Full-Day Yellowstone River Rafting in Gardiner
Paddle Rapids and Float Through Paradise Valley With Lunch
Duration
5–6 hours
Ideal For
4 people
Includes
Lunch, wetsuit, booties
Highlights
Paddle the Yellowstone River from the edge of Yellowstone National Park through Paradise Valley. Balance Class I–III rapids with scenic floats and time on the water.
- Paddle Class I–III rapids on the Gardiner Town Stretch
- Float through the calmer sections of Paradise Valley
- Take a swim at river spots along the route
- Explore the splashy afternoon stretch of Yankee Jim Canyon
- Learn from guides certified in CPR, Swift Water Rescue, and Wilderness First Aid
Itinerary
- Make a reservation online or directly with the office
- Read your confirmation email to be prepared for your trip
- Call our office to ask any questions, change, update or cancel your reservation
- Fill out the online waivers linked in your confirmation email (every participant needs to sign one)
- Show up at the office for check in
- Complete check in
- Complete the gear-up process with the guides (we have changing rooms)
- Leave all personal items in your vehicle, or in the office if you don't have a vehicle
- Check in with the trip leader
- Hop on the bus
- We drive you to the put-in where you will receive a safety briefing by the trip leader and a boat assignment
- You meet your guide, load into the raft and go down the river!
- We pick you up and bring you back to the office to change into dry clothes, view the trip photos and our awesome company merchandise
Allow about 6 hours from parking to pulling out heading on your way.
What's Included
- Lunch
- Wetsuit rentals
- Neoprene bootie rentals
Important details
- Arrive 10 minutes before your scheduled trip time
- Ages 8+ only
- Trips require at least 4 participants to run
- At least one adult age 18+ is required with children under 14
- Basic mobility and reasonably good physical condition are required
- A 56-inch maximum chest size is required to fit the personal flotation device
- Pregnant travelers cannot participate
- Requires ability to follow guide directions
- Sign the required waiver before participating
- Jeans, sweatsuits, and other heavy cotton clothing are not permitted on the river
- Sandals without back straps are not permitted on the river
- Trips operate rain or shine
Cancellation Policy
Cancel more than 48 hours before departure for a full refund. Cancellations 24–48 hours before departure are charged 50% of the trip total. Cancellations within 24 hours and no-shows are charged the full trip price.
Product ID: S6P8GD
FAQs
Plan to get wet. May–June and late September: wear a bathing suit under a provided wetsuit; you can also use a splash jacket and neoprene booties, and you may want a fleece layer and dry clothes for after. July–early September: wear a bathing suit with lightweight shorts/pants and a T-shirt; wear sturdy sandals or water shoes, or use the provided booties. Do not wear jeans, sweat suits, or heavy cotton, and do not wear sandals without a back strap.
Yes. You can use the provided river gear, including wetsuits and neoprene booties, at no extra charge. Changing rooms are available onsite.
Ages 8+ can join. If children under 14 are in your group, at least one adult age 18 or older must be present.
Meeting details
Montana Whitewater - Yellowstone, 603 Scott Street West, Gardiner, MT 59030
More about Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park sits just beyond the rafts as they push off from Gardiner, Montana, and the river you ride was carved by the same wild forces that shaped the park itself. The Yellowstone River is the longest free-flowing river in the lower 48, and it spills directly out of Yellowstone National Park before charging through the rugged Yankee Jim Canyon. This full-day rafting trip pairs the thrill of whitewater with the dramatic backdrop of the country surrounding Yellowstone National Park, giving you a perspective on the landscape that very few visitors ever see from inside the park itself.
The day on the water unfolds with a mix of splashy rapids and calmer stretches where the canyon walls tower overhead and the wildlife of greater Yellowstone National Park comes into view. Bald eagles ride thermals above the cliffs, bighorn sheep pick their way across rocky ledges, and deer often appear along the willow-lined banks. Between rapids like Boxcar and Big Rock, your guide shares stories about the geology, history, and ecology of the Yellowstone region, connecting the river you are floating to the wider wilderness of Yellowstone National Park just upstream. A riverside lunch breaks up the day, with cold water, sunshine, and the sound of the Yellowstone moving past your feet.
This trip is ideal for families, couples, and groups of friends who want to balance their sightseeing in Yellowstone National Park with a real outdoor adventure. It suits first-time rafters who want a memorable splash as well as seasoned paddlers looking for a scenic full day on classic Montana water. If you are basing yourself in Gardiner at the north entrance of Yellowstone National Park, this full-day Yellowstone River float is a natural way to add wild rapids, wildlife, and canyon scenery to your park itinerary.
