Boating - Yellowstone National Park (U.S. National Park Service) (original) (raw)

Find Out More

• Operating Dates
• Aquatic Invasive Species Management
• Guided Boat Trips & Rentals
• Fishing

Boating is allowed on most lakes in Yellowstone National Park during boating season with a valid boat inspection and permit. In order to protect yourself and park resources, familiarize yourself with all regulations prior to launching your watercraft.

Safety

Exploring Yellowstone’s lakes by boat offers a great way to see the park from a different perspective. However, boating in the Northern Rockies presents significant risks. Water temperatures of park lakes are extremely cold (in the 40s Fahrenheit) in June and may only reach the 60s by late summer. In addition, sudden strong winds can produce waves of three to five feet in height, making open-water crossings very dangerous.

Boating Regulations

• Boating season begins the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend (usually the last weekend in May) and extends through October 31.
• All park rivers are closed to boating except for the section of the Lewis River between Lewis Lake and Shoshone Lake, which is open to non-motorized watercraft only.
• All vessels must have a US Coast Guard approved, wearable PFD (Type I, II, III, or V) for each person on board.
• View Yellowstone's Boating Safety and Regulations booklet.

Inspections & Permits

Before launching in Yellowstone, ALL watercraft—both motorized and non-motorized—must pass a Yellowstone AIS inspection and receive a permit. This requirement includes but is not limited to:

• Any boat with a motor
• Canoes
• Kayaks
• Paddleboards
• Inflatable boats & angler float tubes

Important Reminders:

• Clean, Drain and Dry your watercraft, trailer, motor, and gear—every time, everywhere.
• Boats arriving after inspection hours cannot launch until they have completed the required Yellowstone AIS inspection.
• Watercraft that do not pass inspection will be denied launch.
• Any watercraft that leaves the park must be reinspected before re-entering park waters.

Banned Watercraft & Equipment

• Watercraft with evidence of dead or live quagga or zebra mussels.
• Watercraft previously fouled with mussels, regardless of cleaning or dry time.
• Watercraft equipped with a ballast tank or similar areas that cannot be visually inspected.
• Felt-soled footwear.

30-Day Dry Time Requirements

• A 30-day dry time is required for all sailboats and certain motorized boats (inboard, inboard/outboard, or inboard jet drives). Without a valid AIS inspection receipt and intact seal demonstrating a 30-day day dry time, these boats will be denied launch. Boats with outboard motors and non-motorized boats are exempt from the 30-day dry time.
• In addition to Yellowstone National Park seals, the park also honors inspection receipts and seals from these agencies:
  • Colorado Parks & Wildlife
  • Idaho State Department of Agriculture
  • Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
  • Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife
  • Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
  • Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
  • Wyoming Game & Fish Department
• Upon exiting Yellowstone waters, boaters can receive an exit inspection and Yellowstone seal. Returning watercraft with an intact Yellowstone seal and inspection receipt can relaunch without an additional 30-day dry time.

Inspection Locations

*Dates are subject to change based on ice conditions on the lake.

Visit our keyboard shortcuts docs for details

Duration:

1 minute, 5 seconds

Clean, drain, and dry your equipment before visiting Yellowstone.

Boating Permit Fees

• Non-motorized: 20for7daysor20 for 7 days or 20for7daysor30 for the season
• Motorized: 40for7daysor40 for 7 days or 40for7daysor60 for the season

Includes the required aquatic invasive species inspection. Fees are payable by debit or credit card.

Motorized Watercraft

• Motorized boats are only allowed on Lewis and Yellowstone lakes. Boaters using motorized boats on Yellowstone Lake must familiarize themselves with the 5 mile per hour mileage zones and non-motorized boat zone locations.
• Vessels must not exceed 40 feet in length.
• The use of jet skis, personal watercraft*, airboats, submersibles, and similar vessels is prohibited in Yellowstone.
• Towing water skiers, wakeboards, parasails, or performing similar activities is prohibited.

*A personal watercraft is defined as a vessel, usually less than 16' in length, which uses an inboard engine to power a water jet pump as its primary source of propulstion. The vessel is intended to be operated by a person sitting, standing, or kneeling on the vessel, rather than within the confines of the hull.

Non-motorized Watercraft

• Canoes, kayaks, paddleboards and other non-motorized boats are permitted on all lakes except Sylvan Lake, Eleanor Lake, Twin Lakes, and Beach Springs Lagoon.

Other Regulations

• Swimming in the Bridge Bay Marina Channel is prohibited.
• Backcountry permits are required for all overnight trips.
• Check Backcountry Conditions for the status of the docks.

Guided Trips & Rentals

Yellowstone National Park Lodges provides boat rentals and guided boat trips at Bridge Bay Marina on Yellowstone Lake. Other companies offer guided services for canoeing, kayaking, and motorized boating.

• Fishing
  If you're planning on casting a rod here, help us protect our native species by following all park fishing regulations.
• Aquatic Invasive Species Management
  Learn more about how Yellowstone works to prevent aquatic invasive species from entering park waters.
• Aquatic Invasive Species Ecology
  At least eight AIS already exist in Yellowstone's waters.