Get on the Water

Make a Splash

Experience the Tetons from a new perspective! Paddling on the The Snake River or on a clear lake offers stunning views, world-class fishing, and breathtaking wildlife viewing opportunities.

Boating in the park requires planning, permits, and skill. Regardless of experience, recreating on the water poses significant risks. Know the regulations and safety requirements for boating in the park before you go.

Permits and Decals

Before you go, make sure you have the right permits and decals for your vessel.

Grand Teton Boat Permit

All boats are required to have a Grand Teton Boat Permit prior to launching on any of the park’s waters. Permits are required for all motorized and non-motorized boats, including stand-up paddleboards (SUPs) and windsurfing boards. Privately owned vessels must register each year with Grand Teton National Park. Permits may be purchased on Recreation.gov or at the visitor centers in Moose or Colter Bay during summer operations. Boaters can also have their permit mailed directly to them within two weeks.

Grand Teton Boat Permit Fees

• Motorized craft $75
• Non-motorized craft $25 (including: canoes, kayaks, drift boats, & SUPs)

To fulfill the temporary permit requirements, you must:

• Have a valid Wyoming AIS Decal
• Have a boat sticker attached to the boat's port-side stern.

Wyoming AIS Decal

All watercraft using Wyoming waters are required to display a Wyoming Aquatic Invasive Species decal. The decal can be purchased online at the Wyoming Game and Fish Department website or from a variety of local vendors. Fees collected for the AIS decal will be used to fund the AIS program and inspections in Wyoming along with Game and Fish generated license sale funds.

• Motorized registration and decal, WY resident $10
• Motorized registration and decal, non-WY resident, $30
• Non-motorized decal, WY resident, $5
• Non-motorized deacal, non-WY resident, $15

Note: Non-motorized inflatable watercraft 10 feet or less in length, all solid and inflatable paddleboards regardless of length, and all devices defined as water sport toys are exempt from the Wyoming State AIS Decal requirement.

Aquatic Invasive Species

PREVENT THE SPREAD OF PATHOGENS - CLEAN. DRAIN. DRY.

All boats entering Grand Teton National Park are required to stop for an Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) inspection. By law, boats coming from out of state must be inspected or have valid proof of inspection before they launch on waters in Wyoming, including waters in the park. This includes motorized boats, rafts, drift boats, canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddle boards, and all watercraft 10 feet and longer. Boaters must also purchase an Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) decal from the Wyoming Game and Fish Department.

Aquatic Invasive Species, such as whirling disease and zebra or quagga mussels, are a serious ecological and economic threat to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Boats, waders, and anything else that comes in contact with a body of water has the potential to spread non-native plants, pathogens, and other invasive species among water bodies. Make sure to clean, drain, dry, all boating and fishing equipment after use.

Learn more about preventing the spread of AIS.

Do You Have What You Need?

You are required by law to carry the necessary safety equipment aboard your watercraft. Safety equipment requirements vary by the class of your boat, which is determined by the boat's length. Review required equipment list by class of boat.

• Personal Floatation Devices
  All vessels must carry a United States Coast Guard approved personal flotation device (PFD) of the appropriate size for each person on board. PFDs must be accessible and in good working condition. PFDs should be worn while boating. All passengers under 13 years old must wear a PFD.
• Lights
  Every vessel must use navigation lights when underway from sunset to sunrise.
• Fire Extinguisher
  All motorized boats must have at least the minimum number of portable fire extinguishers required by the USCG.
• Signaling Devices
  All motorized boats shall have an efficient sound producing device on board.

Things to Know

Before you boat in Grand Teton, review all regulations including Wyoming State boating regulations.

• Boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs is prohibited.
• Motors are prohibited on the Snake River.
• Innertubes, air mattresses, float tubes, and similar flotation devices are prohibited on the Snake River.
• Only human-powered rubber rafts, canoes, drift boats, and kayaks are permitted on the Snake River within the park and parkway. All other waters within the park and parkways are closed to watercraft, including Pacific Creek, Cottonwood Creek, Buffalo Fork, and the Gros Ventre River.
• Fires are prohibitted along the Snake River. Fires are allowed only on Jackson Lake below the high water line with a permit. Fires are not allowed along the east shore from Spaulding Bay to Lizard Creek Campground. Extinguish your fires before leaving.
• Floating is prohibited within 1,000 ft of the Jackson Lake Dam.
• Pack out all trash.

Additional Grand Teton Information