If you’re the kind of person who thinks a great trip should get your heart rate up at least once, the Wausau Whitewater Park needs to be on your bucket list. Located right in downtown Wausau along the Wisconsin River, this isn’t your average city park. It’s a world-class whitewater course with a decades-long reputation that draws serious paddlers from across the globe, and it’s been doing so since 1974. Whether you’re a seasoned whitewater kayaking enthusiast ready to take on the most challenging features or a curious first-timer who just wants to watch elite athletes, this place earns every bit of the buzz around it.
With so many things to do in Wausau, the whitewater park is just the beginning of what makes this town such a compelling destination. After a morning on the water, outdoor adventurers can ride the mountain bike trails at Sylvan Hill or Nine Mile, while art buffs won’t want to miss the Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum. Downtown’s 400 Block offers local boutiques and a scenic riverfront walk, and the craft beverage scene makes for a great way to end the day.
After a full day of kayaking in Wisconsin and exploring everything this city has to offer, you’ll want to return to an exceptional place to stay. Set in a beautifully restored 1906 Prairie-style mansion, our historic boutique hotel is located in downtown Wausau and features original chandeliers, stained-glass windows, and decorative fireplaces. One of the most memorable hotels in Wausau, WI, our hospitality includes a gourmet multi-course breakfast and a nightly wine reception. Book your stay today and experience our boutique inn!
What to Expect at the Wausau Whitewater Park
The Wausau Whitewater Park, one of the most popular things to do in Wausau, is unlike anything else you’ll find in the Midwest. Stretching a third of a mile along the Wisconsin River in downtown Wausau, the course incorporates more than twelve natural and engineered features, with dam releases ensuring consistent flows and rapids that are primarily Class II with a few Class III sections. Newer paddlers will find sections of the course that are more forgiving and confidence-building, while experienced kayakers can challenge themselves on the full length of the channel and its most technical features.
If you’d rather watch than paddle, that’s a perfectly great reason to visit, too. The Wausau Whitewater Park hosts freestyle and slalom competitions at local, national, and international levels, and during events, you’ll find an information tent, food, and kayak vendors on site. The energy on competition weekends is electric, with athletes throwing tricks and running gates in front of an enthusiastic crowd right in the middle of downtown. Even on a quieter day, just watching skilled Wausau kayak paddlers work the features is worth pulling up a spot on the riverbank.
Want to get on the water yourself? Recreational Releases are open to kayakers, canoeists, and boogie boarders of all ability levels, with the course running daily. Registration for recreational releases is handled on-site, so there’s no need to book ahead. The Wausau Whitewater Park also offers clinics for every skill level, from introductory whitewater kayak lessons through Whitecap Kayak, where all equipment is provided, to the two-day Jackson Freestyle Clinic and a Swiftwater Rescue Clinic for those looking to build serious river safety skills.
Planning a visit is straightforward. The Wausau Whitewater Park sits in downtown Wausau on River Drive, and the season runs through spring and summer with a mix of public recreational releases, instruction, and major competitive events. Because paddling depends on scheduled dam releases rather than natural flow, it’s worth checking the current season’s schedule before you go.
Stay at One of the Most Celebrated Hotels in Wausau, WI
There’s something fitting about ending an adrenaline-charged day at the Wausau Whitewater Park and coming back to a place as refined and welcoming as our hotel, one of the most celebrated hotels in Wausau, WI. Located in downtown Wausau, less than five minutes from the Wausau Whitewater Park, our boutique hotel is the perfect location for your getaway. Each of the five guest rooms features a private ensuite bath with a luxury steam shower, a comfortable king-sized bed, premium linens and spa robes, a deluxe pillow menu, and an Amazon Echo Show, and several rooms have a gas fireplace or private balcony.
What really sets a stay here apart from other hotels in Wausau, WI, is the full Bed and Breakfast experience. Each evening begins with a nightly reception, a great way to unwind and connect with fellow guests in one of our boutique inn’s beautiful common areas. Mornings bring a gourmet multi-course breakfast featuring ingredients sourced from local Wisconsin purveyors. Think fluffy waffles with a warm berry compote, mouthwatering quiche, or a delicious yogurt parfait. It’s the perfect way to fuel up for a day on the water. Begin your adventure, and book with us today!