Customer Reviews

Paddling Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks

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I have traveled extensively by canoe in the Yellowstone/Grand Teton area and was happy to finally see a book devoted to the often overlooked waters of this area. The author has particularly good information on Yellowstone Lake, which has a reputation for being a nasty bit of water with very unpredictable weather. Nelson explains the risks and rewards of traveling on these high altitude lakes. This book is a must read for anyone wishing to bring a canoe or kayak to Yellowstone or Grand Teton.

I was hoping there would be options for river floating. The book is mainly about open water canoeing and some small stretches of rivers that connect two lakes. But it is a National Park, so lots of land/river management is expected to protect the rivers and habitat. Don Nelson does an excellent job with his descriptions, day or extended trip itineraries and maps. However, the crowds and fees would make me think again about choosing Yellowstone as a canoe trip destination (only a personal decision). One more thing, there are grizzlies there if you didn't already know!

If you're planning to canoe in Wyoming Don Nelson's book "Paddling Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks" is a must. My husband and I found the information extremely helpful when we canoed String Lake in the Grand Tetons in the spring of 2008. Nelson's guidebook provides maps and descriptions of 20 paddling trips in Yellowstone National Park and 18 trips in Grand Teton National Park. These include day trips and multi-day trips. His chapters on water safety, permits and regulations, equipment, backcountry etiquette and natural and cultural history are invaluable. Although the parks are busy in the summer he shows that a remote, secluded wilderness experience is possible for those willing to travel on their own power.