Dells Boat Tours — Attraction in Wisconsin Dells

BEWARE LONG POST!! Important info for all! Read to the end! We were so excited for this tour as it looked to be a great experience and it was everything but! The Witch’s Gulch was the only reason we are giving one star! Other wise it’s not worth a dime! It started with a long line to board which is to be expected. Not guaranteed to sit with the people you came with. There was only four of us. When my group got to the boat the only chairs left were at the very back of the boat. Our view was the interior of the boat, an trashcan and the backside of the cabin. We could see to the side but had to look around other heads and break our necks to take it in. We made a suggestion to turn the chairs around to be able to look at the river as we were going along but we were denied. These chairs aren’t bolted to the floor or anything so it was an easy fix. The chairs are absolutely TERRIBLE. Way too small. Narrow. (16 oz water bottle for reference shown below takes over half the width of the chair.) Hot aluminum chairs with hot sitting fabric. Good thing we brought jackets to be able to sit on them. There is not a disclaimer that these chairs are only for smaller built folks. Had several people on the boat that couldn’t even fit in the chairs. Couldn’t even sit back, had to sit on the very edge. Even got up to sit on the hot stairs. I am 170 pounds and was squished. Arm rest to arm rest. No room. Think old school 90s lawn chairs small version. HOT METAL AND NARROW! You can definitely tell this company is all about money and not the experience. Smash as many chairs as possible on the boat to get more people on to get more money in their pockets. The views at Witch’s Gulch were amazing but too crowded (just from the people on our boat) to take in the scenery. The formations at Stand Rock were neat. Credit card transactions are above $10 or more at the concession stands at the two stops and the lines were long so you wasted time in line instead of taking in the sites. The line is just from the 80 plus people on your boat tour. Gift shop at the end of the tour was closed. Vending machines were sold out of water so bring your own. And it was HOT out there so you need hydration! This company having a monopoly where you can’t access Witch’s Gulch by land or by other boats is disgusting. They need to share the beauty of this place. Not all can do the boats but still deserve to take in the site. WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS TOUR ON THE REGULAR BOATS. We did the ducks earlier in the season and it was GREAT! But they don’t go to the Gulch so we came back for the regular 2 hour boat ride. If you absolutely must do this take a fun ride on the jet boats. Shorter time but still access to the Gulch. Pics of chairs. HIGHLY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS...

Beautiful, Relaxing, and Fun — A Must-Do Wisconsin Dells Experience

We recently went on a two-hour boat tour in the Wisconsin Dells, and it was easily one of the highlights of our trip. From start to finish, the experience was scenic, relaxing, and surprisingly entertaining — something I’d recommend to anyone visiting the area.

The boat itself had plenty of options for seating and sightseeing. There was an upper deck with great open-air views of the river and rock formations, a lower deck that was shaded and more comfortable for those wanting to stay out of the sun, and even a small back deck with seating for about 5 or 6 people — perfect if you’re looking for a quieter, more tucked-away spot during the ride.

We made two stops along the way, where we were able to get off the boat and explore the natural beauty up close. Both stops were well-organized and offered short walks to breathtaking views and photo ops. At one of the stops, there were concession stands where you could grab a drink or a snack — a nice touch if you didn’t bring your own refreshments.

What really made the tour special was the crew. The captain was incredibly friendly and approachable, clearly experienced, and made us feel safe and welcome. The tour guide, a young woman with a great sense of humor, kept the energy light and fun with her jokes, stories, and trivia about the Dells. She struck a perfect balance between informative and entertaining — it wasn’t overdone, just enough to make the ride engaging and memorable.

The scenery throughout the ride was stunning. Towering sandstone cliffs, lush forest-lined shores, and the peaceful river stretching ahead — it all felt like a postcard come to life. Whether you’re a nature lover, photographer, or just someone looking to kick back for a couple of hours, this boat tour checks every box.

Overall, I’d say this was a 10/10 experience. Well-organized, relaxing, beautiful, and with a touch of humor and local charm. I’d definitely do it again the next time I’m in the Dells — and next time I might even bring a snack and try that back deck...

This was my 3rd Upper River boat tour, which I absolutely love! I would highly recommend it under normal circumstances! I'll start with the positives. The 2 stops the tour takes you to are private land, so you have no other opportunity to see them. And they are truly spectacular and worth experiencing!!!! This time, we added the Lower-River boat tour as well. It is picturesque and worth seeing, but if you have to choose, the Upper-River is a winner! The tour guides and the captains have always been excellent, funny, sweet, very knowledgeable and informative.

The reason for the 3-stars is the apparent lack of acknowledgement of the global pandemic and the seeming lack of attempt to implement precautions of ANY sort! Additionally, I was lied to about safety measures in place when I called to inquire. I was told that there was 6 feet distance in their ticket lines and 70% capacity on the boat to allow space between seats.

That was a complete lie! There was nothing of a sort. And almost no employee wore a mask. We were lucky, as our tour wasn't very full, so we could choose to sit (while waiting for the boat) away from the crowd and then kept a few open seats between us and other parties on the boat. There was no 6 feet separation, nor seating designation, so many of the guests (unrelated parties) piled up in the front of the boat. Also, the 2 stops have narrow board walks. We waited to go last and left space between us and the people ahead of us. Everyone else seemed to breath in each other's neck.

The Lower-River boat tour, likely due to a lack of popularity, was much safer, as there were only 3 parties with a total of 9 on the entire boat, so we could sit separately and away from each other.

Overall, we were shocked to see the lack of respect for safety measures in Wisconsin Dells by employees and guests - no masks, no distancing in restaurants and almost everywhere else we walked by.

We just came back from a trip in Door County - completely different story there!

Come on, Wisconsin Dells, you...