Kayak beautiful Yellowstone Lake, ringed with geyser basins and framed by the Absaroka Mountains. Travel in WI's fleet of fast and stable kayaks that provide an ideal way to see this national treasure in safety and style. Paddle down the Southeast and Flat Mountain arms of Yellowstone Lake, and break out rods and reels as cutthroat trout abound. Explore Yellowstone's Old Faithful, the Grand Canyon of Yellowstone, and other spectacular sites of Yellowstone, the world's first national park.
Sample Itinerary
DAY 1: Meet your group in Billings and travel over the scenic Beartooth Pass and through North Yellowstone. Learn about kayak skills and safety over dinner and spend the night in Grant Village.
DAY 2: Pack up camp and get on the water on the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake. Paddle east to a campsite on Breezy Point. You may pass by an active osprey nest and see bald eagles soaring overhead. Today provides the first chance to catch trout and admire the beauty of the lake.
DAY 3: Break camp and move further southeast to the Flat Mountain Arm region where you'll paddle near the base of Flat Mountain in a true wilderness area. Set up camp and then enjoy the afternoon sun, reading a book or trying to catch colorful and pugnacious cutthroat trout.
DAY 4: Paddle in the Southeast Arm and explore the largest motor-free wilderness area in the park.
DAY 5: Paddle back to the Breezy Point area, enjoying the wildlife along the way.
DAY 6: Break camp in the morning and paddle out to Grant Village. The trip officially ends after lunch. If you use WI's van transportation, you will drive through the spectacular Beartooth Pass back to Billings, MT. Expect to return to Billings in the evening.
Travel, Terrain, Etc...
TERRAIN/ROUTE CHOICES: Yellowstone National Park has a wide variety of flora and fauna ranging from near-desert vegetation around the north entrance to sub-alpine meadows and forests on Mt. Washburn. Lodge pole pines cover 60% of the park. The shores of Yellowstone Lake are heavily forested, with accommodating and accessible campsites. Areas burned in the 1988 fire are distinguished by new growth and a variety of wildflowers. We will be on the lake, and campsites are pre-registered with the Park Service. Wind and weather may affect our routes.
TYPE OF TRAVEL/DISTANCE: You will travel in 21-foot Grand San Juan sea kayaks, which hold 2 or 3 people plus all necessary gear. An average day's travel consists of 3-6 paddling hours, depending on weather conditions. Be prepared for the possibility of a wind bound day. Travel distances vary from 4-10 miles each day.
WEATHER: Yellowstone Lake's high elevation makes for weather that can change very quickly. During the summer months it is usually quite comfortable with daytime temperatures within 65 - 90 degrees F. Thundershowers are a possibility and so are colder temperatures at night.
LODGING/BATHROOM FACILITIES: This is a camping trip. At night you will sleep in a comfortable Eureka Timberline tent. Typically, there are 3 people per 4 person tent (although other arrangements can be made). We recommend that you bring your own personal sleeping bag and "camprest" foam core inflatable mattress (a limited number of sleeping bags and mattresses are available as loaners for individuals who need them). Bathroom facilities consist of an outhouse or a foldable commode chair set up in a privacy tent. We make every effort to ensure privacy and cleanliness. Pay showers are available on Day 5.
GROUP SIZE: The group size ranges from 8 to 10 participants, plus 2 or more Wilderness Inquiry staff. Each group consists of people of various ages, backgrounds and abilities, including people with disabilities.
CAMP CHORES: Our trips are cooperative in nature. WI staff will assist you in whatever areas you need, however most people pitch in where they can. Part of the adventure involves learning about daily camp activities.
EQUIPMENT AND CLOTHING: If you are new to outdoor activities, you need not spend a lot of money on gear. Wilderness Inquiry will provide all necessary canoeing and camping equipment. All you need to provide is your personal gear, such as clothing and a sleeping bag. A detailed equipment list will be sent to you upon confirmation of your participation. If you need to borrow personal gear, that can usually be arranged.
LEVEL OF DIFFICULTY: No previous experience is needed to complete this trip.
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Wilderness Inquiry is proud to serve Caribou Coffee on all our trips. Great food, great coffee, and great company are just some of the ingredients that make Wilderness Inquiry trips special.
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The natural wonders of Yellowstone National Park have awed generations of explorers, including members of late 19th century scientific expeditions. Through a series of lectures devoted to the discoveries of these expeditions, the public became informed of this pristine wilderness and an effort to preserve these natural wonders was initiated. A national conservation and preservation movement began with the Yellowstone National Park Act of 1872, which was created to preserve the watershed of the Yellowstone River. During an era of resource exploitation, the geologic wonders and scenic beauty of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE) inspired people to preserve and protect lands instead of exploiting them. Yellowstone is the world's first designated national park.
The geologic features of the GYE have attracted visitors from all over the World. Mountain building processes, including volcanic, uplift, and faulting, have created mountains, basins and calderas. Melting glaciers created fast flowing rivers which carved deep canyons. Yellowstone is also well known for its 10,000 thermal features, including geysers, hot springs, mudpots and fumaroles. In addition to the geology and breathtaking scenery of the region, Yellowstone is also a wildlife haven.
The GYE has the largest concentration of free-roaming wildlife in the contiguous states. Herds of bison migrate into the valleys to graze. The back country is home to over 50 other mammals, including: wolves, bears, mule deer, bighorn sheep, moose, elk and pronghorn. Nearly 300 species of birds have also been observed in Yellowstone. The large concentration of wildlife is largely attributed to the vastness of this pristine environment.
Yellowstone National Park encompasses over 2.2 million acres - larger than both Delaware and Rhode Island combined. Most visitors tend to stay near the roads and the few developed areas. This is the reason your experience with Wilderness Inquiry will be unique. Although we'll take in some of the more popular attractions, we'll venture from the roads and trails as we paddle on Yellowstone Lake.
Formed in a caldera, Yellowstone Lake is 390 feet deep and is the largest lake in North America above 7,000'. Lake and Cutthroat trout have the run of the lake, as they're at the top of the food chain which originates near hot vents on the lake bottom. The warm water from the vents supports bacteria which feeds on the released sulfur and forms the base of the food chain. You don't have to tote a rod and reel to appreciate the world renown trout fishing in Yellowstone. Thousands of people every year flock to bridges that pass over crystal clear waters just to view the colorful trout. Fishing Bridge, near the outlet of Yellowstone Lake, is a popular spot to watch fish.
Yellowstone offers a truly unique environment. Exploring its back country and solitude is just the ticket for fully appreciating its diversity of wildlife and geologic drama. Come join us.
For more information, visit these links:
National Park Service - Official Yellowstone National Park Website
The Total Yellowstone Page
Yellowstone Net
YellowstoneNationalPark.com
American Park Network - Yellowstone
Greater Yellowstone Coalition
Yellowstone in Wikipedia
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