JACKSON, Wyo. — Last week, Yellowstone National Park (YNP) announced that boating season will begin on May 24.
While it might still seem a bit early to be thinking about the summer season, YNP encourages visitors to plan ahead. Last year, YNP implemented new measures to help stop the spread of aquatic invasive species (AIS) into Park waters.
All watercraft, including angler float tubes and paddle boards, must pass a YNP AIS inspection to receive a permit prior to launching. A 30-day dry time is also required for all sailboats and certain motorized boats.
“Without a valid AIS inspection receipt and intact seal demonstrating a 30-day day dry time, these boats will be denied launch,” YNP writes. “Keeping Yellowstone’s waters free of invasive mussels is a team effort.”
Exempt from the 30-day dry time are boats with outboard motors and non-motorized boats.
All vessels must also have a U.S. Coast Guard approved, wearable personal flotation device (Type I, II, III or V) for each person on board, per YNP.
YNP also encourages visitors to be aware that boating in the Northern Rockies presents significant risks: water temperatures of Park lakes are extremely cold (in the 40s Fahrenheit) in June and may only reach the 60s by late summer and sudden strong winds can produce waves of three to five feet in height, making open-water crossings very dangerous.
All Park rivers are closed to boating except for the section of the Lewis River between Lewis Lake and Shoshone Lake, which is open to non-motorized watercraft only.
For more information on regulations, requirements and all things boating in YNP, click here.
