They definitely gave warnings and I am thankful for the warnings, but maybe some suggestions. If the river is so fucking fast why are we letting children tube down this river? Why is this place not suggesting getting a raft if you have children? Why are they not suggesting safer ways when you have children, I need to fucking know? Also, when they say there is a fee for when they have to come and help you but there is no fucking Phone number online specifically for emergency services? You just get an automated message in hopes you can find an option to get a real person? And when you finally do get ahold of them crying saying you lost your friend with her two children and lost your tube, They are only concerned about the fee you will be charged for your lost tube but nobody offers to come and help you. They just tell you to try and cross the river with the fast ass current all by yourself and will tell one of their drivers? Six buses came and went and not a single person looked at me or said my name, EVEN THOUGH THEY SAID THEY WOULD TELL ONE OF THEIR DRIVERS? Tubing is not safe on this river for newbies or children. There should be warnings everywhere. This place is unsafe. Also they do not practice social distancing at all, packing everyone in to a small room to sign up for going down the river, forcing you three to seat on a short bus, a van? This place just needs to be safer and have more common fucking sense. Nope y'all just want money from people instead of turning them away to keep them safer. read more

I have been here three times in the past couple weeks to go tubing. Each and every time we have been treated with professionalism, courtesy and respect by everyone we have come in contact with. I called the other day because it was super windy just to make sure we could still go tubing because we have an 1 1/2 drive. They answered my questions with respect and courtesy and reassured me that there would be no problems. I have used both the round tubes without a bottom and the Tracker/tube boat. Both have been fun. The store is super clean and well organized. They sell everything you need for your water activities with fair prices, plus if you want mementos from this area they sell those also. Every single employee I have had contact with or my friend that I have brought along have treated us with respect, honesty and kindness. The Subway in the store is always serving fresh subs that are delicious and well made especially after a long day spent on the water. I am whole food plant based no oil or salt so I am very picky on where I eat. I have eaten at this Subway the past three times I have went tubing. Each and every time the vegetables which is what I eat have been very fresh and delicious along with the guacamole. I cannot say enough good things about our experiences with both businesses. read more

Our family from Chicago visited this place two weeks ago, had family rafting TWICE. Some of negative reviews for tubing might be personal, and if you have any fear of water, I strongly recommend rafting which has practically zero probability of tipping, no danger or fear at all. We, a family of 5 with three kids of 9,7,4, enjoyed it very much with great fun and adventures with complete safety. We had no prior experience with any water sports, and this is a great thing to do for any group, especially family, and this rafting place seems to be the only reasonable one providing rafting which is accessible for unexperienced family/group in the upper peninsula with satisfaction. In addition, it was quite affordable in terms of price (for our family of 5, the total was less than $70 for 1 hour trip, that is why we did it twice since kids liked it so much). The staffs were all friendly and helpful to us. If you are looking for something new experience for a family fun without much preparation and worries, this is definitely something worth trying. The river and landscapes was beautiful and spectacular, that couldn't be found easily near Chicago ;-)) it was a memorable trip. read more

Our family from Chicago visited this place two weeks ago, had family rafting TWICE. Some of negative reviews for tubing might be personal, and if you have any fear of water, I strongly recommend rafting which has practically zero probability of tipping, no danger or fear at all. We, a family of 5 with three kids of 9,7,4, enjoyed it very much with great fun and adventures with complete safety. We had no prior experience with any water sports, and this is a great thing to do for any group, especially family, and this rafting place seems to be the only reasonable one providing rafting which is accessible for unexperienced family/group in the upper peninsula with satisfaction. In addition, it was quite affordable in terms of price (for our family of 5, the total was less than $70 for 1 hour trip, that is why we did it twice since kids liked it so much). The staffs were all friendly and helpful to us. If you are looking for something new experience for a family fun without much preparation and worries, this is definitely something worth trying. The river and landscapes was beautiful and spectacular, that couldn't be found easily near Chicago ;-)) it was a memorable trip. read more

I'm confused why people are complaining about Big Bear Adventures. As if they own the River lol. You sign a waiver before you go down the River so I guess some of you never learned how to f***** read. Customer service is extremely friendly and everyone needs to understand that they are extremely busy so coordinating multiple River trips can be chaotic but I have never had a bad experience!! Tubes pop yea I get that but are you really going to b**** about paying a $10 fee???? If you can't afford a $10 fee that is stated in the paperwork then you need to reevaluate your life! Anyways, I did the ATV trip today and it rained and some of you would probably blame Big Bear Adventures for the rain, but it was a unique experience and nothing short of FUN! Highly recommend all excursions Big Bear has to offer! Thank you Scott and Pati, and Big Bear Adventures staff for making this weekend a blast! Definitely going down as the best weekend of my summer! read more

I went tubing down the river in July, and it was so much fun! It was so amazing; therefore, I decided to take a trip back for Labor Day Weekend. It is a good four hours away from my house, but it was such a good experience so I had to go back! When I went back, it was a very busy weekend, but Big Bear Adventures and their staff accommodated myself and my nine friends very well. We went down the river on the raft on Saturday, and then on Sunday we went back to try the harder part of the river on the cat. It was a little challenging, but definitely a great time. It is a very good price, and you definitely receive your moneys worth. We signed up to go on a two hour river trip, and we were able to be out there for four hours. We jumped off the bridge, and we were able to go rope swinging! If you are looking for a fun adventure, and a good time with friends I highly recommend trying out Big Bear Adventures. read more

Our family had a great time! Our 13 and 15 year olds did fine kayaking this river. However, we brought our own kayaks for them, as they do NOT rent kayaks to kids 15 or under. Our kayaks did not tip once. However, the 2 kayaks my husband and I rented DID tip multiple times! Their rental kayaks are not very stable, so be warned! We were prepared for that, and didn't mind being dunked a couple times! If you know how to steer a kayak you'll do fine. No boring float here: we couldn't have had more fun! We ate at the Subway right on site- very convenient. Don't mind the bad reviews: read their website and come prepared! They are VERY nice about loading up your own kayaks for you if you bring your own! read more

We recently did the 1.5-hour kayak trip ( June 6th, 2026) and had an awesome experience! The staff was incredibly friendly and took the time to explain the river, potential hazards, and what to expect along the way. They also asked about our kayaking experience to make sure we were comfortable and prepared, which we really appreciated. The river is fast-moving and requires some navigating around fallen trees and obstacles, making it both fun and challenging. It was the perfect mix of adventure and excitement while still feeling safe thanks to the excellent guidance from the staff. Overall, it was a fantastic experience, and we will definitely be back again. Highly recommend! read more

We were camping at Burt Lake State park in Indian River Michigan just after the 4th of July. We did the ATV tours with the guide Tony. What an incredible time and Tony was fantastic!!!! The trails were great!! Way better than expected!! The next day we did the tubing 2 and half hour float in 3 and a half hours down the Sturgeon River and that was alot of fun. The scenery was beautiful and met alot of great people along the way. Will was our driver and gave us alot of great information that made our trip better. Can't wait to go back and do the Winter Rafting Trip. The whole staff at Big Bear Adventures are some incredible people!! Thanks for a great time !!! See you soon !!! read more

The website does not provide accurate information. Options for parking are not...options. Options are only available during off seasons. If you want to raft, you are required to park at the state park (across the street) and have to pay for a state park day pass (an additional charge). No solutions were offered and no manager was on site. Needless to say, they lost out on mucho money as we went to the beach instead and had a lot more fun. Northern Michigan has wonderful beaches!! Enjoy them. They are FREE! No hidden fees. P.S. I will not recommend to anyone visiting the area. It is sad that a business can't provide free parking for paying customers. read more

The staff was delightful, and incredibly informative. It was clear they care deeply about your experience on the river, your expectations, and your safety. We have a fair amount of experience kayaking Michigan rivers, yet heeded their advice. We're quite glad we did. This is definitely not a beginner river; you have to be actively engaged the entire time. That being said, it's a beautiful paddle. I commend the Big Bear team on the effort they've commited to keeping the river passable, especially after such a tough winter! read more

AMAZING! Me and couple of friends went tubing a few weeks ago and had a blast! We had so much fun we decided to come back this past weekend for a raft and cat trip. Would highly recommend Big Bear Adventures to anyone who is looking for a weekend getaway. The staff is super friendly and they have great prices. Yes, the river is fast flowing but it makes for an adventure. Thank you big bear and staff for an amazing experience. We'll be back for sure! read more

I had an awesome time on the guided side-by-side tour earlier this summer. Isabel was our tour guide and she did a great job of making sure we had a ton of fun while also staying safe on the ride. I would recommend the longer ride as we got to see a ton of beautiful trails and cool sights. A great experience that I recommend for anyone coming up to northern Michigan this summer. Looking forward to the next opportunity I get at Big Bear Adventures. read more

Big Bear Adventures is the top spot for outdoor fun in Michigan! We had an unreal time tubing down the river and taking in the scenery! The staff are super helpful and friendly as they made the whole experience even better. Big Bear Adventures is perfect for friends or family and we'll definitely be heading back there for more adventures soon! read more

Have been wanting to go here since I moved up to Petoskey two years ago. Spontaneously went with some friends on a hot day and had so much fun tubing! Due to the ice storm there are some branches you'll have to maneuver around but the water moves quick enough that it makes it pretty easy to do so! Can't wait to come back! read more

Big Bear Adventures provided an exceptional family experience. The staff's kindness and genuine care made us feel like part of their family. Their attention to detail and commitment to safety were commendable. We highly recommend Big Bear Adventures for an unforgettable day of adventure with a personal touch. read more

What a great experience! From the service to the adventure that followed, the big bear river trip my family went on was one we will remember. Ian and grace gave us outstanding service, the river was in great condition. The whole experience came with ease and we will be back for another trip next summer! read more

We did the 3hr river trip with sit-on kayaks. the river was fun but challenging. afterwards we played putt-putt on their 18-hole course which was super unique and fun. the staff was super friendly and informative. Can't wait to go back as this has become an annual tradition at Big Bear Adventures! read more

We rented rafts and floated down the Sturgeon River. Staff was kind, educated us on what we needed to know, provided rides as needed, and had all the snacks, food, drinks, and accessories you could want in their camp store. Nice place and would happily return! read more