Yellowstone National Park showcases Earth’s hottest show and Yellowstone’s awesome natural phenomena all just beyond the bow of your kayak. The hundreds of miles of shoreline of Yellowstone Lake, the continent’s largest mountain lake, have steamed and simmered in a geothermal flux for thousands of years deep in the heart of Yellowstone National Park, a western U.S. adventure paradise. Steamy geysers gush at water’s edge, mud pots bubble, and hot springs sear, and all are easy to spot from the unique perspective of your kayak.
One of the most popular things to see in Yellowstone are the many waterways and lakes. Some of the Park's greatest treasures can be found via this wonderful mode of transportation.
One of the best ways to enjoy this region is to kayak a beautiful stretch of water.
Kayaking provides a simple way to enjoy some of the most stunning places on the planet. Imagine drifting within sight of elk, moose, deer, badgers, eagles, coyotes, and wolves. You’ll enjoy mountain vistas that can’t be seen from a car or road.
Paddling will also take you back to when kayak or canoe was the only alternative to traveling by horse. Lewis and Clark did most of their explorations in boats. While paddling in the Yellowstone region, the views you see are similar to those enjoyed by Lewis and Clark during their famous 1804-06 journey.
The following are a few of our kayaking recommendations:
nside Yellowstone Park, kayak the Lewis River Channel to Shoshone Lake, a very popular and heavily used route. Skill: beginner/intermediate; Distance: 9 miles; Average Time: 4-6 hours; Put in and take out: Lewis Lake boat dock; Hazards/notes: Afternoon winds and waves. Take bear country precautions.
Follow the west shore and then head north, passing a small thermal basin before entering Lewis Lake Channel. Crossing the open water of Lewis Lake is not recommended, due to sudden storms. Stay close to shore and start early to avoid the wind. Figure four to six hours of paddling to reach Shoshone Lake. (Expect to pull your kayak through the upper sections of the channel.)
Inside Grand Teton National Park, paddle from Jackson Lake Dam to Pacific Creek. This is a great half-day trip. Enjoy excellent fishing for cutthroat trout. See eagles nesting. We recommend a side-trip to the Oxbow Bend area. Skill Level: intermediate; Distance: 5 miles; Average Time: 2-4 hours; Put in: Jackson Lake Dam; Take out: Pacific Creek Landing; Hazards: River obstacles, swift current.
To kayak inside Yellowstone Park and Grand Teton national parks, you must have a boat permit. A seven-day permit for a non-motorized vessel in Grand Teton Park costs $5 ($10 for annual permit) and can be purchased at the Moose or Colter Bay Visitor Centers. In Yellowstone, the cost is $5 for a 7-day permit or $10 for a season permit. Obtain permits at the Lewis Lake Ranger Station, Grant Village Visitor Center, Bridge Bay Marina and the Lake Ranger Station.
For paddlers looking to camp overnight, a backcountry permit is required. Stop in at a ranger station for information on obtaining a permit to camp.
For a first time experience or a veteran paddler, kayaking the Yellowstone Region is one of the most fun and rewarding activities. Kayaking on the tranquil waters of the regions many lakes to the crashing waves of whitewater on our prodigious selection of rivers and creeks will fit any experience level for young and old.
In the region, there are several kayaking rentals shops along with experienced instructors available for hire to help maximize your fun on the water.
Around Yellowstone there is some whitewater action on the Gallatin and Yellowstone rivers and outside of Cody there is some whitewater trips on the Shoshone River.
Many of the regions whitewater enthusiasts combine their whitewater adventure with a fishing adventure as well. The rivers and streams of the Greater Yellowstone Region provide superb trout fishing and the whitewater sections are one of the better sections because many boat fishermen are scarred to float them and the access from the banks is poor for those without a boat.
Yellowstone Region
Kayak, Canoe and White Water Guides
Snake
River Kayak & Canoe • (Jackson
Hole) We
are specialists in the field of outdoor recreation.
Based in the shadow of the Tetons since 1976,
in Jackson Hole, WY. We offer whitewater rafting
in the Grand Canyon of the Snake River, whitewater
canoe and kayak instruction for paddlers of
all ages and abilities, single-day and overnight
backcountry sea kayaking trips in Yellowstone
National Park
The Canoeing House • (Three Forks MT) The Canoeing House in Three Forks Montana is located between Yellowstone National Park and Glacier National Park 35 miles west of Bozeman, Montana. With 60 acres and a private landing on the Jefferson River 90 miles north of Yellowstone National Park, visitors park at our site and are shuttled up river for 2 to 6 hours of scenic day canoeing or kayaking. While many paddle just for a day, others prefer canoe camping or guided trips. The Canoeing House provides services on hundreds of miles of clear, clean rivers-The Jefferson, Madison, Gallatin, Missouri and Yellowstone. Three Forks is at the confluence of the Madison, Gallatin and Jefferson Rivers, which makes it a hub of recreation. Three Forks is also home to Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park and Missouri Headwaters State Park.
Wyoming
River Trips • (Cody
WY) If your staying in
Cody Wyoming or just passing through, let Wyoming River
Trips
show you
family
fun at its best.
Teton / Yellowstone Region Kayak, Canoe And Raft Rentals
Leisure
Sports • (Jackson
Hole) We have what it takes to complete
your Jackson Hole experience. Whether you want
to ride it, pack
it, or
sleep under it!
Leisure Sports, located at 1075 S. Hwy 89, rents all kinds
of fun. From Rafts to Rowing Frames and Sea-Doos to sleeping
bags. Call us - Leisure Sports - We rent fun!
The links below give real-time data on river flows
of our region.
The Henrys Fork
Island Park • Last Chance • Ashton • St Anthony • Rexburg Idaho
The Henry's Fork of the Snake River, located in
eastern Idaho, is one of the most famous trout streams in
all of the United States. It's legendary hatches and abundant
large wild rainbow trout make the Henry's Fork one of America's
top fly-fishing destinations. The river flows for approximately
150 miles and within its journey passes some of the more
classic dry fly water in the United States. Gentle flowing
meadowland, pocket water, and spring creek like sections
make up much of this legendary fishery made popular by Avril
Harriman the railroad man. The Henry's Fork of the Snake
is a spectacular river and fishery. Anglers come from all
over the world to this river to fish its diverse and productive
waters. More........
Upper Mesa Falls on the Henry's Fork of the Snake River is well worth a side trip if you are in the area.
The South Fork of the Snake is in southeastern
Idaho close to the Wyoming border. The South Fork begins
as it flows out of 20 mile long Palisades Reservoir in the
community of Swan Valley, forming a 64-mile stretch of legendary
tail-water fly-fishing. The South Fork is also a beautiful
river for flat water rafting, canoeing and kayaking. If you
float this river in a canoe know what you are doing as it
is big water and its flat-water appearance can fool you to
its dangers. More.........
Fall Creek Falls in Swan Valley is just icing on the cake of a fishing trip on the South Fork of the Snake River.
The source of the mighty Snake River is in Yellowstone National
Park, from there it flows past Flagg Ranch south through
the John D. Rockefeller, Jr., Memorial Parkway, and into
postcard perfect Jackson Lake in Grand Teton National Park.
Below Jackson Lake Dam, the river meanders through Grand
Teton National Park. Above the river to the west, the Grand
Teton mountains rise suddenly, with no foothills to soften
their dramatic rise to the sky. These are mountains the way
we always expect mountains to look, The snowcapped, Grand
Tetons are America's quintessential mountain range, rearing
up with sawtooth like exaggeration crowned by the 13,770-foot
Grand Teton. More.......
The Snake River in Grand Teton Park provides scenery that is nothing short of amazing.
The Snake River as it leaves Grand Teton National Park is
equally as breathtaking as it is as it flows through the
Park but allows you to see the Grand Teton Mountain Range
from different angles and vantage points. This escarpment
of perpendicular granite is awesome no mater which angle
you view it from. There also good views of the Sleeping Indian
in the Gros Ventre Mountains to the east. More.......
Famous Guide Mike Lawson making sure Chuck Yeager gets his share of Snake River Cutthroat Trout
Snake River Canyon Pritchard
Creek to Sheep Gulch - Jackson Hole to Alpine
A blue sky overhead hosts a few cumulous clouds, the towering
Snake River Range overwhelms you on the right but the majestic
Wyoming Range balances it on the left, an osprey plucks an
unsuspecting trout from its watery home with a quick swoop
from the sky and some handy work with it's talons. You can
count your blessings when you're floating down the mighty
Snake River that divides these two mountain ranges here in
the bottom of Wyoming's Snake River Canyon. The Snake River
is a gorgeous ribbon of blue, green and white that comes
alive and deposits itself in you face on a regular basis
in this imposing canyon where towering spruce, pine and fir
trees wear rags of moss and bald eagles perch watching the
parade of kayakers, fishermen and rafters float by. More...........
River camp on the Snake River
The Yellowstone River Yellowstone
Park - Gardinger MT - Livingston MT - Big Timber MT
The Yellowstone River drainage
hosts exceptional scenery and some of the most diverse
wildlife on earth. You can see elk, bison, grizzlies,
moose, majestic mountains, canyons and waterfalls. And
is a world-renowned trout-fishing destination.
It begins in the Teton Wilderness in northwest
Wyoming’s rugged Absoraka Mountains 671 miles upstream
from the confluence with the Missouri, from here the
Yellowstone winds unencumbered by dams all the way to
South Dakota's rolling prairies,
The upper Yellowstone is pretty much as it
always has been, and is being managed by Yellowstone
Park and Montana Game and Fish for the welfare of the
fish and wildlife that live around it. This has preserved
one of the best trout rivers, outside of Alaska or Canada.
Winding through Yellowstone Park and into Montana to
the town of Big Timber, the famous trout water of the
Yellowstone flows for nearly 250 miles. More......
Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River
The Teton River Teton Valley, Idaho • Driggs • Victor • Tetonia
The Teton River begins its journey to the Columbia in the
upper reaches of postcard perfect Teton Valley. Much of this
mountain valley is pasture, grain and potato fields, and
open range bordered by the forested hills of the Big Hole
Mountains and the famous peaks of the Grand Teton Range.
The rugged peaks of the Tetons and the forested hillsides
of the Big Hole's stand in stark contrast to each other,
this diversity adds character to the Teton River Valley.
The upper Teton River is a meandering spring creek that is
a fly-fishing nirvana. Huge rainbow and cutthroat trout live
throughout the entire river. This is a dry fly paradise!
Mayfly hatches are prolific and often there will be four
or five different hatches at the same time. The Narrows (the
lower Teton) has all the adrenaline rush attributes of any
class IV and V whitewater river. The Teton River is a diverse
waterway providing the gamut from tubing to world class whitewater
and trout fishing. More......
The Teton River meanders for many miles through scenic Teton Valley Idaho and is one of the playgrounds to the residents of Driggs, Victor and Tetonia, Idaho
The Gros Ventre River (pronounced 'grow-vont')
flows from it's headwaters in the Gros Ventre Wilderness
which forms much of the eastern boundary of Jackson
Hole and lies mostly to the south of the river. The
Gros Ventre is a swift medium-sized freestone river
providing plentiful pocketwater, runs and pools. There
are not many riffles on the Gros Venture. The River
contains expansive open terrain with exposed sedimentary
rock layers of many colors, cliff bands, dense forest,
and narrow canyons. In places the color scheme of this
beautiful river valley resembles the southwest. The
river alternates between a broad cottonwood-lined bottom
and narrow canyons. Views of the Grand Tetons Range
are spectacular. It is a beautiful, undeveloped region
with abundant wildlife. The Gros Ventre River is home
to the Snake River Fine-spotted Cutthroat Trout, and
whitefish. Brookies are in some of the tributaries of
the upper Gros Ventre drainage. Early season kayaking
is classic, the fishing is remarkable, and photographers
will have no shortage of subject matter. More......
Tucked in the southwest corner of Yellowstone
National Park, the Falls River basin is truly a fisherman's
and waterfall lover's paradise. The Fall River is aptly
named because of the many waterfalls along its tributaries.
This is the major river that drains the Cascade Corner,
of Yellowstone Park. The four major streams in the Fall
River drainage are the Belcher River, Boundary Creek,
Mountain Ash creek and of course the Fall River. They
begin on the Madison and Pitchstone plateaus and they
carve canyons across Yellowstone Park's southwest corner.
Some of Yellowstone's most beautiful waterfalls are
in this area. As the runoff of many creeks drop off
the Madison and Pitchstone Plateaus, many waterfalls
are formed. With nearly 80 inches of annual precipitation,
the Falls River drainage is one of the wettest portions
of Yellowstone National Park. The Falls River is a backpacking,
fisherman, and photographer's nirvana. More......
A cave at the foot of Cave Falls is a great place to view the falls.
The Salt River
Star Valley Wyoming • Apine • Afton • Thayne • Freedom
The Salt River is a small river that originates on the western
slope of the Salt River Mountain Range just south of the
town of Afton. It flows north through scenic Star Valley
Wyoming between the Salt River Range of Wyoming and the Caribou
Range of Idaho into Palisades Reservoir at its confluence
with the Snake River. On it's way it meanders through miles
of ranch land until it reaches on Idaho-Wyoming border. The
Salt River is home to Brown, Rainbow, Brook and Snake River
Fine Spotted Cutthroat and Trout. The Salt is a flat-water
river but does offer scenic canoe, kayak, rafting and tubing
floats.------------------------≥ More......
Madison River
West Yellowstone • Ennis MT • Three Rivers Montana
The legendary trout waters of the Madison River originate at Madison Junction inYellowstone National Park where the Gibbon and Firehole come together to form the Madison. It was here inlate summer of 1870 in what is known as National Park Meadows that the Langford-Washburn-Doane expedition conceived making Yellowstone a national park.
It's logical to think that the river's origin in the high plateau region of Yellowstone Park, which is notoriously cold, would keep the river cold, however, the Madison and its upper tributaries run right through the most thermally active region in the United States, the water temperature on most sections of the river is remarkably warm for a high mountain river, often more than seventy degrees in the summer. Despite its high, mountain environment, which usually leads to low nutrient content, the Madison has an amazingly high nutrient level fostering great fishing. ................... More
Fisherman north of Ennis Montana on the Madison River.
The Green River
Pinedale Wyoming • Danial • Big Piney • La Barge
The Green River a major tributary of the great Colorado River system, it is born from the glacier melt water high in the Wind River Mountains, it dumps from the glaciers into a pair of large scenic lakes in the northern region of the Winds and emerges suddenly as a fast-flowing, freestone river with a deep emerald color which appropriately gives the Green its name.
From Green River Lakes, it runs 730 miles to join the Colorado deep in Utah's Canyonlands National Park, passing through Flaming Gorge Canyon along the way. The Green River joins the Colorado River to form the Grand Canyon in Arizona.
Beginning in the Bridger-Teton National Forest at Green River Lakes, one of the prettiest places on earth, the river makes a big bend and then turns south before entering private property. Unpaved National Forest roads skirt the river and afford many places along this 20-mile stretch to fish, watch wildlife, and enjoy the sound of tumbling water. --------> More
Green River and Squaretop Mountain northeast of Pinedale Wyoming
The Wind River
Dubois Wyoming • Riverton • Pavallion • Wind River Indian Reservation
The Wind River is the name for the upper reaches of the Bighorn River in Wyoming. As the story goes, a miscommunication between 19th century explorers led to the portion of the river that enters the Wind River Canyon to be named the Wind River, while the one that exits the canyon is called the Big Horn River. The Wind River begins its journey in the icy waters of Wind River Lake and Brooks Lake at the top of Togwotee Pass in the Absaroka Mountains. Glacier fed creeks pour into it from the glacier studded Wind River Range, Dunior, Horse Creek and the East Fork of the Wind River just east of Dubois all which drain the southern Absaroka Range join it before it hits the desert of the Wind River Indian Reservation. It flows southeastward, across the Shoshone Basin and the Wind River Indian Reservation and joins the Little Wind River near Riverton. It then veers northward then is temporarily tamed at the juncture of the Owl Creek Mountains, where the river is dammed to form Boysen Reservoir, the Wind River officially becomes the Bighorn River at the Wedding of the Waters, on the north side of the Wind River Canyon.---------------------------> More
Headwaters of the Wind River in the Absoraka Mountains west of Dubois Wyoming.
The Grey's River is located just east of the Idaho/Wyoming
border near Alpine, Wyoming. The river is about 55 miles
long and flows into Palisades Reservoir. The Grey's River
area is considered by many northwest Wyoming locals to be
a one of their favorite multiple use playgrounds, the river
offers great trout fishing, kayaking, rafting and canoeing
and there are many access points along the road to access
the river. The towering Salt River Range to the west and
the matching Wyoming Range to the east, both hosting several
peaks that reach above 11,000 feet in elevation, this results
in an awesome place to be. The surrounding mountains and
their many canyons offer OHVing, horseback riding, hiking,
and trophy elk and deer hunting with many Boon and Crocket
records to prove it. This mountain valley is alive with the
sweet smell of wildflowers, the green forest floor is shared
with yellow Balsamroot, red Indian Paintbrush Yellow Arrowleaf,
and purple Fireweed. More..........
Fly-fisherman on the Greys River north of Alpine Wyoming
The Gallatin River of southwestern Montana is a beautiful freestone trout stream that doubles as a whitewater adventure destination, it is an amazingly scenic The Gallatin is a well-known, easily accessible, and heavily fished, trout stream that, despite those pitfalls, offers three species of trout that eagerly take dry flies and nymphs in one of the most beautiful and rugged portions of Montana.
The Gallatin has 120 miles of appealing trout water, including a delicate upper portion that flows through lush meadows, a roily middle section that cuts through a spectacular, heavily forested canyon, and a lower stretch that twists across a broad valley before meeting the Jefferson and Madison rivers at Three Forks. Parts of the movie A River Runs Through It were filmed on the Gallatin. The River winds through high alpine meadows, dropping into the rocky Gallatin Canyon, and flowing out into the Gallatin Valley. It is also known as a blue-ribbon trout water. It is a tremendous asset to the communities of Bozeman, Big Sky and West Yellowstone.--------------------------> More
Rising on the northeast slope of Joseph Peak in the northwest corner of Yellowstone Park the Gardiner River is born. The river starts at 10,000 feet. By the time it reaches the northwest corner of Gardner's Hole it has been joined by several other icy small streams. After it reaches Gardner's Hole, Fawn, Panther, Indian and Obsidian creeks join it. All are small, winding, willow lined, clear and cold, and all host numbers of brook and rainbow trout. The streams of Gardner's Hole are the only ones in the Park that may be fished with worms-but only by children twelve years and under.
Twenty miles from its source from where it passes under the Norris-Mammoth road bridge, there is a mile or so of very pleasant water. But proceed with caution as the walls of the canyon steadily constricts the river, bank fishing becomes tough and wading becomes risky. The river becomes a torrent and soon drops over 150 foot Osprey Falls, and the even steeper canyon below. It is dangerous to continue.-------------> More
The Lamar River is the largest tributary of Yellowstone River within Yellowstone National Park. We are fortunate not to have to use the full moniker, Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar, of the Secretary of the Interior for whom the river is named. It originates in the high peaks, steep ridges, U-shaped valleys of the Absaroka-Beartooth Mountains and it is approximately 40 miles long. Large herds of Bison and Elk lazily graze along the river in the Lamar Valley. Wolves can even occasionally be spotted if you are an early riser or get lucky in the evening and it is one of the best places in Yellowstone to spot Grizzlies.
The Upper Lamar River is another tremendous cutthroat fishery. The main river along with tributaries such as Cache, Miller and Cold creeks fish very well with dry flies for 12"-18" cutthroats. As with all of backcountry trips the wildlife, wildflowers and scenery are tremendous. wolves, grizzly bears, elk, bison, deer and moose are among some of the wildlife you may encounter in this area of the park. -----------------------> More
Bison grazing by the riverbank of the Lamar River is a common site.
The Gibbon River begins its short journey into the Madison in the center of Yellowstone National Park, at Grebe Lake from there It flows for a short distance into Wolf Lake. Upon its exit from Wolf Lake, the Gibbon River twists and turns through narrow canyons and great meadows and thermal areas until meeting with the Firehole River for the genies of the Madison River.
The upper section of Gibbon River has very difficult access, not much volume and involving bushwhacking through difficult terrain. You will catch brook trout, cutthroat trout and grayling, all on the small side, rarely exceeding 10 inches. But the difficulty is worth it for the opportunity to catch grayling, as they require the cleanest of waters.-----------------------------> more
Fly-fishermen enjoy a fall day on the Gibbon River in Gibbon meadows
The Shoshone River is a northern Wyoming river whose headwaters are in Yellowstone National Park, and is a heavily traveled corridor for people visiting Yellowstone Park via the east entrance of Yellowstone. The Shoshone River here has been rated among the top ten freestone trout fisheries in the Rocky Mountains. Teddy Roosevelt once called the North Fork corridor the most scenic 50 miles of land in America. Cities it runs near or through are Cody, Powell, and Byron It ends when it runs into the Big Horn River near Lovell, Wyoming.
The Shoshone River combines all the streams, rivers, and waterways to create the main eastern drainage of Yellowstone National Park. The scenic vistas of Red Rock Canyon and Lower Canyon are sure to have you looking back in time. It runs through a volcanically active region of fumaroles known as Coulter’s Hell. This contributed to the river being named on old maps of Wyoming as the Stinking Water River.----------------------------------------> More
Shoshone River as winds through the Absoraka Mountains on its way to the Bighorn Basin
Twelve miles south of Jackson you will find the Hoback River which is one of the more accessible rivers in the Jackson Hole, Yellowstone region. Highway 191 parallels it the river most of the Hoback's length from the confluence with the Snake River to about five miles south of the town of Bondurant where the river turns west into the Wyoming Range. Much of the lower section is private land but there are several access points and patches of national forest and BLM land, which provides access points. Here there isn’t a lot of drop but there are several good waves and fishing holes. During the spring, winter and late fall you can often see Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep on the cliffs by Camp Creek Inn.-------------------------------------> more
The Firehole River is one of two major tributaries of the Madison River. It flows north approximately 21 miles from its source in Madison Lake on the Continental Divide to join the Gibbon River at Madison Junction in Yellowstone National Park. The Firehole flows through several significant geyser basins in the park to include the Upper Geyser Basin, which contains the world-famous geyser Old Faithful. Early trappers for the steam that makes it appear to be smoking as if on fire named the river.-------------------------------------> more
The Firehole River is lined with hotsprings and geysers and early in the year holds plenty of trout.
The Lewis River is a tributary of the Snake River and is a popular destination for Yellowstone backcountry travelers, fishermen, and campers. The entire course of the river is located within the boundaries of Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming about 70 miles north of Jackson Hole. The river is named for Meriwether Lewis, commander of the Lewis and Clark Expedition though Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery never saw Yellowstone.
The Lewis River begins at the southern end of Shoshone Lake and flows southerly approximately 3 miles to Lewis Lake; here the river is called the Lewis River Channel. The river reemerges at the southern end of Lewis Lake and flows in a general southerly direction through a steep canyon roughly paralleling the south entrance road toward the south entrance of the park. Shortly before leaving the park, the Lewis River merges with the Snake River just north of Flagg Ranch, changing its course southward. The Snake soon flows out of Yellowstone into Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Lake
The Clarks Fork is a tributary of the Yellowstone River, flowing southeast through Montana, and Wyoming. It carves a path from the Beartooth Mountains in the north to the Absaroka Range this river is famous for its recreational opportunities and breath-taking views. It is in the northwest corner of Wyoming adjacent to Yellowstone National Park. Originating in the high mountain peaks close to the Montana/Wyoming border at the western end of the Beartooth All-American Road, The Upper Clarks Fork headwaters are near the town of Cooke City, Montana, some 12 miles north of the Wyoming border. The Upper Clark’s Fork of the Yellowstone River parallels the highway for seventeen breathtaking miles which facilitate easy access.-------------------------------------> more
A fly-fisherman tries his luck on an upper section of the Clarks Fork.
Yellowstone National Park showcases Earth’s hottest show and Yellowstone’s awesome natural phenomena all just beyond the bow of your kayak. The hundreds of miles of shoreline of Yellowstone Lake, the continent’s largest mountain lake, have steamed and simmered in a geothermal flux for thousands of years deep in the heart of Yellowstone National Park, a western U.S. adventure paradise. Steamy geysers gush at water’s edge, mud pots bubble, and hot springs sear, and all are easy to spot from the unique perspective of your kayak. 
