Spanning 600 acres, Wilderness Resort is America’s Largest Waterpark Resort. During winter, you can enjoy three different water parks, one of which features an indoor wave pool.

The resort features three lodging locations: The Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort (Main Lodge), Glacier Canyon Lodge (where we stayed), and Wilderness on the Lake (off-property, reached by shuttle bus or summer ferry).

During summer, there are four outdoor waterparks. In addition to over a dozen attractions, there are three mega arcades, an 18-hole golf course, an award-winning spa, and various dining options.

Note: A fourth indoor waterpark is situated away from the main property at Wilderness on the Lake.

OUR STAY

We stayed at the Glacier Canyon Lodge during winter, so the outdoor water parks were closed. You can reach the water parks via a skywalk or by taking a shuttle.

Our rooms were near the skywalk, so we used it. Please be aware that the location is quite large, so be prepared to walk a lot.

Admission Overview: Waterpark access is complimentary for resort guests. Non-guests must purchase a pass.

WATERPARK ACTIVITIES

WILD WATERDOME WATERPARK

Located in the New Frontier region of Wilderness Hotel

The Wild WaterDome indoor waterpark boasts a see-through roof that fills the entire park with natural light, allowing guests to tan and enabling tropical plants to thrive all year round.

It is home to the Great Wave, America’s largest indoor wave pool.

The Mini Mammoths Cove features a ‘zero-depth’ play lagoon for younger children, with water jets, spraying fountains, and slides.

Located here also is the Dueling Mammoths, where you can take a family raft ride.

Margarita’s Indoor/Outdoor Swim-Up Bar offers a selection of drinks.

Cabanas are also available for rent.

INSIDER TIP: Shortcut From Wild WaterDome to Klondike Kavern —  Look for the enclosed skywalk at the back of the Wild WaterDome (near the Cabanas) that connects this park with Klondike Kavern. Avoid the hotel hallways and get there quicker for more fun.

Dining Options

• Wooly’s Eatery – located right inside the waterpark, offers a wide selection of finger foods, salads, pizza, frozen treats, and beverages.
• Molly’s Shake Shoppe—Located inside Wooly’s Eatery, this shop offers a variety of shakes the whole family can enjoy.
• Survivors Bar & Grill is a sit-down bar and restaurant overlooking the Wild WaterDome. It has nine TVs for you to catch up on your games.
• Dippin Dots –  offers flash-frozen beaded ice cream treats.
• NEARBY: Camp Social Food Hall— The Burger Bar (burgers), Mama Tiger (Korean), Daily Dough (Pizza), Tacolicious (Mexican), Coffee Canteen (Starbucks and iced beverages), Breakfast Buffet, and Candy Cabin (Candy).

KLONDIKE KAVERN WATERPARK

Located in the New Frontier region of the hotel.

The Klondike Kavern is an indoor water park for everyone, offering over 65,000 square feet of nonstop fun for all ages.

Parents can relax in the indoor/outdoor hot spa while kids enjoy the towering Bonanza Bluff, featuring play elements like a dumping bucket, water blasters, and slides.

Activities Overview

• Bonanza Brook, a 400-foot lazy river
• Bonanza Bluff, 50 play & spray features, a 750-gallon tipping bucket, a 20-foot body slide, and a 4-foot side-by-side children’s slide
• The Hurricane, extreme thrill slide, a 4-person family raft ride
• Mine Shaft Drop, two twisting 300-foot body slides
• Claim Jumper Challenge, two 400-foot tube slides
• Sulfur Springs, Indoor/Outdoor hot spa (No children under the age of six.)
• Ore Shoot, Indoor/Outdoor basketball activity pool

INSIDER TIP: Shortcut from Klondike Kavern to Wild WaterDome—Look for the enclosed skywalk at the back of the Klondike Kavern (near the Hurricane stairs). This skywalk connects the park with the back of the Wild WaterDome, allowing you to avoid the hotel hallways and reach your destination quicker for more fun.

Dining Option

Kodiak Kanteen: Conveniently located right inside the waterpark, the Kanteen offers a wide selection of grab-and-go finger foods, salads, cocktails, pizza, frozen treats, and beverages. You can even check out our great Deli-To-Go line of healthier choices, also offered here.

WILD WEST WATERPARK

Located in the Wild West region of Wilderness Hotel.

This 70,000-square-foot Wild West Waterpark is full of fun. Experience Twisted Trails, a two-lane dueling tube ride, and Warped Wagons, a two-lane dueling mat racer, as your options.

Activities Overview

• Ransack Ridge, children’s play & spray feature.
• The Black Hole is an adrenaline-pumping thrill slide with a big descent, followed by plenty of spins before you are dropped into the unknown.
• High Plains Hot Springs, indoor/outdoor hot spa (No children under the age of six.)
• Fantastic Voyage, a 4-person raging raft ride.
• Twisted Trails, dueling tube slides.
• Warped Wagons, dueling mat racers.
• YeeHaw’s Watering Hole, swim-up bar.

Cabanas are also available for rent.

Dining Options

• Swimm’n Chick’n chicken eatery & sports bar.
• Bear Paw funnel cakes (next to Grizzy’s Grill).
• Grizzly’s Grill is located right inside the waterpark, and it offers a wide selection of finger foods, salads, pastries, candy, pizza, frozen treats, and beverages.

Cubby’s Cove Indoor Waterpark

The facility is situated away from the main property at Wilderness on the Lake. It offers an interactive play area with zero-depth entry. The slide features include a smaller slide for toddlers, two slides designed for beginners, and one slide for more adventurous children.

Note: You must drive or take a shuttle to reach this waterpark.

Also Located in the Wild West Water Park Area

SUMMER WATERPARKS

During the summer, you can enjoy the outdoor waterparks.

Lake Wilderness Waterpark is located at the Wilderness Resort and offers over 40,000 square feet of water adventure, including a 13,000-square-foot “lazy lake” pool complete with body and tube slides.

Frontier Waterpark is located at the Wilderness Resort and is 70,000 square feet, with pools, slides, a lazy river, and a zero-depth area for the little ones.

Located at Glacier Canyon Lodge, this waterpark spans 3.2 acres and has it all.  It is home to the Cosmic Drop, Lunar Loop drop-slides, and Halley’s Comet Mat Racer Slides.

The two-level Lost World Adventure River is an interactive lazy river ride that takes guests up and downhill, through raging rapids, and back down again via a tube slide. 

Cubby’s Outdoor Waterpark at Wilderness on the Lake has a zero-depth play area for little kids, and the Vanishing Edge Lagoon infinity pool with an indoor/outdoor hot spa.  Guests can also take the stairs down to play on the resort’s private sandy beach.

Note: This is an overview; more information is on the website. Since it was winter, we could not experience any of these.

Below are more activities!

FUN PASS ACTIVITIES

The activities below can be used with the Unlimited Fun Pass during your stay. You can also have a Fun Pass that allows you to do this once or per activity.

Lost Cabin Laser Tag

Located inside Dodge’ Em City, players will battle using state-of-the-art laser tag equipment, including interactive targets and a helicopter hovering overhead.  The attraction is over 3,000 square feet and has three stories of action. There is no age limit for this attraction. 

Cost: $8.50 per player. Price does not include tax. 

Clip ‘n Climb Challenge Walls

Located inside Dodge’ Em City, the three challenge walls (The Circuit Breaker, The Big Cheese, and the Speed Climb) will take you 2½ stories above the ground to reach your goal. Each climb is different, so make sure to try all three and become a Challenge Wall master.

You must be at least 22 lbs to climb, and the weight limit for this attraction is 300 lbs. Dry clothes and shoes are required. Shoes must have closed-toes. (Crocs are available to borrow.)

Cost: $6.00 per climb or 3 for $15.00. Price does not include tax. 

Northern Lights Ropes Course

The Northern Lights Sky Ropes Course is perched 30 feet above the mega arcade inside Dodge’ Em City in the Wild West region of the property.

Wearing a full safety harness and tethered the whole time to tracks in the beams above you, you’ll climb your way around 42 challenges with varying degrees of difficulty.  

You must be at least 42″ tall to participate and 48″ minimum to go alone. If you are under 48″, you can go with a parent as long as the combined weight doesn’t exceed 300 lbs. Dry clothes and shoes are required. Shoes must have closed-toes. (Crocs are available to borrow.)

Cost: $10.00 for 30 minutes. Price does not include tax.

Wild Abyss Indoor Mini Golf

Located inside Dodge’ Em City, Wild Abyss Indoor Mini Golf features intense graphics and fun for the whole family! The Wild Abyss is located in the Wild West region of Wilderness Hotel near the Northern Lights Arcade.

Cost: $7.00 per player, ages two and under, FREE. Price does not include tax.

Wilderwoods Indoor Go-Karts

Experience the excitement of indoor go-kart racing on our WilderWoods Go-Kart Trail, located next to the Glitter Gulch arcade. You can race your family and friends indoors, year-round.

Cost: $9.00—You must be 56″ tall and 10 years old to drive a Single or Double-Kart alone. The price does not include tax.

Must be 60″ and 18 years old to drive a double-kart with a passenger (36″ and 4 years old to ride as a passenger in a double-kart). Other restrictions apply. 

MEGA PRIZE ARCADES

The resort has three huge interactive arcades with high-tech fun and other games. Many of the games can be redeemed for credits toward fun prizes.

Get 36 arcade credits when you purchase the Unlimited Fun Pass.

The arcades have their own Fun Pass, which includes different amounts of credits. There is not an unlimited pass. Know that games take numerous credits. Go online for more information. Passes can be used at all the arcades.

Northern Lights Arcade – The Northern Lights Arcade is located inside Dodge’ Em City in the Wild West region of the hotel on the 1st floor.

Wilderwoods Arcade – Wilderwoods Arcade is just up the stairs from the New Frontier Lobby, directly across from our Happy Camper Gifts & Gear retail shop.

X-treme Adventure Arcade – X-treme Adventure Arcade is on the 1st floor of Glacier Canyon Lodge, directly below the lobby.

TAKE FLIGHT THEATER

Take Flight is the first fly ride of its kind in Wisconsin Dells. Strap in as your feet dangle and your seat rolls, dips, and glides in front of our 65′ wide x 48′ tall screen.

Minimum Height Requirement (Unaccompanied): 42″ Minimum Height Requirement (Accompanied): 32″  Must be accompanied by an adult and 4 years of age.

The maximum weight allowance is 325 lbs.

Single Ticket Cost: $14.99 | $12.99 for Wilderness Guests who pre-purchase. The price does not include tax. A double feature (when available) can be purchased for an additional $8. Prices do not include tax.

For more information and to see what’s showing, click here.

TIMBERLAND PLAYHOUSE

Located inside Dodge’ Em City, Timberland Playhouse is four stories of fun and features six slides, swings, tunnels, an arched bridge, climbs, and crawls—39 in all—to satisfy the energy and imagination of guests 12 and under. It is Included with your stay and reserved for children under the age of 12 and their parents. Socks are required.

D.O.A. ROOM ESCAPES

These interactive attractions test your team-building and problem-solving skills in the ultimate game of wits.

The Titanic and Twister Room Escapes are for ages 7 and up.  Mission Mars is a family-friendly private room.

Titanic and Twister – 1-hour escapes – $33.00 for Wilderness guests and $35.95 for the public.

Mission Mars – 30-minute escape – $23.00 for Wilderness guests and $25.95 for the public. Price does not include tax.

Learn more and/or book your Room Escape at DOAroomescape.com/tickets-dells

WILDKID ACTIVITIES

Check out the WildKids Club room (just below Take Flight) for fun family activities and crafts, or enjoy a root beer float.

Kids can sit and watch a movie, get a glitter tattoo, make sand art, stuff a critter, or even color their own “Monty the Moose” t-shirt. Activities change daily, and a schedule is available at guest service desks.

Prices vary depending on the craft or activity. Some are at no charge.

DAILY DUCK RUNS

Head over to the Klondike Kavern every day just before the park opens for your chance to be the day’s Ken-Ducky Derby Champion! This fun activity is sure to become a tradition every time you visit!

Kids pick a rubber duck and race them in several heats in our lazy river for prizes. Each day, the grand champion receives a Ken-Ducky Derby Champion t-shirt. (No charge.)

POLKA A DOT POTS

Paint your own pottery, and we will fire it for you and have it ready to go home with you the following day! Create your vacation keepsakes or gifts.

Prices vary depending on the project.

OVERALL DETAILS:

Drive: Wilderness Resort at Wisconsin Dells is about six hours from the St. Louis area and about three hours from the Chicago area.

If you are coming from St. Louis, you take Interstate 55 to Interstate 39 to Interstate 90, then exit onto U.S. Highway 12 in Wisconsin Dells, turning onto Hillman Road and looking for the resort entrance on the left.

Hours: Waterpark hours vary throughout the year. Check the resort website for more information, and check with the resort when you arrive for current hours. Sometimes, one of the water parks might be closed for maintenance or only open during the evening or weekend hours. Outdoor waterparks are closed in winter.

Wilderness Resort Address: 511 E Adams St, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965

Glacier Canyon Lodge at Wilderness Resort Address: 45 Hillman Rd, Wisconsin Dells, WI 53965

WISCONSIN DELLS WATERPARK SUMMER ADVENTURE

A 3 Day Adventure in Wisconsin Dells

Take a scenic boat road to see the Wisconsin Dells and brave the tidal wave at Mount Olympus Water and Theme Park.

These were the top activities we did when we visited the Wisconsin Dells in the summer.

MORE WISCONSIN ADVENTURES

Highest Point in Wisconsin Hike

Hike to Wisconsin’s highest point, Timm’s Hill, at 1,951 feet, and climb a 50-foot wooden tower for breathtaking panoramic views of the surrounding hills and valleys.

 One Day in the Apostle Islands

Our one-day adventure to the Apostle Islands included finding a waterfall, relaxing on a beach, and seeing the sea caves.