45°2′13″N 110°42′50″W – My Yellowstone white water rafting experience took place in Gardiner, Montana which is just outside the north entrance to Yellowstone National Park. The Yellowstone River flows right through the small Montana town. Gardiner is home to various recreational activities due to its close proximity to the park, so we thought what a perfect place to do some rafting for the first time. There are several companies that offer various half day or full day rafting packages. Be sure and do your research and figure out which adventure company works best for your schedule and I highly recommend calling way out in advance if you are traveling cross country to assure your party a spot.
If you’ve never been to Montana or Wyoming you should plan your trip in the Summer. This part of the country gets lots of snowfall which is still present on many of the mountain tops even into the Summer months. The snow from those mountains runs off into tributaries and rivers, namely the Yellowstone River. Yes, the water is frigid. The water temperature was around 34 degrees, making the first splash of water nearly unbearable but exhilarating.
It’s always a good idea to show up early for something of this schedule-oriented. For water this cold you will have to get changed into a wet suit which wasn’t very sexy at all, but you learn to appreciate it after a few nose dips into the river. This part of the river the rapids are class 3 in a range of 1-6, so you can expect some 4-5 foot drops throughout the ride. Though it did get rough at times, for the most part it wasn’t bad for my first experience. Be sure to check with the rafting companies to see if they offer photography of your experience like the ones below!
Yellowstone White Water Rafting Photos
