Frequently Asked Questions

We raft rain or shine! We check the weather report daily and before each trip departs to ensure we are prepared for whatever weather we may encounter.

If there lightning during your rafting trip we will pull off to the side of the river and wait until the electrical storm has passed. We are fortuneate that storms with lightning move quickly and delays are typically only 10-15 minutes.

If you are concerned you may be cold we recommend renting a wetsuit for an added layer of warmth on rainy days.

No, we can take groups of any size! Whether you are 1, 2, 4, 10, 40, etc., we will take care of arranging groups into each raft.

Smaller groups might just make some new friends along the way! Larger groups that fill a raft will have a boat all to themselves!

Our Rafting season runs from May 17 to Sept 7, 2025

We offer 10% off rafting trips and packages during the early-season, which is May 17-June 27, 2025.

OWL offers a resort pacakge for guests that wish to join their friends or family at the OWL Resort but are unable to participate in a rafting trip. We call these non-rafter packages. The OWL Resort is not open to groups with no rafters.

The one day package includes a meal, the use of all our facilities, and the possibility of joining the pontoon cruise at the end of the rafting trip.

The 2 day package includes 2 nights of camping, 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner and full use of the resort facilites.

Guests dropping rafters off and planning to leave the resort and return at the end of the rafting trip are not charged a resort fee. Guests staying 2 hours or more may be asked to pay the resort access fee.

No. We require your reservation to be paid in full prior to your trip. Without full payment, we cannot hold the spots for you. Guides must be reserved for the day, food ordered etc.

Accepted payment methods include VISA, Mastercard, American Express and VISA Debit. 

The River Access Fee covers access to the river and commercial liability insurance. This is a mandatory fee that is standard in the rafting industry.

OWL has free parking throughout our resort and plenty of space for buses and rvs.

We have 6 RV sites which include electrical and water hook-ups. These sites are centrally located close to all OWL Resort amenities. Step out of the comfort of your home on wheels and gear up for your day of rafting on the Ottawa River!

We also have plenty of space for RV’s without hook ups.

Yes, for guests that are rafting with us; we are not a public campground. The camping fee includes one night of camping plus a hearty breakfast. Guests can bring their own tents and bedding or rent them from us.

Are you a paddler? Check out Paddler Camping.

Yes. The cabins do have an electrical outlet with lighting, but no plumbing.

The cabanas have electrical outlets with composting toilets.

The glamping tents do not have power.

Yes, but in designated areas – under our pavilion and two designated outdoor fire pits.

Yes, our quiet hour is 1:00 am on Friday & Saturday nights, 11:00 pm mid-week.

Yes! We have a gorgeous beach with canoes, kayaks, and SUPs available for you to use at any time. 

Please note, our beach is unsupervised, and for you to use at your own risk. 

For guests interested in learning to kayak or canoe in whitewater we recommend taking a course with Madawaska Kanu Centre.

In 2025, OWL is hosting Madawaska Kanu Centre for Ottawa River based paddling courses – Ottawa River Paddling Courses.

June 23-27 – Kayak Intermediate & Kids Program

August 11 – 15 – Kayak Intermediate

Yes, hot showers are available.  Remember to bring your own soap! 

We also have sinks and composting toilets.

When it comes to food, it is best to plan ahead. OWL is located 15-30 minutes from the nearest town. Please book ahead if you wish to add a meal onto your trip.

The option to buy into OWL’s scheduled meal plan is available with advance notice.  Alternatively, the OWL Café and Boutique has a few options including sandwiches, muffins, and snacks if you are not looking for a full meal.

All guests are welcome to bring food and snacks. Please note there are no refrigeration options or cooking facilities provided.

During our peak season, we have live music every busy Saturday night!

Play a round of frisbee golf, a game of beach volleyball, or relax on the beach. We also boast a large floating swim dock right off shore, a bike pump track and a life size maze.

The main campground is a large open field located on the water with picnic tables and room to spread out. We also have a separate camping area for smaller groups. Facilities include beach front, hot showers, and indoor washrooms.

No alcohol is permitted within 8 hours of the start of your rafting trip: anyone who has been drinking will not be permitted to raft that day.

Cold days: sneakers/sport sandals/water shoes, wool socks, wool or fleece sweater, nylon windbreaker; wetsuits are available for rent.

Warm days: sneakers/sport sandals/water shoes and a bathing suit. Don’t forget your sunscreen.

All participants must wear footwear with a secure back strap.  To ensure they don’t fall off when rafting.

Any time during the summer: the Ottawa River has excellent flows May to September. Weekdays are less crowded, as are early season weekends.

Some rapids are better in lower water than high. The rapids are rated as class III to IV, but at any water level, the Ottawa River provides great excitement!

During May & early June, the water is cool & wetsuits are available. Later in the summer, the river warms up to roughly 20 C (70 F).

OWL takes video footage and photos of your trip down the Ottawa River. These are available to view and purchase after your rafting trip.

OWL has a small number of helmets with GoPro mounts. These are free to borrow and available on a first come first serve basis: no advanced holds. OWL does not take any responsibility for items lost on the river trip, including GoPros lost when using the OWL helmets.

Yes, although not the whole time. The higher the intensity the harder and longer you paddle.

With OWL’s activities, an element of risk is inherent & beyond human control; this is often what attracts people to Whitewater Rafting. OWL spares no effort to ensure that you are aware of risks and hazards, but cannot assume responsibility for your safety or loss of personal equipment. You will be given the option to ride the raft or walk the short portage trail at every significant rapid.

Injuries are few and far between. The most common injuries are bumps, bruises, & scrapes. Each raft and trip carries First Aid Kits, and all guides are certified in First Aid and CPR.

Want to try the sport rafting but your kids aren’t quite ready? Want to take some of the kids but the youngest is still too small?

OWL offers childcare for children that are potty trained. Childcare is provided while you are out rafting from shortly before getting on the bus to the river to meet you on the pontoon cruise at the end of the rafting trip.

Childcare must be booked ahead and over the phone.

OWL Rafting cannot provide this service at short notice or on busy weekends.

Dogs need to be attended to at all times. If your whole group is rafting, please contact Peever’s Kennel for your dog sitting needs!

We do not require our guests to have any rafting experience to participate in the low and medium intensity rafting adventures. However, we do ask that guests either have previous rafting experience, or are strong swimmers prior to booking the high intensity rafting trip.

Yes. OWL provides all the safety equipment for rafting. This includes a helmet, lifevest & paddle. 

Please note, it is required that you wear the lifevest OWL provides in order to go rafting. This is regulated and enforced by Transport Canada.

We can take tips with cash or e-transfer. Tips can be sent to owltriptips at gmail.com

You may specify if a tip is for a specific person who made your experience special, otherwise the tip is shared with all of our Crew.