★★★★★Tripadvisor review
From Terrified to Thrilled – Bryce Made This an Experience I’ll Never Forget!
Bexico76, September 2026
My cousin and I did the Wilderness Wave rafting experience with New Wave Denali today on the Nenana River, and I have to admit, I originally wasn’t looking forward to it at all!
I’m not a strong swimmer, rafting definitely isn’t something I’d normally choose to do, and this was very much my cousin’s idea. I eventually agreed to push myself outside my comfort zone – and I am SO glad I did.
We were tackling Class III–IV rapids, so definitely not just a gentle float down the river, but not completely crazy either! Although I have to say, possibly the most terrifying part of the entire experience was signing the disclaimers beforehand and reading all those unthinkable worst-case scenarios. 😂
Then we met our guide, Bryce, and honestly, he was absolutely amazing.
From the beginning, Bryce was calm, reassuring and completely in control, which immediately put me at ease. He took the time to chat to everyone and get to know our group, kept us entertained with plenty of jokes – including some gloriously questionable dad jokes – and somehow turned a group of strangers into a proper little rafting team.
When we reached the bigger rapids, he guided us through them brilliantly, giving clear instructions and plenty of encouragement and praise when we got it right. At no point did I feel that he wasn’t completely in control of what was happening.
I’d initially thought we wouldn’t actually be doing the paddling ourselves on this trip. We absolutely were! Weirdly, though, that turned out to be one of the things that helped me most. Having something to concentrate on as we approached and went through the rapids stopped me fixating on what was coming. Paddling also made me feel more stable and involved. Had I just been sitting there watching the rapids approaching, I think I’d have tensed up and panicked. Instead, I was too busy listening to Bryce, paddling and doing my bit for the team!
And if you’re reading this thinking, “There is absolutely no way I could do that,” let me leave you with this: I am a self-confessed scaredy-cat who isn’t a strong swimmer… and we had an incredible 87-year-old lady in our group doing it too!
The guides really know what they’re doing, and Bryce in particular made me feel safe, informed and entertained throughout the whole experience.
I cannot recommend this trip highly enough. If you’re nervous, push yourself outside your comfort zone and give it a go. And if you’re lucky enough to get Bryce as your guide, you’re in excellent hands – he’ll keep you safe, keep you laughing and probably throw in a few dad jokes for free.
Thank you, Bryce and New Wave Denali, for an absolutely amazing experience. I went into it wondering why on earth I’d agreed to it and came out absolutely buzzing.
A memory I’ll treasure forever. ❤️
Response from the operator · NewWaveRaft
Wow—thank you for taking the time to share such an incredibly detailed and heartfelt review! ❤️ We absolutely loved reading about your journey from “why did I agree to this?” to coming off the river absolutely buzzing!
We’re especially glad to hear that Bryce helped you feel safe, confident, and part of the team from the very beginning. His calm approach, clear instructions, encouragement, and, of course, questionable dad jokes sound like they made the perfect combination for helping you tackle those Class III–IV rapids.
It’s also wonderful to hear that getting involved with the paddling helped you focus, feel more stable, and enjoy the experience rather than worry about what was coming next. That’s exactly the kind of transformation we love to see—pushing beyond your comfort zone while knowing you’re in good hands.
And we have to agree: sometimes the disclaimers are scarier than the actual rapids!
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