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Fun on the Water in Yellowstone National Park

Get wet - leave dry land behind to explore the rivers and lakes of yellowstone, 1. boat tours of yellowstone lake.

You can drive by the stunning Yellowstone Lake or hike along its shores, but that would mean missing an entertaining and engaging boat tour aboard the Lake Queen.

From the Bridge Bay Marina ( map ), you’ll set sail across the largest high-elevation lake in the Lower 48. At 7,732 feet, the lake covers 136 square miles. As you explore the lake and make your way around Stevenson Island, you’ll learn about the colorful history of the area, including that of the historic Lake Yellowstone Hotel , which you can’t miss from the lake since this hotel, originally built in 1891 to lure and accommodate tourists, is large and yellow. If you are lucky, you will spot eagles, ospreys and possibly the land-bound bison loitering on the lake’s shores.

Tours aboard the Lake Queen are offered mid-June through mid-August. They are offered several times in the morning, afternoon and evening, so call ahead or go online to learn the exact departure times and to book your tour. You can call 307-344-7311 or visit www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/adventures/water-adventures/ .

Be sure to arrive 15 minutes before the tour starts because the guides will present a safety talk and all travelers must be present. If you miss this, you cannot board the boat. Bring layers as the lake can get cool when winds pick up, especially in the afternoon and evening. Children three and under are free but do need a ticket.

2. Boating in Yellowstone

Visitors can hop in a motorboat or rowboat and cruise the scenic waters of Yellowstone Lake (there are a few non-motorized zones) and Lewis Lake for fishing and access to shoreline campsites.

Boat permit required ($10/week; purchase at South Entrance, Bridge Bay Ranger Station or Grant Village Backcountry Office). Rentals available at Bridge Bay Marina. Visit www.yellowstonenationalparklodges.com/adventures/water-adventures/  for more information.

3. Paddling on Lakes in Yellowstone

Escape the shoreline crowds in a kayak or canoe and Yellowstone’s serene lakes are yours to explore. Non-motorized vessels are allowed on most park lakes and the section of the Lewis River between Lewis and Shoshone Lakes.

Yellowstone Lake is by far the largest paddling ground and offers dozens of remote campsites. Shoshone Lake, the largest backcountry lake in the Lower 48, is even quieter because it’s accessible only by kayak or canoe via Lewis River.

Boat permit required ($5/week; purchase at South Entrance, Bridge Bay Ranger Station or Grant Village Backcountry Offices). No rentals available in the park, though several outfitters run trips such as Geyser Kayak Tours  and Yellowstone Hiking Guides .

4. Fishing in Yellowstone

Dream of fishing in a remote canyon? A placid lake? A blue-ribbon trout stream? Miles of prime rivers and streams are open to fishing (some are fly fishing only) in Yellowstone. Head to the Madison River for brown and rainbow trout, Yellowstone Lake for native cutthroat trout and the Gardner River for brookies, rainbow and browns.

National park fishing license required inside Yellowstone for adults 16 and up; $18/3 days, $25/week or $40 for a season pass. More about fishing in Yellowstone .

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Experience the beauty and wonder of the yellowstone river in the comfort of one of our custom wood boats. come enjoy delicious food, spectacular scenery, and learn from our interpretive guides all about the natural history of the paradise valley and beyond., yellowstone wood boat tours offer something for everyone in your group..

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Yellowstone Lake Scenicruise

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Yellowstone Lake Scenicruise - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Scenic Lake Cruise, Yellowstone National Park

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Photo © Xanterra/Yellowstone National Park Lodges

Event has passed. New dates will be added as soon as they are available.

June 10, 2019 - september 17, 2019, don't miss your chance to join a ranger for a guided water tour of yellowstone lake. held daily, this guided tour by boat is a great way to learn about the features surrounding the majestic waters., fee for kids/adults reservations required cruise around yellowstone lake with a ranger.

Details: With views of the Absaroka Range, the pine forests and the Lake Hotel, join a ranger on a storied boat cruise around Lake Yellowstone. Morning and afternoon cruises for adults and kids visiting Yellowstone National Park.

Where: Meet at the Bridge Bay Marina for a cruise on Yellowstone Lake.

When: These boat cruises are held multiple times a day in the summer season, from mid-June through early September. Times vary by day and week.

Click Here to visit the official event website. Event Phone Number: (307) 344-7311

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Bridge Bay: Lake SceniCruise

Yellowstone National Park

Location: LAT/LONG: 44.533310, -110.439810

Repeating event, type of event, description.

Join a park ranger on a narrated boat tour on the ethereal water of Yellowstone Lake, with views of the wondrous Absaroka Mountains, historic Lake Hotel & Village, and surrounding lodgepole pine forest.

Reservation or Registration: Yes

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Why royal caribbean does not have to share details of passenger who died on world’s largest cruise ship.

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The public may never know the full details surrounding the death of a passenger who reportedly jumped from the world’s largest cruise ship earlier this month.

Under maritime law, Royal Caribbean is not obligated to release the findings of its investigation into the death of the passenger on the Icon of the Seas.

The law allows the company, and other cruise lines — to downplay details that might cast them in a negative light, said Florida-based lawyer Keith Brais, whose firm specializes in injuries and incidents at sea.

“They wouldn’t even need to report on how much alcohol might have been involved if it makes them look bad,” he told The Post.

Royal Caribbean has not commented on the specific details of the incident and has only expressed its condolences to the family of the deceased.

The US Coast Guard in Miami said it assisted with the search, but it is not involved in the investigation into the passenger’s death.

Deaths on cruise ships are rare — but unique circumstances of a floating city in international waters — the Icon of the Seas can carry up to 7,000 people — means that they are not handled like deaths on land.

What happens to someone who dies on a cruise ship?

When an unidentified man jumped from Royal Caribbean’s new 1,200-foot-long Icon of the Seas on the first day of a seven-day voyage on Sunday, a rescue boat from the ship found him and brought him back aboard.

Passengers were initially told that the man was in the intensive care unit, but the Coast Guard confirmed to The Post that he died.

The Icon of the Seas proceeded on its voyage around the Gulf of Mexico after the incident.

It’s not clear where the man’s body is now, but it was likely taken to the ship’s morgue until it can be transferred to authorities on land, Brais said.

The ship has stopped in Honduras and Mexico, and is set for one more port of call in the Bahamas before it returns to Miami on Saturday.

Who investigates deaths at sea?

While the US Coast Guard assisted Royal Caribbean in the search and rescue of the man who fell overboard, officials said it was the cruise line’s rescue boat that ultimately found and transported the body, and it would be up to the company to investigate the case.

Brais said Royal Caribbean is not required to release its findings to the public, adding that it is rare for a company to publish anything that could make them seem liable for the death.

“As a result, the cruise line is likely to find that the passenger’s death resulted from ‘natural causes,’ even if the totality of the circumstances at hand suggests otherwise,” according to his law firm.

Braise noted that in his decades of experience in the industry and law, alcohol is involved in the majority of cases.

Royal Caribbean did not respond to The Post’s request for comment.

Does the family have any recourse about the investigation?

The Cruise Vessel Security and Safety act, which was passed in 2010, mandates that cruises not only follow strict regulations to ensure passengers are safe, but to also track crimes aboard their ships.

In regards to Sunday’s incident, Brais said the man’s family should look at whether Royal had the proper barriers in place to keep people from falling overboard and if they had Man-Overboard cameras installed that alerted them to the incident.

Even if Royal Caribbean was found to be negligent in the man’s death, the compensation could be limited to just covering funeral expenses under the Death of the High Seas Act, Brais added.

How common are deaths on cruise ships?

It can be difficult to determine how many deaths have occurred on cruise ships as it’s up to the companies to report such incidents.

According to the Department of Transportation’s Cruise Line Incident reports, there have only been four deaths aboard major cruise lines between January 2020 to March 2024.

Despite these numbers, Brais said it’s not rare for such man overboard stories to make headlines once every three weeks.

According to cruise expert Dr. Ross Klein, who maintains a master list of media reports of incidents where passengers have gone overboard, there have been at least 410 people who have fallen off cruises or ferries in the last 24 years.

Icon of the Seas death is the second so far this year aboard a Royal Caribbean cruise. In April, a drunk 20-year-old passenger reportedly jumped to his death from the Liberty of the Seas following a dispute with his father.

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Get the latest info on in-park roads and summer lodge enhancements. Advance reservations for Lodging, Campground, and Tour/Activities available online or please call 307-344-7311.

Rental Boats

Bridge bay marina boat rentals.

If you think Yellowstone Lake is beautiful from the shoreline, you will really love being out on it as the captain of your own motorboat.  Rent a 40 hp/18ft motorboat for exploring the northern end of the lake.  Rentals for this activity are on a walk up basis only.  The minimal rental time is one hour.  Children must be 2 years of age to participate.  No pets allowed.  Beaching the boat and going less than 200 yards from shore is prohibited.  No more than 6 participants per boat.

Departure Locations

• Bridge Bay Marina ( GPS 44.533434,-110.4400397 )

Length of Time

• One to eight hours

Passenger Requirements

• Government issued ID or Passport is required
• Must be at least 18 years of age to rent and operate the boat
• Life jackets are required and provided with the rental.

Note: Rental charge includes the cost of fuel for motorboats, and damage insurance with $750 deductible.

Please note, motorboats are rented on a first come/first served basis at Bridge Bay Marina only.

**Subject to change based on conditions and health guidelines