18-Mile 6Hrs of Fun on the Yellowstone River with lunch! in Gardiner
Gardiner, United States

18-Mile 6Hrs of Fun on the Yellowstone River with lunch!

Outty Ranking 71 4.8 · 14 traveler reviews5 hoursFrom $160

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September 2026

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Adults

Age 13 and over

2

Children

Age 12 and under

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From, per person$160
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Outty Ranking

71/100

Strongly Recommended. Our proprietary evaluation. How we score

Traveler rating

4.8/5

Based on 14 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

Quick answer

Is 18-Mile 6Hrs of Fun on the Yellowstone River with lunch! worth booking?

18-Mile 6Hrs of Fun on the Yellowstone River with lunch! is a 5-hour experience in Gardiner, United States, from $160 per person. It scores 71 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Strongly Recommended, based on a 4.8/5 rating across 14 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.

Outty Ranking
71 / 100
Rating
4.8/5 (14)
Duration
5 hours
From
$160 per person

Start the trip on the boundary of America’s first National Park! Spend the morning paddling the “Gardiner Town Stretch” and float further downstream into beautiful Paradise Valley. Before entering paradise, you will expe

What you get

    About this experience

    Start the trip on the boundary of America’s first National Park! Spend the morning paddling the “Gardiner Town Stretch” and float further downstream into beautiful Paradise Valley. Before entering paradise, you will experience class I-III splashy rapids, beautiful scenery and amazing swimming holes. Halfway through your adventure, our fun loving guides will stop and serve you lunch sourced from a locally owned cafe. After lunch your afternoon will be well spent paddling through the scenic and rapid Yankee Jim Canyon – the most beautiful section of the Yellowstone River! (and most fun, in our opinion)

    What's included

    Included

    • Wetsuit, Booties, Helmet, Paddle, PFD, Splash Top
    • Lunch! (Please contact us directly for lunch options!)
    • A Guide!

    Not included

    • Gratuities

    Where it starts and ends

    Meeting point

    Gardiner

    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!

    Hotel pickup

    No pickup: everyone meets at the start point.

    Ends at

    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!

    Before you book

    Cancellation
    For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
    Languages
    en
    Ticket
    Mobile Only
    Runs on
    Every day
    Group size
    Up to 10 travelers per booking
    Operated by
    Montana Whitewater Rafting and Yellowstone ZipLine

    Know before you go

    • Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
    • Not recommended for pregnant travelers
    • Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
    • Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness

    Photos

    18-Mile 6Hrs of Fun on the Yellowstone River with lunch! in Gardiner, photo 218-Mile 6Hrs of Fun on the Yellowstone River with lunch! in Gardiner, photo 318-Mile 6Hrs of Fun on the Yellowstone River with lunch! in Gardiner, photo 418-Mile 6Hrs of Fun on the Yellowstone River with lunch! in Gardiner, photo 518-Mile 6Hrs of Fun on the Yellowstone River with lunch! in Gardiner, photo 6

    What travelers are saying

    Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 14 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.

    The guide

    8 mentions

    Travelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.

    Good for families

    3 mentions

    Reviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.

    Knowledge and storytelling

    2 mentions

    Reviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.

    Photo opportunities

    2 mentions

    The views and photo stops come up again and again.

    Traveler reviews

    14 verified traveler reviews for 18-Mile 6Hrs of Fun on the Yellowstone River with lunch!. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.

    5 star
    11
    4 star
    3
    3 star
    0
    2 star
    0
    1 star
    0
    Sort
    juliebS7778KM · July 2026

    Awesome! Well worth it

    We had a blast! We did the full day trip with an 17 yr old and 23 yr old and Brian was our guide. He was great and deserves a raise! He was knowledgeable, funny and gave us a great time. Highly recommend. Must do the full day, half day wouldn’t do it justice. Again, give the guy a raise already! Jordan was another guide on another boat on same trip-great guy as well. Prepare to get wet folks

    via Tripadvisor

    Teri V · July 2026

    Birthday

    Garrett and Olive were great guides. The family and couple who were on our tour were great to float with. A mellow river with just enough excitement to keep us alert. Thanks everyone a really great day . I highly recommend this company.

    via Tripadvisor

    K9566EWkarena · July 2026

    Awesome rafting!

    We had a fantastic time rafting on the Yellowstone! Our guide, Garrett, was great! Garrett tried really hard to get our raft to surf, which was really cool. It was wonderful being on the water on a very hot day! We highly recommend the trip!

    via Tripadvisor

    Relax746837 · July 2026

    Fabulous day on the river!

    We had a fabulous day on the river with the expert guide Garrett. It was our first rafting adventure and a great choice to check this off our bucket list with this company.

    via Tripadvisor

    KatieJo_B · June 2026

    B&B duo boats killing it on the water!!

    Brain and Bo were amazing!! The best duo on the river! We felt safe and well looked after! Had a whole lot of fun!!! It was a great experience!!

    via Viator

    Good to know

    Duration
    5 hours
    Free cancellation
    Up to 24h before
    Minimum age to book
    All ages
    Availability
    Bookable today
    Runs on
    Every day
    Hotel pickup
    No pickup, meet at start point
    Booked in 30 days
    5
    Verdict
    Strongly Recommended

    Why this scores 71

    The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.

    Traveler sentiment (30% weight)89
    Review evidence (18% weight)43
    Booking momentum (14% weight)34
    Value for money (12% weight)100
    Listing quality (10% weight)78
    Local standing (8% weight)46
    Booking flexibility (8% weight)100

    18-Mile 6Hrs of Fun on the Yellowstone River with lunch!: questions travelers ask

    Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Gardiner.

    How much does 18-Mile 6Hrs of Fun on the Yellowstone River with lunch! cost?

    +

    Prices start at $160 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Gardiner usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.

    How long does 18-Mile 6Hrs of Fun on the Yellowstone River with lunch! take?

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    Plan for about 5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Gardiner is not rushed.

    Is 18-Mile 6Hrs of Fun on the Yellowstone River with lunch! worth it?

    +

    It holds an Outty Ranking of 71 out of 100, which we label "Strongly Recommended". That score blends traveler sentiment (4.8/5 across 14 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Gardiner, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.

    Can I cancel or reschedule 18-Mile 6Hrs of Fun on the Yellowstone River with lunch!?

    +

    Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.

    Is 18-Mile 6Hrs of Fun on the Yellowstone River with lunch! suitable for kids and families?

    +

    Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.

    How far in advance should I book 18-Mile 6Hrs of Fun on the Yellowstone River with lunch!?

    +

    Around 5 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Gardiner can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.

    What should I bring or wear?

    +

    Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Gardiner and add a light layer if any part of the 5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.

    Where does 18-Mile 6Hrs of Fun on the Yellowstone River with lunch! start and how do I get there?

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    The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Gardiner within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.

    What are the best things to do in Gardiner?

    +

    Gardiner sits at Yellowstone's only year-round entrance: Mammoth Hot Springs tours, Lamar Valley wolf and bison safaris at dawn, rafting on the Yellowstone River and winter wildlife trips. On Outty we rank every Gardiner experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Montana Whitewater Half Day Raft Trip - Yellowstone River, 2 Hour Rafting on the Yellowstone River, Guided Yellowstone Wildlife Tour. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.

    When is the best time to visit Gardiner?

    +

    June to September, plus January to February for wolf watching. Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.

    How many days do you need in Gardiner?

    +

    Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.

    Do I book through Outty or through the operator?

    +

    Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.

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