White Water Rafting Near Yellowstone
No trip to the Yellowstone region is complete without the fun and exhilaration of a whitewater rafting adventure.
Trips in most gateway communities range from $30-55 per person for a 2-3 hour float. Most include transportation to and from a river location, some include meals and wet suit rentals, yet every trip promises a fun experience for everyone on board.
Each river that eminates from Yellowstone Park is truly unique in its hydrology, surrounding geology, related wildlife and photographic opportunities. Though whitewater outfitters generally discourage you from taking expensive photo equipment on-board their trips (sometimes sinking to the bottom of the river), you can certainly bring waterproof throw-away cameras (or your own waterproof digital variety) to capture the excitement and beautiful scenery you'll see along the way. Just keep a hold of the strap!
The main rivers coming out of the Park are the Yellowstone (leaving the North Entrance through Gardiner, MT), the Shoshone (leaving the East Entrance toward Cody, WY), the Stillwater (leaving the Northeast Entrance through Red Lodge and Absarokee, MT), the Snake (leaving the South Entrance on its way to Jackson Hole, first passing through Grand Teton National Park), and the Gallatin River (leaving the West Entrance north of West Yellowstone through Big Sky on the way to Bozeman, MT).
Depending on the size of your group, some rafting companies offer discounts for pre-season bookings, and often extend preferred pricing to some of their other related activities such as kayaking lessons, raft rentals, horseback rides, overnight packages and meal plans.
Peak whitewater generally comes to the Yellowstone region during the period from Memorial Day through mid July. All of these rivers listed above offer more placid and quiet sections of water that are ideal for those who want a more scenic and serene experience. These "scenic floats" as they are called provide excellent photographic opportunities for wildlife, birds of prey, sunsets, waterscapes and ideal backdrops for family portraits.
Waterways are often at the heart of some of Yellowstone's most dramatic landscapes which is why the Park Service strictly regulates how these bodies of water can be used by the public. Lakes within the park boundary are accessible to the public by purchasing a boat permit, or hiring a park-service official permitee. Rafting, kayaking or canoeing these rivers is forbidden inside park boundaries, which is why commercial trips take place in the gateway communities outside each entrance.
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American Whitewater is an organization determined to conserve and protect whitewater resources and to enjoy them responsibly.
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