This trip to Yellowstone was nothing like I had ever experienced in the past. It was filled with new adventures, few people, lots of wildlife, and fun adventures. One of the plans I made this trip was for a scenic cruiser ride on Lake Yellowstone, and I somehow managed to keep it a secret from Mercedes up until the event! I’ve wanted to get out on Yellowstone Lake in a big way before, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity for a fun time (and a surprise) and to complete my little goal!
Need to Know
- Cost: $20 adult, $12 child (3-11)
- When: Daily.
- How long: 1 hour.
- Where: Cruise leaves from Bridge Bay marina.
- Tour times: morning to night.
The scenic ride is absolutely gorgeous! Mercedes and I loved it and it’s one thing I’d recommend doing at least once. It was very well worth the money spent!
During the cruise, you’ll stop at a few different historical landmarks, including the famous Yellowstone Lodge, an old abaondoned shipwreck, and a viewpoint of an old island that used to house a zoo! Sounds like this zoo was a real-life Jurassic Park in many ways, and it’s probably good that it got shut down!
While on the tour, the guides will share information about what you’re seeing, and one of the guides walks around as the boat is moving forward to talk to all the passengers. The whole experience felt really personal because of that – we had a good conversation with the guide as he spoke with us! He had spent a lot of time in New England, so he and I had some common ground to bond on – he even knew many of the places I’d been, which was really cool!
One thing we found interesting was the island. It doesn’t really hold much in the way of wildlife, but every winter, bison, moose and elk are seen walking on the frozen lake to the island. Some will get stranded there! The tour guides said that oftentimes, moose will make the swim back – or, swim to the island. Isn’t that crazy?! I can’t imagine that!
If you’ve got the time and the yearning to explore the lake by watercraft, definitely check out the scenic cruiser! You can also rent motorboats, or go on a guided fishing tour in the motorboats. All are a great way to spend an afternoon on the lake and experience the park in a different light.
Looking for more Yellowstone? Check out my hike to Mystic Falls or some of my blogs on geothermal areas like Biscuit Basin and Black Sand Basin. The photos are spectacular! And, as always, you can find all my Yellowstone blogs right here.
See you on the next one!
Parting shot:
Next blog:
Justin Fague 
A scenic cruiser sounds like my kind of jam! Sounds perfect for people who want to chill, yet see as much of nature as possible! Mercedes must’ve loved it, especially as a surprise!
LikeLiked by 1 person
It was awesome, I loved it so much! She did love it – I was happy to have been able to keep it a surprise for a few weeks ahead of time! 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person