About This Route
The Yellowstone River, flowing north from the park through Paradise Valley, offers thrilling floats from Gardiner to Yankee Jim Canyon (Class II-III rapids) or mellow sections near Livingston. Popular put-ins: Mill Street in Gardiner or Carter's Bridge. Day floats span 5-10 miles; outfitters like Yellowstone Raft Company provide guided rafting. Outside park boundaries, but essential for Yellowstone visitors seeking river action post-park hikes.
Safety Considerations
Swift currents, cold 50-degree water, and undercut rocks demand PFDs always, per Yellowstone County Sheriff guidelines. Avoid tying rafts or tubes into flotillas: illegal and deadly. Check USGS gauges for flows over 5,000 cfs signaling hazards. Dehydration hits fast in sun; helmets mandatory for rapids. No alcohol; rescuers note impaired judgment causes drownings.
Essential Gear
AIRE Tributary rafts with NRS Big Water PFDs, Sweet Protection helmets. Add pump, paddle leash, and GoPro mount. Kitchen sink: drysuit for early season, wetsuit option.
Swim feet-first through rapids. Trap: aggressive swim to eddy. Sheriff rescues via chopper; pin location with What3Words.