Yellowstone Lakes Kayaking

Yellowstone Lakes Kayaking – Yellowstone Lake Itinerary:

• Day 1 Evening Orientation

  We'll meet up with the group in the evening, at 6pm for light refreshments and a meet and greet with our guides. At this point we will review your equipment list and get you fitted to your own single (or tandem) kayak, a personal flotation device, paddle and paddling jacket. We will also provide you with a dry bag for packing your gear. Enjoy your evening in Jackson Hole, but make sure you get some sleep!

• Day 2 Paddle into to Breeze Bay

  Bright and early, we will meet at 8:00am and begin heading north through Grand Teton National Park and into Yellowstone. After crossing the Continental Divide we will descend to the shores of Yellowstone Lake at 7,700 ft. Once there we will go over proper packing and loading of a touring kayak, basic paddling technique and on-water safety. After getting acquainted with your kayak, we'll begin the journey along the south shore of the West Thumb of Yellowstone Lake. Lunch is on the beach and we will take a brief rest before paddling through the West Thumb Narrows. Once through the narrows it is a short paddle around Breeze Point to our campsite in Breeze Bay where we will enjoy a well earned feast, a campfire and a presentation on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

• Day 3 Breeze Bay to Flat Mountain Arm

  Our guides will start your day off with a prepared breakfast before we all break camp, pack up, and head further into the backcountry. The destination for the day is Flat Mountain Arm – and one of the most spectacular campsites in Yellowstone. Once there you will have the option of relaxing at camp or paddling deeper into the arm and one of the areas of Yellowstone Lake open only to hand propelled craft. Paddle quietly – there is great moose habitat along the shore and always opportunities to see bald eagles, pelicans, osprey and other wildlife. Back at camp we will again enjoy a gourmet backcountry meal, a campfire and a naturalist presentation on Greater Yellowstone.

• Day 4 Grant Village to Jackson

  Following breakfast we will again work together to break camp and repack our boats. We'll have a very early start on the water today, to take advantage of calm waters and the best time of day for bird and wildlife viewing. Our goal is to make it through the narrows before the afternoon winds pick-up and the water gets rough. Once we are safely around the bend we will stop for lunch before paddling back across West Thumb to Grant Village and our take out. The drive back will allow a leisurely pace for viewing the many vistas and jaw dropping summits of Grand Teton National, before returning to the town of Jackson and civilization.

Yellowstone Lakes Kayaking – Lewis & Shoshone Itinerary:

• Day 1 Evening Orientation

  We'll meet up with the group in the evening, at 6pm for light refreshments and a meet and greet with our guides. At this point we will review your equipment list and get you fitted to your own single (or tandem) kayak, a personal flotation device, paddle and paddling jacket. We will also provide you with a dry bag for packing your gear. Enjoy your evening in Jackson Hole, but make sure you get some sleep!

• Day 2 Lewis Channel to Shoshone Lake

  We will meet at 7:30 and head north through Grand Teton National Park and into Yellowstone. Lewis Lake lies just 10 miles from the South Entrance – immediately on the Pacific side of the Continental Divide. Once there we will go over proper packing and loading of a touring kayak, basic paddling technique and on water safety. The lesson continues after launching, as your guides will coach you on forward & turning strokes, edging and use of your rudder. Then you are on your way – heading up the west (leeward) side of Lewis Lake and past areas that were heavily burned by the fires of '88 and are now displaying the spectacular recovery that is taking place. Lunch is on the beach, nearby several small fumaroles or steam vents that offer a preview of the geyser basin ahead. At the north end of Lewis Lake you will enter the Lewis Channel and waters open only to non-motorized craft. At first the channel has little current as it winds its way up through a shallow canyon. There the paddling is easy and offers a great opportunity to look for eagles, osprey, moose and other wildlife that frequent the area. As the gradient increases, the current becomes too strong to ascend and lining the boats upstream is required. Depending on water levels it may be a ¼ to a ½ mile before we get back in our kayaks and the channel opens into the expanse of Shoshone Lake. From there it is still a short paddle to our campsite on the narrows where we will enjoy a backcountry feast and a presentation on the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem – anyone ready for bed?

• Day 3 Shoshone Geyser Basin

  Enjoy a little relaxation this morning as your guides prepare breakfast and pack for the day. Our campsite on the Narrows of Shoshone Lake situates us for a comfortable paddle to our ultimate destination – Shoshone Geyser Basin. After camp is secured for the day we will head across the narrows and continue west past the bluffs of the north shore and on to the basin. There the water is of a color usually seen in the tropics and has incredible clarity. From the lake a trail leads through a myriad of hot pools, steam vents, cauldrons and geysers – including the Minute Man – any guesses on how often it erupts? Take extra time to thoroughly experience this amazing place. Lunch on the lake will make leaving the geysers a little easier and the afternoon's paddle will bring us along the west shore of the lake with more opportunities for wildlife viewing before returning to our camp for a little R & R, a well earned dinner and another presentation about current events in the Greater Yellowstone.

• Day 4 Lewis Lake to Jackson

  Following breakfast we will all work together to break camp and repack our boats. After paddling back to the channel entrance we will cover a few of the basics of river navigation before gliding into the current. Going downhill sure is easy. Soon the flow again slackens and we are once again in the calm waters of the lower channel. Here there are several great lunch spots where we will fuel up for our final leg - the paddle back across Lewis Lake to the boat ramp and the South Entrance Road. The drive back will allow a leisurely pace for viewing the many vistas and jaw dropping summits of Grand Teton National, before returning to the town of Jackson and civilization.

Although we do our very best to adhere to the schedule listed above, this itinerary is subject to change for numerous reasons beyond our control. The final paddling route is left up to the discretion of the guides, and is based upon trip member's skill and weather conditions. This trip is operated rain or shine.

Contact REI Adventures prior to purchasing your airline tickets to confirm the trip has the minimum number of participants required to operate.

Professional instruction and guiding; meals as noted in the daily itinerary; shuttle services; 2 nights camping accommodations; single kayaks or tandem kayaks (more stable & easier to paddle), and all kayaking equipment.

Transportation from your hometown to Jackson Hole, WY; accommodations in Jackson first night; insurance of any kind; alcoholic beverages; soft drinks; guide gratuities and items of a personal nature.

This trip is rated Moderate [3] as we plan to kayak 4-6 hours per day in calm to moderately rough conditions. To maximize your enjoyment of the trip and to avoid sore muscles, we suggest that you engage in a regular exercise regimen beginning at least three months prior to your departure. Most important to your enjoyment of the trip is your overall fitness level.

Jackson Hole Airport, Jackson, Wyoming (JAC) – 10min to downtown Jackson
Idaho Falls Regional Airport, Idaho Falls, Idaho (IDA) – 2 hours

Yellowstone Lake: Daytime temperatures are usually around 80°F, with evening temperatures dropping to 65 – 70°. Lewis & Shoshone: Daytime temperatures are usually around 75°F, with evening temperatures dropping to 40 – 50°. You may encounter cool and rainy conditions, including fog and wind. Rain is a possibility so adequate raingear is important.

This trip is subject to the booking information set forth in the current REI Adventures Weekend Reservation Information. Please read this information carefully and call us if you have any questions. A full gear list and detailed pre-trip information is sent upon sign-up. We highly recommend the purchase of travel insurance through REI Adventures. If coverage is purchased at the time of your initial reservation, the 'Pre-existing Conditions Exclusion' is waived (certain exclusions apply).

We look forward to having you join us for the trip of a lifetime! Why wait? Space is limited, reserve your adventure today.

The key to staying comfortable while on an active trip is layering. To get maximum comfort with minimum weight, you need versatile layers that mix and match to create the right amount of insulation, ventilation and weather protection. Try to bring only what is necessary—this will help you and the field staff. If you do not already own all of the necessary gear and are not certain if you will participate in outdoor trips on a regular basis, please consider renting.

We plan to paddle double (two-person) kayaks on this course for their stability, good tracking, and speed. If you are planning to bring your own kayak, please contact us in advance of departure with the type of boat so that we can be certain it will be adequate for the kind of paddling we'll do on this trip. REI will require that boats meet a certain standard for type and size suitable to the demands of the paddling we plan to do on this trip.

Weather

Yellowstone Lake: Daytime temperatures are usually around 80°F, with evening temperatures dropping to 65 – 70°. Lewis & Shoshone: Daytime temperatures are usually around 75°F, with evening temperatures dropping to 40 – 50°. You may encounter cool and rainy conditions, including fog and wind. Rain is a possibility so adequate raingear is important.

Gear Checklist