Perched on the Continental Divide, Yellowstone Lake is ringed with geyser basins and framed by the Absaroka Mountains. Travel in custom-built, 24-foot 'Voyageur' canoes that hold 6-8 people. These fast, stable canoes were designed specifically for big lakes and provide an ideal way to see this national treasure in safety and style. Look for deer, elk and moose, and evidence of Yellowstone's elusive timber wolf population. If you feel like fishing, the lake is full of trout. On the last day, take in some of the park's landmarks, including the breathtaking waterfalls of Yellowstone River's Grand Canyon, Old Faithful, and the enormous bison herds.
Sample Itinerary
Please note: While the itinerary presented is an accurate depiction of what your trip will be like, it is only an example. Our trips are real adventures in the outdoors--not pre-packaged tours that happen on a schedule.
DAY 1: Your trip starts early in the morning at the Grant Village campground. After breakfast, participate in a canoe skill and safety orientation, pack up camp and shove off on the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake. Paddle east to the 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 2: Break camp and move further southeast to the Flat Mountain Arm region where you'll paddle near the base of Flat Mountain.
DAY 3: Paddle into the South Arm of the lake. Set up camp and then enjoy the afternoon sun, reading a book or trying to catch trout for dinner.
DAY 4: Paddle back to the Breezy Point area, enjoying the wildlife along the way.
DAY 5: Leave the wilderness portion of Yellowstone Lake and paddle back to Grant Village Campground. Set up camp and enjoy a hot shower. Spend the evening enjoying the ranger program, hiking through West Thumb Geyser Basin or enjoying the campfire.
DAY 6: Break camp in the morning then watch the 130-foot eruption of Old Faithful. Take a short hike to view the breathtaking waterfalls of the Yellowstone River's Grand Canyon. The trip officially ends after lunch. If you use WI's van transportation, you'll drive through the spectacular Beartooth Pass back to Billings, MT. You will 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 24-foot cedar strip canoes. They hold 6-8 paddlers, plus all necessary gear. They are fast and stable boats, designed specifically for trips on big water. An average day's travel consists of 4-6 hours of paddling, depending on weather conditions. Travel distances vary from 7-12 miles per day. There are no portages on this trip. The hikes are generally on accessible boardwalks and vary from 0.5 to 2 miles. To protect the environment, WI uses Leave No Trace camping techniques.
WEATHER: Temperatures in the summer months range from 25 F to 90 F. Thundershowers are frequent, but they are usually of short duration. You should expect at least a day or two of rain.
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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[ Dates & Fees ]
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.
If you are interested in a family vacation with teenagers this is one of the best vacations with teens that you could do--all ages, backgrounds and abilities love Yellowstone. This kid-friendly vacation is one of the active family vacations that will give you a lifetime of memories.
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
Learn about the benefits of taking your kids camping
Yellowstone in Wikipedia
[ Dates & Fees ]
WI leads trips to this destination but currently has no dates scheduled. If you have a group of people interested, we can set up a customized adventure just for you! Please contact us if you are interested in a group trip to this destination.
info@wildernessinquiry.org
612-676-9400
800-728-0719
(Join our waiting list to be notified when WI schedules a trip to Yellowstone Lake Backcountry Canoe)
