Our Yellowstone scenic float is a calm-water raft trip on the Yellowstone River in the Paradise Valley. It’s the most popular trip for guests who want to be on the river but not in the rapids. Your guide does all the rowing through gentle water while you sit back and take in the Montana scenery.
What Is a Scenic Float?
Who a Scenic Float Is Best For
If You’re Nervous About Whitewater
Scenic floats avoid river rapids entirely. You’ll be on calm sections of the river the whole way, you’ll wear a life jacket, and your guide handles the raft, so nothing depends on you paddling correctly or reacting fast.
On all of our river trips, safety is top priority: every one of our rafting guides is certified in First Aid, CPR, and Swift Water Rescue. And nobody is going to talk you into a bigger trip once you’re on the water.
If you’re uneasy, tell your guide when you meet them. They’ll talk you through what’s ahead.
If You’re Bringing Babies or Young Kids
There’s no weight or age minimum on a scenic float. We carry Coast Guard-approved life jackets for all ages, including infants, and we regularly host multi-generational families on this trip.
Our whitewater trips are different. Those require kids to be at least 40 lbs, which usually means age 4 and up. If you have a baby or a toddler in the group, the scenic float is your option. For more on rafting with kids, read Is Whitewater Rafting Safe for Kids?
If You Have Mobility or Physical Concerns
This comes up more often than you’d think, usually for people with limited mobility, a bad back, or a recent surgery.
The raft is wide and stable, and the ride stays smooth because there are no drops or hard hits on this stretch. The physical requirements are walking down a 60-yard path from our office to the river’s edge, then walking from the raft to the bus at take-out.
Remember: you’re not the first person to request assistance. Tell us at check-in what would help and our staff will handle the rest, with gear and with getting in and out of the boat. There’s no need to explain more than you want to.
Scenic Float or Whitewater: How to Decide
Most guests choose their river trip based on these factors:
| Feature | Scenic Float | Half-Day Whitewater |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | All ages, first-timers, relaxed pace | Groups who want splashes and action |
| Minimum size | None, infants welcome | 40 lbs, usually age 4 and up |
| Who paddles | Your guide rows | Everyone paddles |
| How wet you get | Your choice | Wet, guaranteed |
| Pace | Slow, with time to look around | Fast bursts between calm stretches |
If your group is split, you don’t have to pick just one. Plenty of families split up, with grandparents and small children on the scenic float and parents with teenagers on a whitewater trip. Everyone meets back at our office afterward. Just tell us when you book so we can line up the timing.
What You’ll See From the Raft
The river stretch we float is a wildlife corridor into and out of Yellowstone National Park. Watch the riverbanks, mountains and sky for osprey, bald eagles, elk, deer, pronghorn, and geese. Your guide knows which bends tend to have animals.
The scenery is incredible too: the Gallatin Mountain range sits on your left side and the Absaroka Mountains are on your right as you glide down the river. It’s a view you can’t get from Highway 89, because the river pulls away from the road.
Bring binoculars or a zoom lens if you want a closer look. The boat is stable enough for a real camera, and we can give you a small dry bag to keep it protected from spray.
Should you Choose a Wet Float or Dry Float?
Scenic float trips are perfect for groups like bachelorette parties.
Choose a Scenic Float for a Relaxing Trip
The right trip usually comes down to the least confident person in your group. If that person wants a fun river float without the rapids, this is the one.
Not sure which trip to choose? Call us: (406) 848-2252.