Yellowstone fees to be waived three weekends this summer

To spur interest in the American National Park system during the recession, entrance fees at parks will be waived for three weekends throughout the summer.

That's quite the cost savings if you're planning a summer visit to Yellowstone National Park.

The free weekends are scheduled for June 20-21, July 18-19 and Aug. 15-16.

In addition, Interior Department officials say businesses within parks will be offering special discounts, though we're not expecting too much in Yellowstone: those three weekends are among the prime tourist times, and there's very little room availability in the Park for those three weekends. (As we discovered: we're planning an excursion to Old Faithful Inn the weekend of June 20-21 and scored reservations literally monthd ago. Good thing.)If we hear anything about concessionaire discounts during those weekends, we'll pass them along.

FROM http://yellowstoneinsider.com

OPENING WEEKEND

Water is high and RISING... Great Snowpack in the mountains...
It's gonna be an Awesome Summer

We're Tourists Too!

Our Family just got back from a 10 day family vacation in Baja, Mexico.
The first night we arrived, We got lost multiple times on the way to our hotel. We then got super deeply stuck when we drove our compact 2 wheel drive car into the beach. Bill Said... "We shouldn't drive into this sand or we are going to get stuck" and then he drove it into the sand.

After many years of taking tourists rafting, we have observed that people generally behave more stupidly on vacation than they might at home. These people are mostly overworked, overtired, over extended and trying to enjoy an active vacation with their family when really, they might prefer a week in a dark room or an isolation tank.
We are no different. And that is why we can say with confidence that we understand. You need extra special care. You need tlc. You need to not be treated like a tourist.

Holiday Gifties are available !

We have lots of hoodies, hats and teeshirts in stock if you are looking for a sweet and meaningful holiday giftie!
To order, just call us at 1 800 799 4465! We will hook you up.
We have to take payments by check or cash at this time of year; our credit card machine is hibernating...

If you are looking to puchase more photos of your rafting trip, we have 'em all on a hard drive and we can easily burn you a disk... just call us with your trip date and time and hopefully you remember the name of your guide...

Elves are very busy in the Montana Whitewater shop, making new tshirts and souvenirs for 2009... Look out for some super cute and stylie organic and recycled material teeshirts... - as well as new hats and toques for next summer.

Thanks for a great 2008 - and we are looking forward to 2009!!!

Baby Franklin!!

Born on September 20. Went canoeing at 10 days old.

GREAT WATER LEVELS!!

We are STILL experiencing great water levels for this time of year! Both the Gallatin and the Yellowstone are SO FUN and holding at a solid medium water level.
Our Upper Gallatin River trips are super fun for famlies with kids and those who are looking for a milder whitewater experience. Our Lower Gallatin River trip which includes the Mad Mile is solid continuous class III rapids that are a blast for novices and experienced paddlers. We are currently allowing kids 10 years and older on this stretch.

Our Yellowstone River trips have big ole rolling waves and the Full Day through Yankee Jim Canyon has class III rapids and awesome scenery ....

When people ask which is better - the full day or the half day - I gotta say - its the full day For Sure!

See you on the river!

High Water!

The water is Massive Right now! We are experiencing higher water levels than we have seen in a very long time! It is exciting but it is also a time for serious caution and conservative choices. We are not currently running the Mad Mile or the Yankee Jim Section of the Yellowstone. It's just too high!
Our Upper Whitewater Gallatin River Trips are a blast right now! Fun waves and splashes in some solid big water class III rapids. This is class III rapids at their very best. Join us for a half day or full day trip on the Gallatin for a great trip.
Our Yellowstone River trips are limited to Half Days right now on the rolling waves of the "Town Stretch". People are having a great time on these big rolling class II rapids. This is solid big water class II whitewater at its best!
No experience is necessary for either trip - we give full wetsuits, jackets and shoes. We have a detailed but concise safety talk before the trip, outlining all the info you need. Each boat has a guide who works with the crew to paddle through the rapids.

The Water is Epic. Don't miss it!

As the levels drop, we will be opening additional sections of the river and we are looking forward to a wet, splashy summer full of great whitewater boating...