Rafting Momentum

The campsite was clean and close to the rustic, beautiful facilities. The food wasn't fine dining, but it was still wonderful. One of us lost a water shoe, then found a Croc, and Loic duct-taped it on to keep it safe. Even the bus ride, with its great music, was almost as much fun as rafting. Loic made the day memorable. He remembered all our names on the first try, explained what to expect, and kept us excited and safe. At one point he pulled me out of the water and back into the raft like a ragdoll, and I'm a big girl! Charles, our paparazzi and rescue kayaker, made us laugh while looking out for us. He was like a big brother to my boys. Rafting Momentum made us feel like family.

We came from Ontario and chose this Quebecois rafting company, and we're so glad we did. The campsite was great, with a main barn where we could use electricity and fresh water, and the music and atmosphere were lovely. Charles put his heart into keeping us safe while making sure we enjoyed the raft. Everyone was super friendly and supportive of our needs. It left us with an incredible memory. All the best to Charles in his future adventures.

The cabin was small, but comfortable and warm. It has three queen beds and two twins, with little room beyond the beds, though there are two large storage drawers and some space at the foot of each bed. We stayed the nights before and after rafting, and as a close family we were fine sharing the space. Our day began at 9am with coffee, a briefing, wetsuit rentals and time to change. After a 20 minute bus ride, we spent about 5-6 hours on the water. Jerome was our favorite guide across five rafting trips. He explained each rapid carefully, checked that everyone was enjoying themselves, and asked if we wanted to repeat anything or if someone felt uncomfortable. He was patient and adjusted the fun to what our group wanted. Back at the site, we had time to change, then dinner and a quickly edited video of the day's rafting. We spent the evening by a large fire, in comfortable hammocks, and playing ping pong. From my calls with questions to our arrival, everyone treated us with patience and respect and welcomed us right away. It was a fantastic family experience, and we'd visit again.

The family trip was a lot more exciting than we expected. Two adults and two kids all loved it, and it wasn't too tame for the grownups at all. Charlotte was a blast and great with the kids, while Charles filmed and kept us safe in the trickier spots. Both were fun and professional when needed, and the whole staff was friendly and helpful. Phil, the owner, was around and involved. He'd been running his own outfit for 16+ years, as I understand it, and came across as nice and down to earth. Mark brought unmatched energy and hilarious improv to the morning. He's a character, so grab a drink with him if you see him. We spoke with guests who had rafted at the other outfits on the river. Their general take was that "Owl" is good but large and less intimate, with more rafts and bigger rafts. Winderness adventures is about the same size as Owl, but they found it very corporate and suited to company or team-building groups, with a quick rinse-and-repeat approach to moving people on and off the river. Nobody said they'd had a bad time rafting at any of the three companies. They just described different cultures and business strategies. Rafting Momentum felt like the best fit for us. We camped the night before and after. I'd recommend doing that, or at least staying the night after rafting. The sites are clean and you choose one when you arrive. Ours was close to the main barn, which I liked. I also peeked at the two-floor condo by the barn. It looked really nice and ideal for two families of four, so we're considering it for next time. The food was great and plentiful. Lunch and dinner were included. There was lots to do upstairs in the barn, but we hung out downstairs with drinks and by the main group fire. You can have a fire at your site too. We did that on the first night, but the main fire was welcoming and had seating, so we skipped making our own on the second night. Bring a water bottle with a loop so a carabiner can hold it in the boat. Plastic would be better than metal. Water shoes are a must. I'd suggest a rubber sole and, especially, more rubber over the toes, since walking in the river could be tough and painful otherwise. Mine were sock-like with a rubber sole, and I wished they covered more of my toes. Thanks to the whole team and our favorite resident dogs, Eddy & Auna. We'll recommend the outfit to others and come back to raft ourselves. The team's approach to the business and the people there made all the difference.