trip description
Our journey begins at True North Outpost where you will check in, gear up and meet your guide. We will shuttle you to the put-in in Niagara, WI, where the river flows next to granite bluff walls of 100 or more feet. On the trip, we’ll guide you past these rugged rock bluffs and through breathtaking scenery, where it is not uncommon to see native wildlife such as deer, fish and native birds like the Bald Eagle, as we are floating right through their nesting habitat.
Once we are on the river, we’ll go through an initial safety discussion, learn to paddle, and play some games to get started. After about 45 minutes of team building, swimming, splashing, and drifting, we enter a stretch of class I – II+ rapids that travel through dense northern forest land.
Before entering the class IV + rapids, we arrive at the ancient Piers Gorge Portage Trail. Anyone who does not meet our minimum requirements or who does not want to ride through the class IV+ rapids will remain at the portage trail overlook to watch from shore. Those who are willing and able to ride through the Gorge will climb back into the raft and get ready for the adventure ahead.
After traveling through this whitewater section of river, we walk back up to the overlook to rally with our onlookers, we can then switch supervising adults before we go through the Gorge a second time. We then collect our onlookers, depart from the lower beach, and travel down a little further to our last rapid, ‘Terminal Surfer’. At "surf hole" (conditions dependent) we can surf any who are willing.
Due to this river’s unique operating platform we are able to accommodate children and persons with certain impairments on a class IV river trip. Persons who require supervision must be accompanied by a competent individual from their group on the portage trail. The supervising adult will have the opportunity to switch out with another supervising adult for the second run, ensuring everyone gets a ride through the Gorge.
At approximately a half mile in length, the Class IV section of Piers Gorge whitewater rafting is short in duration in comparison to other rivers, but it is not to be minimized. The rapids are large, immensely powerful, technically challenging, demanding, and FUN!
CHILDREN UNDER AGE 12
Due to ACA whitewater standards, it is our policy that no one under the age of 12 is permitted to ride along on class 3 & 4 rapids. When we arrive at sandy beach above Piers Gorge, anyone under the age of 12 will be getting out of the raft and an adult in their party will get out with them. They will then walk around the class 3 & 4 section of river on the walking trail in Piers Gorge State Park. They will be able to watch the group go through the gorge and take photos with them in between runs.
It is important to note that we will be taking two runs through the class 3 & 4 section or water at Piers Gorge. If one adult wishes to stay with those under 12 on the first run they may switch with another adult in their party and get to run the big water for the groups second run.
HEY ADULTS! If you want to stay in the raft the whole time, our Private Rafting Trip & Premium Private Rafting Trip offers a unique option for you with our youth guide experience. For more information on that and on our private rafting trips simply click on the button below.
