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Beyond Gardiner

Montana Whitewater Half Day Raft Trip - Yellowstone River

Recommended by 99% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Gardiner, USA
High interest
Booked 4 times today.
  • 3 hours (approx.)
  • Mobile ticket
  • Offered in: English

Why travelers loved this

5.0
·
· Kelly_G ·
Jun 2026
Very well-organized and efficient. The guides were very helpful and fun to talk to. The rapids were just right for our 12- and 15-year olds. Have one or two spots to jump out and swim if you want to. Wet suits were super helpful with the cold water! Abbey was our guide and she was great!
· JulieAnne_S ·
Jun 2026
This trip was a great start for white water rafting for my 8 and 10 year olds. The rapids were fun and exciting but not too much for them. Our guide, Josie, was terrific and let them play a swim game and even row! The trip to and from was quick and efficient. We had a great time!

Overview

Experience Yellowstone from the water with a family-friendly half-day rafting trip, suitable for beginners and experienced rafters alike. You'll make your way along an 8-mile (13 km) stretch of river, passing through a mix of rapids and flat areas. Spot wildlife such as river otters and bald eagles while enjoying a swim stop along the way.
  • Beginner- and family-friendly tour, suitable for all levels of experience
  • All safety gear will be provided
  • Wetsuits are available to borrow, free of charge
  • Tour departs from a riverfront location in Gardiner near lodging and campgrounds

What's Included

  • Yellowstone River Raft Trip
  • Wetsuit, Booties, Helmet, Paddle, Splash Top
  • Hotel pick-up and drop off
  • Gratuities

Meeting and Pickup

Meeting point

  • 603 Scott St W, Gardiner, MT 59030, USA

    Please arrive at our Yellowstone River office at 603 Scott Street Gardiner, MT 59030 across from the Super 8 and right outside the North Entrance to YNP!

End point

This activity ends back at the meeting point.

What To Expect

1

Yellowstone River

2

Yellowstone River Picnic Area

3

Yellowstone Country

Additional Info

  • Confirmation will be received at time of booking
  • Not wheelchair accessible
  • Not recommended for travelers with back problems
  • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
  • No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
  • Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
  • This tour/activity will have a maximum of 15 travelers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

Traveler Photos

Gallery picture 1 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 2 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 3 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 4 (from a traveler's review)
Gallery picture 5 (from a traveler's review)

Featured review

Kevin_D
Great guide, Garrett! Wonderful experience for the entire family. Would highly recommend this for all. Great stories and information. Had us laughing and smiling the entire trip.

Reviews

5.0
based on 413 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

1st timers

Kevin_D, Jul 2026
We had a blast Garrett was a cool Guy and made the trip very enjoyable. Highly recommend. We were 1st timers and definitely will do it again

So fun

Larisa_S, Jul 2026
This was so fun. Our guide was great and the scenery was beautiful. It was a perfect trip for first timers on the rapids.

100 percent recommend!

Shara_G, Jul 2026
Abby was an excellent guide and made things fun for everyone on the raft. She knew quite a bit about the area as well. My kids ranged from 7-19 and they all had a blast!

Rafting

Robert_E, Jun 2026
Amazing experience for all ages. The guide was amazing 👏 and very engaging. This trip was great for all ages from 8 to 80

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Wonderful to hear! Glad y'all had a great trip!

Great for kids!

JulieAnne_S, Jun 2026
This trip was a great start for white water rafting for my 8 and 10 year olds. The rapids were fun and exciting but not too much for them. Our guide, Josie, was terrific and let them play a swim game and even row! The trip to and from was quick and efficient. We had a great time!

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Josie is one of our finest! She rocks it out on the river. Thanks for coming out!

It was very fun, although...

Holly_K, Jun 2026
It was very fun, although I feel like they should put in the description that customers are expected to carry the heavy raft down a windy, gravel hill. I was not expecting that and have weight lifting limitations, that was the most difficult part of the experience and I felt worn out before we even started. It would also be helpful if they specified what people should wear, and a little more descriptive of what they will be wearing/changing into, as it was a guessing game until we arrived at the meeting spot. I did Google what to wear for this type of activity and found a general answer there that was helpful. Totally fun though! Should just be a little more descriptive (for beginners) is my only complaint.

Response from Host, Jun 2026

We hate that walk too! We do our best to make it as viable as possible for all. Hopefully one day they let us build a slide down it. Our website is jam packed with information, but I am sorry that the information needed was hard to find. Glad you had a good time overall!

You can tell everyone...

Katelyn_G, Jun 2026
You can tell everyone loves their job and it’s a well oiled machine, staff is amazing. Mya is the coolest and worked well with the parents and kids on the trip with the low tides and providing fun. If you’re worried about kids, they are super accommodating. We even got a history lesson and tour and some info about the area. I can’t recommend this enough.

Response from Host, Jun 2026

We really do love our work! Nothing better than being on the river with other folks and enjoying the outdoors! Thanks for coming out with us!

We went with Garret, he...

Cristina_S, Jun 2026
We went with Garret, he was chill and fun. My big kids had alot of fun riding the bull he gor us on some nice waves.

Response from Host, Jun 2026

Garrett is the epitome of a chiller! Thanks for coming!

Great excursion short notice only 15 minutes from Mammoth

Bruce_D, Jun 2026
The trip was very well organized. The water is very cold high 40s. They supply you with everything needed including wet suits and booties. This is about two hours on the river and a 10 minute drive each way. The trip is very well organized. We had a high of mid-level 3 rapids. They have clean bathrooms and changing rooms. I highly recommend this for all ages, assuming they’re in decent shape.

Such a fun afternoon experience!

Kelly_G, Jun 2026
Very well-organized and efficient. The guides were very helpful and fun to talk to. The rapids were just right for our 12- and 15-year olds. Have one or two spots to jump out and swim if you want to. Wet suits were super helpful with the cold water! Abbey was our guide and she was great!

One of the Highlights of Our Teip!

Anonymous, Jun 2026
What an incredible experience! This was our first time whitewater rafting in Montana, and it ended up being one of the highlights of our trip. Our guide, Brian, was absolutely fantastic. He was knowledgeable, professional, fun, and made us feel safe and confident from start to finish. His instructions were clear, and he did a great job balancing safety with making sure everyone had an exciting adventure. The scenery along the river was breathtaking, and the rapids were the perfect mix of fun and excitement. We laughed, got soaked, and made memories we’ll never forget. If you’re considering a rafting trip, don’t hesitate—it’s an amazing experience, and Brian made it even better. Highly recommend!

Great experience. They...

Seth_M, Jun 2026
Great experience. They supply everything to make this trip a memorable one. Wet suits, booties, jackets, and of course the best guides!

Best experience ever!!

Linda_S, May 2026
It was a cold rainy day so we decided to try this activity. We are so glad we did. I recommend this place, very professional and fun. Our guide Jo was the best!!

Our guide was extremely...

Michelle_B, May 2026
Our guide was extremely knowledgeable about the Yellowstone River. Excellent ride down the Yellowstone River for us who had never been white water rafting before in our lives ranging from 19 to 65. He took the time to learn about us and where to place each in the boat. Best adventure ever and we will all be talking about it for a long time to come! Highly recommended!

Great option for first-time rafters! And Brian!

Alexander_C, May 2026
Great for first-time rafters! Rougher waters are at the start (fun!), but it slows down about halfway through and doesn’t really pick up again. You may be a little bored by the end If you’re more experienced, but it was good for us! Our guide was Brian, he was awesome! He chatted with us the whole way and gave us some great rafting recommendations as well. He bumped it up to 5 stars!

Best rush in 50 years

Ron_H, Sept 2025
It is a spectacular visual opportunity our guide Jordan and he gave us a super fun and exciting ride full of information about the area and it's history thanks for a great experience. The entire staff were super helpful and patient.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Wow! So stoked you had a killer ride and Jordan provided an top notch experience. Come see us again!

So fun

Elisha_S, Sept 2025
Our guide was so fun, my kids had a blast! Our guide was knowledgeable and made sure we had a fun time down the river

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Glad to hear our guides made a great trip for you and your kids! Love to have you back for another run down the river.

Great crew and ride!

Danielle_S, Sept 2025
Our guide Emily was fantastic! It was a very windy day and the guides did a great job accommodating the needs and schedules of everyone. Highly recommend.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thanks for the high recommendations and happy to hear Emily was fantastic!

Great guide, Garrett!...

Kevin_D, Sept 2025
Great guide, Garrett! Wonderful experience for the entire family. Would highly recommend this for all. Great stories and information. Had us laughing and smiling the entire trip.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Glad to hear you and your family had an awesome trip with Garrett and filled with laughs! Come see us again.

Paula’s review

Paula_S, Sept 2025
Super friendly staff. Very knowledgeable. Excellent instructions. Would highly recommend it for all ages. Can’t wait to come back with my grandkids

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Let's do it again, Paula! Thanks for the sweet review and bring those grandkids back next season!

Great experience

Rhonda_F, Aug 2025
So much fun! Perfect day, our guide, Emily, was really nice. The rapids were very mild, which is what I needed for my young children. It was just a really good experience.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Glad you hear your trip down the Yellowstone was perfect and the kids got some splashes! Thanks for joining us and come back for more fun!

Rafting

Andrew_L, Aug 2025
Lots of fun. We had a great guide and had lots of fun. Our guide had lots of great information about Yellowstone park and.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Great guide + lots of FUN = Montana Whitewater Thanks for rafting with us and come see us again next season!

It was exactly as...

Lisa_M, Aug 2025
It was exactly as described in the advertising. Great family fun for beginning rafters. Our three grandkids loved it, and so did we.

Fun rafting trip

Kathleen_Z, Aug 2025
It was a medium to low intensity event good for kids and older active people. Beautiful scenery and many wildlife opportunities!

Ride The Bull

Kerry_H, Aug 2025
Had a great time on the river. There was good instruction, a good safety talk, was good for kids 9 and up, which were on our raft, and we got an entertaining and knowledgeable guide, Elijah

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thanks for choosing Montana Whitewater and glad to hear you had an entertaining and top notch experience with Elijah! Sounds like the bull was taken by the horns ;)

Money well spent! Awesome experience!

MelissaB, Aug 2025
This trip was an absolute blast! We simply cannot praise Elijah enough as he was fun, safety-conscience, a super nice guy and an awesome guide! The rapids were mild, but still a lot of fun and highly recommend for anybody traveling to the area. The people at the front of the house were also really nice and the experience was A+ all the way around—would highly recommend.

Response from Host, Oct 2025

A+ for awesome time, thank you! So happy Elijah showed you a great time down the Yellowstone and our entire staff took good care of you. We love some old fashion western hospitality and a heck of a good time!

Great experience for our...

Abby_S, Aug 2025
Great experience for our family of first time rafters! Our guide Elijah was knowledgeable about the area, and funny as well! Would definitely go again!

Response from Host, Oct 2025

Thanks for choosing Montana Whitewater and so happy Elijah showed you and your family a great first trip down river!

Great Raft Trip!

bruceporter5, Jul 2025
Elijah was a Great Guide! Beautiful scenery, perfect water, humorous guide-talk, plus easy & safe prep for the trip.

First rafting trip

Francesco_T, Jul 2025
So much fun! Definitely would do it again… Emily our guide was experienced & made the ride much less scary 😂 a beautiful way to see the Yellowstone

💯 Recommend

Shane_B, Jul 2025
Recommend 💯 !!! We spent the whole day with Montana Whitewater - Ziplining and Rafting, we had so much fun! Everyone we encountered were professional, friendly, fun and we felt safe the entire time. A huge shout-out to our zipline guides Maya & Gray and our rafting guide, Josie! Thanks for making our trip out West extra memorable! Oh, and the professional photos of our rafting trip are stellar, so grateful we have these to remember our trip! Thank You!

From $92.00

per person

up to 24 hours before the experience starts (local time)

Book ahead!
On average, this is booked 46 days in advance.

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