Horseback Riding & Rafting

In Yellowstone

Yellowstone Whitewater
Rafting Day Trip

google 5 star reviews

Rafting the Yellowstone River.

Located at the North Gate to Yellowstone National Park in Gardiner, Montana, the Yellowstone River has some of the finest whitewater rafting this side of the Mississippi. During your whitewater rafting trip, expect Class II & III rapids - perfect for a little adventure! You'll also have a great chance to see plenty of wildlife such as deer, elk, osprey, bald eagles, and many others. Our section of the Yellowstone River flows North just outside of the Park, allowing you to fully enjoy all that Yellowstone has to offer during your family vacation!

FULL-DAY YELLOWSTONE WHITEWATER EXPERIENCE

Pricing: $160 per Adult | $145 per Child (Ages 4–12)

Trip Length: 18 Miles | Duration: 4–5 Hours

Start Time: 10:00 AM Daily

Estimated Return / Pick-Up Time: 18 Miles | Duration: 4–5 Hours

Trip Details

Everything you are looking for is on our 18-mile Full Day Rafting trip, where you will experience Class I, II & III rapids. We will equip you with any necessary gear and a safety briefing from your expert rafting guide. Upon completing the first 10 miles, you can expect to stop on Lunch Island to indulge in the picnic we packed for you earlier that morning. Once you have eaten your fill, your raft will continue on towards Yankee Jim Canyon. The rest of the trip takes place in this canyon where the waves increase in excitement.

During the floating sections, relish in the beautiful Absaroka mountains and take in every last bit of our Big Sky Country. You can even ask your guide to go for a swim! As your trip comes to an end, we will pick you up at the stopping point. You can relax on the short drive back to our office, where you will have the chance to change and view the photos we captured during your adventure.

Included: A full picnic lunch- various sandwiches, chips, fruits, and cookies for dessert! Please let us know if you have any special dietary needs. Depending on the time of summer, wetsuits, water shoes, and splash jackets will also be provided free of charge.

CLASSIC HALF-DAY WHITEWATER EXPERIENCE

Pricing: $84 per Adult | $74 per Child (12 & Under)

Trip Length: 8 Miles | Duration: 2 Hours

Start Times: 9:00 AM*, 10:00 AM, 12:30 PM, 3:30 PM

Estimated Return / Pick-Up Time: 18 Miles | Duration: 4–5 Hours

*9 a.m. early bird special: save $5 per person!

Trip Details

Our 2-Hour Classic Half-Day Whitewater trip is great for those who may not have time to spend all day on the river. It’s great for those with children 40 lbs & up! You meet at our office 30 minutes prior to your scheduled trip time. We will get you geared up at no extra charge. We depart from our office at the scheduled trip time and transport you to the river put-in where you will meet your river guide. From there, your experience begins as you paddle and splash down 8 miles of gorgeous river. There is a splendid mixture of rapids and calm floating sections to appease every adventure level! We pick you up 2 hours later and take you back to our office where you can use our changing rooms facilities and view the rafting images taken of your family!

Included: Depending on the time of summer, wetsuits, water shoes, and splash jackets will be provided

SMALL BOAT BIG WATER*

Pricing: $100 per Adult (Must be 16 Years or Older)

Trip Length: 8 Miles | Duration: 2 Hours

Start Time: 12:00 PM

*Small Boat Big Water is optimal May-June. We do not book after June.

Trip Details

Paddle hard! Run Yankee Jim Canyon for an unforgettable whitewater rafting experience. This is a special whitewater trip for rafting enthusiasts. You will experience 6 miles of the Yellowstone River facing class III and class IV rapids. The minimum trip size is 4. The maximum is  8 adults per boat. You must be in good physical condition for this 2-3 hour trip.

May – June only. Please call to book.

Included: Wetsuits, water shoes, splash jackets, and helmets will be provided.

PRIVATE BOAT

Pricing: 

  • Full-Day Guided Boat (2–6 guests): $1,300
  • Each Additional Guest: $155
  • Half-Day Guided Boat (2–6 guests): $650
  • Each Additional Guest: $84

Trip Length Options:

  • 8 Miles | 2 Hours
  • 18 Miles | 5 Hours

Start Times: 9:00 AM, 10:00 AM, 12:30 PM, 3:30 PM

Let Wild West roll out the red carpet for you!

Trip Details

Our “Private Boat” Raft Trip guarantees a personal guided rafting experience on the Yellowstone River! You can even add personal photos of your family or group. We will attend to your specific requests, which includes a hearty lunch on the Full Day Trip, and of course, an expert enthusiastic guide!
*A maximum 8 Guests per boat. 

Included:  On the Full-Day Rafting Trip we include full picnic lunch- various sandwiches, chips, potato salad, fruits, and cookies for dessert! Please let us know if you have any special dietary needs! Depending on the time of summer, wetsuits, water shoes, and splash jackets will also be provided free of charge.

Starting Location

Don't Just Take Our Word For It

YELLOWSTONE HORSEBACK RIDING AND RAFTING

A Saddle and Paddle combination is the best of both worlds!
Start by horseback riding in Yellowstone or at one of our authentic western ranches. Then, shift into high gear for an exciting 2-Hour Whitewater Rafting Trip down the Yellowstone River with the guides of Wild West Rafting! Book your saddle & paddle trip today!

1-HOUR SADDLE & 2-HOUR WHITEWATER OR
1-HOUR SADDLE & 2-HOUR SCENIC FLOAT

$199/ADULT, $189/CHILD AGES 7-12
TRIP LENGTH: 6-8 RIVER MILES, 3-4 HOURS

START TIME WHITEWATER:
9:00 AM RIDE, 12:30 RAFT
9:00 AM RAFT, 1 PM RIDE

START TIME SCENIC:
9:00 AM RIDE, 1 PM FLOAT
9:30 AM FLOAT, 1 PM RIDE
1 PM RIDE, 4 PM FLOAT

If you have children 7 years and up the Saddle & 2-Hour Paddle is perfect for you! You will ride horses for 1-hour followed by a 2-hour Whitewater or Scenic Float Trip.

We have learned from our many years of Yellowstone horseback riding and rafting that children age 7 and up do best.  There are a myriad of scenic trails on the ranch to walk for those in your group not wish to ride! Everyone in your group can enjoy the outdoors. This is the perfect way to experience all the beauty and adventure Gardiner, Montana has to offer!

OUR ADVICE:

  • Purchase a * Picnic Lunch * at the time of booking for your family or group for $15.00 per person. We pack it for you! You will pick it up at check-in and take it to the ranch. After your ride enjoys dining under a shaded canopy while taking in the beauty of the ranch!

  • During your horseback ride wear long pants and shoes that cover your toes!

  • During your raft trip wear anything you don’t mind getting wet. Short & t-Shirts or swimwear.

* We outfit our horse rides through a ranch out of town, so you are responsible for your transportation from our office to the ranch.

*Lunch Includes: A full picnic lunch guaranteed to satisfy your hunger! Turkey & cheese sandwich served on a hearty roll, watermelon, potato chips, and cookies for dessert! With plenty of iced cold water and lemonade.

Included: For rafting, we provide wetsuits, water shoes, and splash jackets if the weather calls for it

Starting Location

Don’t Just Take Our Word For It

Awesome trip! Jake was an amazing guide. We did the 2 hour float on a hot Summer afternoon. Exciting rapids mixed with leisurely floats. Saw some wildlife along the way

Stephen D.

We loved our riding experience! Our guide was awesome, so friendly and knowledgeable. The whole ride was fun. The scenery was beautiful!!!

Liz S.

We had such a great time on the river! Everyone on staff was so friendly, kind, patient and helpful! We enjoyed having all the mountains and points of interest shown to us.

Heather B.

Excellent half day trip. Our guide was knowledgeable and she had great suggestions for other things do to in town. The river had great conditions. We got to see a lot of wild life!

Arian A.

Great rafting company! We did the full day whitewater which I highly recommend. It was a really fun experience! All the guides were a lot of fun!

Susie L.