Big Bear Adventures has been helping guests experience Northern Michigan’s outdoors for more than 50 years. Based on the Indian River, they offer memorable land and water adventures for all ages and skill levels, from rafting, tub...
Big Bear Adventures has been helping guests experience Northern Michigan’s outdoors for more than 50 years. Based on the Indian River, they offer memorable land and water adventures for all ages and skill levels, from rafting, tub...
Big Bear Adventures offers multiple activities that keep families coming back, from mini golf that's been a local favorite for decades to guided side-by-side tours and river tubing on the crystal-clear Sturgeon River. Dave stands out repeatedly as an exceptional guide who prioritizes safety while keeping groups engaged and entertained on the scenic trail rides. The staff generally gets praise for being friendly and helpful, especially when explaining everything to first-timers. A few operational hiccups pop up in recent feedback. Some visitors arrived to find no staff available to help, which meant missing out on activities entirely. River conditions can vary dramatically, and a couple reviewers felt the difficulty level wasn't communicated clearly enough, particularly for tubing trips after storms when debris made navigation challenging. Safety equipment like life vests and paddles aren't always standard issue. Most visitors leave thrilled with their experience though, and many specifically mention plans to return.
The person who checked us in did a great job of explaining our rafting trip.👍 And suggesting we drop from a 2-hour to a 1-hour trip when we realized this was not a guided trip. YIKES! NOTE: The Sturgeon River has some very dangerous obstacles right now due to recent storms. Be prepared to know what to do to avoid injuries. And familiarize yourself with paddling back to slow your raft down as you navigate around & hopefully not into the low hanging trees & branches. Overall it was a great experience!
Tisha Koerner
July 5, 2026
The person who checked us in did a great job of explaining our rafting trip.👍 And suggesting we drop from a 2-hour to a 1-hour trip when we realized this was not a guided trip. YIKES! NOTE: The Sturgeon River has some very dangerous obstacles right now due to recent storms. Be prepared to know what to do to avoid injuries. And familiarize yourself with paddling back to slow your raft down as you navigate around & hopefully not into the low hanging trees & branches. Overall it was a great experience!
Tisha Koerner
July 5, 2026
