prices are better than others in the area and they pick you up at the end to bring you to your car. We will definitely be back!

Gordon Law

2020-05

I plan a canoe trip for fifty or so veteran's every summer. This year we picked the magnificent Manistee river and Wilderness Canoe Trips.Large trips are hard to keep in order with so many people to organize . With the help of Wilderness Canoe Trips and the owner Roger with his great crew and staff, we made it though two days on the river with no mishaps.Their bus's came to our campground right on time to pic us up and dropped everyone off safe at the end of the day. There were no hidden fee's every thing was straight up as it should be. Wilderness even went out of there way for us at no extra cost thank you Roger. I have planed this annual trip for almost twenty years now. We have canoed all over Michigan and Wilderness Canoe Trips is one of the best!

chris

2019-05

I enjoy the Manistee. My wife and I kayak this river 3 or 4 times a year. We always set in at Wilderness canoe. They are easy to deal with. Just don't miss the exit just past 115. I did it was an 8 hour paddle to Pat's RV. Was still fun.

Jacob Flees

2023-09

Great place to launch from. Their rafts and kayaks are well maintained and clean.

Private

2017-05

This place has some ridiculously high prices when you bring your own kayak. I asked prices to only use their dock to put in. I didn't need any form of transportation or anything else. I just wanted to put 3 kayaks in from their dock. I was told it don't matter if I need transportation, it's 20.00 per boat. We (my two boys and I) decided that was kinda crazy. We decided to put out kayaks in on 11rd after finding that public access. They need separate prices for those who need transportation and who don't. We were camping down river and just wanted to kayak back to camp. I will NOT recommend this place to anyone.

Austin Yoo

2019-05

I had an absolute blast here. The people were friendly and were able to come pick us up as soon as we faced some issues on the river. Accommodating and very flexible on time. I will definitely be back.