Frequently Asked Questions

On a whitewater rafting adventure, you should wear:

• Quick drying pants or swim bottoms.
• Quick drying shirt or swim top. Avoid cotton, as it keeps you cold once it becomes wet.
• Water shoes, sandals with heel strap, or tennis shoes if you don’t mind getting them wet. We also provide water booties for your convenience.
• Hat with brim, sunglasses, or both.

Extra things to bring:

• Water bottle, preferably with a carabiner to attach to the raft.
• Phone or small camera in a watertight box or pouch.

We provide the following clothing:

• Neoprene full-length wetsuits, neoprene jackets, and splash tops (similar to rain jackets).
• Neoprene booties.
• Helmet during high water flows.
• Weather and water temperatures dictate the amount of neoprene gear you will need on your rafting trip.

For cool, rainy days, wear:

• Several warm layers made from synthetic material, fleece, or wool. Athletic leggings, long underwear, and trim athletic tops work well under neoprene.
• Wind-proof jacket.
• Synthetic or wool socks to wear with water shoes.
• Synthetic or wool hat and finger gloves.

The Flying Pig provides wetsuits, wetsuit tops, splash tops, life jackets, water shoes, and helmets when they are required at higher water levels.

For before & after your whitewater rafting trip, bring:

• Sunscreen. Bring a pocket-sized tube if you would like to reapply on the raft.
• Extra change of clothing and warm layers.
• Plastic bag to store wet clothes.
• A towel for each member of your group.

We rely more on weight than age for our rafting trips, with a minimum of 45 lbs or so. Our family-friendly whitewater rafting trips are very appropriate for children. Please call us if you have any questions about what trip may be most appropriate for your kids! 406-848-7510

The Yellowstone River is great for beginners, children, and experienced white-water enthusiasts alike! We offer a variety of trips to suit your family’s needs.

Safety is always our top priority. Each rafting guide is certified in CPR/first aid and whitewater rescue certified by the WRI (Whitewater Rescue Institute). We foster a community of guides who love their jobs and invest significant time on the water both during training and after work hours for their own enjoyment and skill development.

Definitely not! We provide a commercially-rated life jacket for every rafter. The 8-mile rafting trip is a great introduction to whitewater and chances of ending up in the river unintentionally are very slim.

There are sections of the river where swimming is allowed and encouraged. If you don’t know how to swim, it’s okay—you can stay in the raft or float next to the boat in the river in the gentle swimming sections!

The 8-mile raft trip is an introduction to whitewater, and the class I-III rapids reflect this. The trip includes big rolling waves and exciting splashes over the front of the boat, mixed with calm scenic stretches that allow guests to jump in and swim.

There’s something for everyone on the 8-mile trip—it’s exciting enough to keep everyone captivated but still friendly enough for first-timers! The 18 mile trip is our favorite day trip, as it encompasses the 8 mile trip plus another 10 miles of rafting. The final 6 miles of this trip go through Yankee Jim Canyon, which is some of the best whitewater in Greater Yellowstone, known for big waves and consistent class III rapids like revenge, boateater, and boxcar! This is the trip for the adventurous bunch, however it is still a blast for beginners as well!

All rafting trips depart from our headquarters in Gardiner, Montana.  Our guides wake up early to pump rafts and send them down to the water on our zip line system, saving you the burden of carrying your own raft. After navigating 8 or 18 miles (half day or full day trip) of rapids on the Yellowstone River, your guide will load the raft onto a trailer, and you will be driven back to the shop in one of our buses.

Rivers and the rapids they contain are rated according to a class system. The levels range from Class I (moving water with some gentle interference) all the way to Class VI (extreme rapids and waterfalls that are rarely attempted even by experts).

The whitewater on the Yellowstone River is primarily rated as class II and class III, which means that the river channels are wide and the waves moderately sized, creating big splashes and fun hits. During the early part of our season in May and June, some sections of our full day trip boast more difficult whitewater, but all sections of the Yellowstone are well suited for anyone ready for adventure!

The water flows on the Yellowstone are very dynamic. In May and June, snow melts in the mountains and runs into the Yellowstone River, creating bigger rapids and colder water. Water temperatures in May and early June are typically around 45-50 degrees F.

As the season progresses, the water levels drop and temperatures become more suitable for swimming. At every point in the season, there are fun waves that will produce splashes over the top of the boat.

During a typical summer, we can accommodate anywhere from 3 to 14 people on a raft.

Tipping is certainly optional after your rafting trip, but please keep in mind that our guides train extensively and work hard to ensure that clients have a fun rafting experience.  Whatever you feel comfortable giving your guide is a personal decision, but typical tips are 10-20% of your group’s trip cost.  Tipping is never expected but always appreciated.

If you have any medical concerns before your rafting trip, we strongly advise that you talk with your doctor to ensure it is safe to go rafting.  If you have essential medication such as inhalers, epi-pens, or insulin, our guides are happy to bring those along in their dry bags for your convenience and safety.

We raft rain or shine at the Flying Pig and have all the gear necessary to keep you prepared for weather. Most of our stormy weather tends to pop up briefly and blow through quickly during the summer.

In the rare event that we have to cancel a trip due to weather, we will issue a full refund or reschedule if your itinerary allows for a later rafting trip.

If you look at the forecast prior to your trip and want to reschedule, we will do anything we can to fit you in at a date and time that is more ideal at no additional charge.

Our guides are professionals and carry themselves as such on the water. Prior to commercial trips, guides complete a strict guide training program run by our rafting managers and company owners.

Guides are also required to complete a multi-day swiftwater rescue training and certification program hosted by the Whitewater Rescue Institute. All guides hold current CPR and First Aid certifications, and many of our staff hold additional medical and first responder certifications.

Yes! It is common to see elk, deer, antelope, osprey and bald eagles along the river, and even the occasional otter and beaver! The Yellowstone River is some of the cleanest water in the country, given that it flows directly from Yellowstone Park, and provides excellent habitat for many animals in the greater Yellowstone ecosystem.

Unintentional swims are a rare occurrence, but if you find yourself out of the raft, rest assured that our guides are swiftwater rescue certified and very comfortable handling these scenarios. Remain calm and we will get the boat over to you as quickly as possible.

We also have throwbags on each boat that guides are trained to deploy, but use of this tactic is very rare. There will also likely be other Flying Pig rafts on your trip and guides can communicate to coordinate a quick pick-up!

For the horseback ride, we require closed-toe, sturdy shoes like sneakers.

For horseback riding, wear long pants and bring an extra warm layer and a rain jacket. Each horse has a small saddle bag for minimal storage like a camera and water bottle.

This trip runs rain or shine unless trail conditions are too dangerous, so bring your own rain gear if needed.

The Full Day Paddle & Saddle includes a longer horseback ride (1.5 hours), lunch at a local restaurant or food truck, and our 8-mile rafting trip (about 6.5 hours total). You’ll check in at 10am, ride from 11am–12:30pm, then enjoy lunch in Gardiner. After lunch, your rafting trip launches at 3:15pm and finishes around 5:15pm.

The Paddle & Saddle Express is the perfect half-day trip that includes the best of both worlds, with a 1-hour horseback ride and our 8-mile rafting trip, about 4 hours total. Start times are available in the morning and the afternoon.

No previous horseback experience is necessary and we welcome riders of all abilities!

Yes, after checking in with us at our shop, we will give you directions to drive yourself up to the ranch where the wranglers will pair you with your horse. The ranch is located about 5 miles up a mountain gravel road, but low clearance vehicles are just fine if you take it slow.

Guests on the Full Day Paddle & Saddle get lunch from one of our partner restaurants or food trucks in Gardiner. Choose from a local sandwich and salad spot, a burger joint, or a barbecue food truck. When you check in, you’ll receive a Flying Pig wristband that covers your meal. Just show your wristband and order off the menu!

Please let us know about any dietary restrictions when you book, so we can help you plan ahead with our restaurant partners.

At the ranch and during your horseback ride, it’s perfectly safe to leave valuables and gear in your car.

After your ride and back at the rafting shop, you’ll use our changing rooms and store valuables with us in numbered boxes for phones, keys, and wallets while you’re on the water.

We do not take photos of the horseback portion, but we do take professional photos of the whitewater rafting portion of your trip! These photos are available for preview and purchase as a bundle immediately following your rafting trip.

As of October 28, 2022, Yellowstone Park’s North Entrance has reopened to visitor traffic. This means that all traffic through Yellowstone Park will be open to the public for summer of 2023 with access to and from Gardiner resuming under normal operation. The North Entrance from Gardiner provides great access to Mammoth Hot Springs, Tower Roosevelt, Old Faithful, and the famed Lamar Valley, as well as access to Paradise Valley, Livingston, and Bozeman via highway 89. Please consider a visit to the Flying Pig during your Yellowstone Vacation this Summer! We hope to see you soon to be a part of your next great Adventure!

Yes, we have cubbies at the shop for clothes, shoes, and towels. Valuables like phones, keys, and wallets are stored in numbered boxes in the Flying Pig office.

Yes, we take roughly 40–60 photos of every rafting trip! The images can be previewed at the end of the trip, back at the shop, and are available for purchase.

Yes, we have several restrooms available at the shop as well as six changing rooms for you to change into your rafting gear!

Gardiner and Paradise Valley have great dining options within a short drive of the Flying Pig. Here are some local favorites (in no particular order):

• The Corral – Just a couple of blocks away and a great spot to grab a bison burger, fries, and a delicious milkshake.
• Wonderland Cafe – Across the bridge in Gardiner. Sit-down restaurant with a great variety on their menu from buffalo wings to rainbow trout.
• Old Saloon – A Montana staple with excellent service, good food, and cold drinks. About 25 minutes from Gardiner.
• Sage Lodge – More of an upscale dining experience in the heart of Paradise Valley. Good steaks and a variety of other dishes with an emphasis on Montana flavors and excellent views of Emigrant Peak. About 25 minutes from Gardiner.

For fine dining and shopping, Livingston (45 minutes from Gardiner) and Bozeman (1.5 hours from Gardiner) both have vibrant downtowns. Livingston has good restaurants, bars, galleries, and boutiques. Bozeman offers local dives, upscale restaurants, and local shops.

The North Entrance to Yellowstone provides incredible opportunities for hiking and wildlife viewing. Here are some local favorites (in no particular order):

• Bunsen Peak – A good half-day hike with incredible views once you reach the top. Not an easy hike, but the views make the incline worth it!
• Beaver Ponds Loop – Close to Mammoth Hot Springs and a good opportunity to see wildlife.
• Lamar Valley – About 45 minutes from Gardiner and arguably the best opportunity to see a variety of wildlife in Yellowstone. Wolves and bears frequent Lamar Valley, and you’re sure to see bison on the drive.
• Tower Falls – Located at Tower Junction and features a beautiful waterfall cascading down to the Yellowstone River. Hike down to the river on the trail and enjoy a picnic by the water!

Ask your raft guide about their favorite hikes in the area! There are so many opportunities to explore Yellowstone, and there’s surely a hike or adventure that will fit what you’re looking for.

Gardiner and the North Entrance to Yellowstone provide no shortage of activities beyond rafting. Here are some local favorites (in no particular order):

• Live Music – The Old Saloon and Pine Creek Lodge are two great concert venues in the area with incredible headliners performing throughout the summer. It’s worth checking out the concert schedule. Tickets can sell out quickly, but the shows can be a great way to cap off a Yellowstone trip.
• Hot Springs – Yellowstone Hot Springs is about 10 minutes from the Flying Pig and is a great place to take the family after your rafting trip! Chico Hot Springs is also a great spot about 25 minutes from Gardiner and has an excellent bar and poolside grill.

Catch a Rodeo – Depending on the timing of your trip, you may overlap with one of the rodeos in the area. Summertime is rodeo season, and Gardiner, Livingston, Bozeman, and West Yellowstone all host rodeos throughout the summer. Bucking bulls and broncos are a great way to experience a true Montana evening.