Wooden Boat Tours on the Yellowstone River
Montana Classic Boat Tours is the scenic side of our river program. We run private wooden boat tours on the Yellowstone River near Livingston, Paradise Valley, and Bozeman, giving guests a chance to see Montana from the river’s point of view.
From a hand built wooden dory, you are low to the water, close to the light, and able to take in the valley without crowds or noise. These scenic floats are built for guests who want to be looked after and want a hosted river experience without having to pick up a fly rod.
Fall is especially hard to beat. Peak foliage, clear light, and cooler evenings make September and October sunset floats one of the best ways to see the Yellowstone.
A Winter Float Story
Rivers don’t follow calendars, and neither do good opportunities. Here’s a short story from a January wooden boat tour on the Yellowstone when conditions lined up in Paradise Valley.
Read the Blog PostWhat These Trips Are Built For
Scenic floats are ideal for couples, families, wedding groups, corporate guests, and mixed groups where not everyone wants a full fishing day. We build the float around your group, the light, and the kind of experience you want.
Private Scenic Floats
Every trip is private to your group. We choose a scenic section of the Yellowstone between Livingston and Paradise Valley and set the pace around your guests.
What’s Included
Wooden dories, Pendleton blankets, non alcoholic drinks, and on catered trips a light spread of local pastries or charcuterie. Safety gear and guide service are included on every trip.
When We Float
Sunrise, midday, and sunset from May through October. The exact stretch depends on water levels, clarity, wildlife, and where the light will be best for views and photos.
Comfort On Board
Bring sunglasses, a hat, layers, sunscreen, and a camera. Guests are welcome to bring their own beverages, including adult beverages where appropriate. We keep a cooler with ice on board.
Scenic Yellowstone River Boat Tours
The Early Riser
Calm water, soft light, and hot coffee with locally baked pastries. A quiet way to start the day and watch the Yellowstone wake up from the comfort of a wooden dory.
Trip length: 2 to 3 hours
Midday Scenic Float
A relaxed late morning or early afternoon float that works well for families, mixed groups, and guests arriving into town that day who want an easy introduction to the Yellowstone.
Trip length: 2 to 3 hours
Yellowstone Sunset Tour
Evening light on the river, cooler air, and a slow float home. A favorite for couples and small groups who want a quiet end to the day and some of the best views on the Yellowstone.
Trip length: 2 to 3 hours
Custom Scenic & Events
Weddings, rehearsal dinners, retreats, family reunions, and private events can all be built around a scenic float on the Yellowstone River.
Trip length: 2 to 3 hours or longer
Hybrid Float & Fish
Some guests float, others fish. While we do not fly fish from the wooden boats, we can run a fishing drift boat on the same section so everyone shares the day together on the river.
The Joy & The Cygnet
Our boats are 20 foot McKenzie style Ray’s River Dories. The Joy carries larger family groups and small events. The Cygnet is set up for smaller parties that want an intimate private float.
Standard Scenic Float Pricing
All sunrise, midday, and sunset scenic floats are 2 to 3 hours in length. Two price tiers are based on boat and group size.
4 to 6 Guests · The Joy
Catered: $1,100
Non catered: $900
A good fit for larger families, groups of friends, and wedding parties who want more room to spread out and enjoy the full Yellowstone scenic float experience together.
1 to 3 Guests · The Cygnet
Catered: $850
Non catered: $700
A quiet, private float that works well for couples and small groups who want a more intimate wooden boat tour with plenty of room to relax and take photos.
Catered trips include pastries or charcuterie based on time of day, plus non alcoholic drinks, blankets, and safety gear. Non catered trips include drinks, blankets, and safety equipment. Guests are welcome to bring additional food and beverages.
The Experience On Board
Ray’s River Dories has been a benchmark of wooden drift boat craftsmanship since the 1970s. Their McKenzie style hull is stable, quiet, and comfortable, and it fits the kind of moving water we row on the Yellowstone.
Boats & Build
Hand built wooden dories give these trips their quiet, distinctive feel and a classic Yellowstone River look that photographs exceptionally well.
Food & Comfort
Pendleton blankets, local pastries, and custom charcuterie boards from Ranchmade Charcuterie in Livingston give each trip a local Montana feel.
Where It Fits
Scenic floats pair well with Yellowstone National Park visits, Paradise Valley stays, family trips, wedding weekends, and Bozeman based itineraries.
What Guests Say About Boat Tours
“Highly recommend. A great afternoon on the river, delicious food, a charming captain, and lots of wildlife. We plan on going fishing with Matt next.”
Kathryn C.
“The absolute coolest thing we have experienced in Montana. Matt made the whole group feel at home on the river.”
Carley H.
“Great afternoon on the Yellowstone. Relaxing and exhilarating at the same time.”
Jeff M.
Guided Fly Fishing & Wooden Boat Days in Southwest Montana
I run a year‑round, owner‑operated program based in Livingston, fishing the Yellowstone and a wider system of rivers, spring creeks, and stillwaters across Southwest Montana.
We don’t guide a single river—we guide a system of rivers, matching your dates and experience level with the water that’s actually fishing best. You reserve a day. We handle the where, the how, and the details.
Have dates in mind? Reaching out early gives us the best chance to line up the right water on the right day for your group.
Choose The Kind of Day You Want
Most groups fall into one of three buckets. If you’re not sure which fits you, pick the closest match and we’ll help from there.
Guided Fly Fishing
Full‑ and half‑day walk‑wade and float trips on the Yellowstone, Paradise Valley spring creeks, Madison, private lakes, and other regional options when they’re at their best.
Best for anglers who want a focused fishing day with local guidance, simple logistics, and water tailored to their experience level.
Scenic Wooden Boat Tours
Private wooden dory floats on the Yellowstone through Paradise Valley—built for couples, families, and mixed groups where not everyone wants to fish all day.
Slow pace, time for photos, and room to relax. Easy to pair with a fishing boat for hybrid “one boat fishing, one boat scenic” days.
Instruction & Rowing Classes
Targeted casting, fishing, and rowing instruction on real water so you can make your own good decisions after the day ends.
Includes Yellowstone‑specific rowing classes and multi‑day Montana Trout Camp for anglers who want to accelerate their learning curve.
The Waters Around Livingston
You don’t need to pick a river ahead of time. We match your dates and goals with the right mix of freestones, spring creeks, private lakes, and stillwaters based on current conditions and what kind of day you want.
Yellowstone River
The main river we guide from Gardiner to Columbus. Long freestone runs, classic seams and a full season of hatches.
DePuy’s & Armstrong’s
True spring creeks with clear water, steady flows and technical sight‑fishing. A great place to improve fast.
Madison & Bighorn
Early‑season anchors when flows, clarity and temperatures line up better than local freestones.
Stillwater, Boulder & Shields
Fast pocket water, short seasonal windows and local favorites that feel different from big‑river float days.
Private Lakes
Quiet stillwater options with room to work on casting, retrieve, and presentation. Great for families, newer anglers, and calmer days.
Winter & Spring Rate + Yellowstone Rowing Classes
Winter and early spring are a good time to fish the right water and a smart time to build skills before summer crowds. Spring creeks often offer the most consistent fishing, and Yellowstone rowing classes are ideal for anglers who want more confidence behind the oars before peak season.
Winter & Spring Rate
One all‑in seasonal rate built around the best water for your date. We’ll recommend spring creeks, the Yellowstone, or the Lower Madison based on conditions.
Winter & spring rate: $550 for one or two anglers. Rods, flies, and seasonal setup included.
Yellowstone Rowing Classes
Private one‑on‑one or two‑person rowing instruction on the Yellowstone built around your experience level, your goals, and the kind of water you want to learn on. Drift boats, rafts, wooden dories, and other practical rowing platforms all fit this program.
Best window: March through June, before summer traffic and afternoon wind become a bigger factor on the Yellowstone.
Fishing School & Rowing Instruction
If you want to improve, we keep it practical. Real water, real decisions and repeatable skills you can take anywhere.
Instruction Options
Casting fundamentals, line control, reading water and fly selection for beginners, families and anglers who want cleaner mechanics.
Yellowstone Rowing Classes
Yellowstone‑specific rowing instruction built for a big, changing freestone. Private days built around confidence, boat control, and real river decisions across drift boats, rafts, and dories.
Montana Trout Camp
Multi‑day small group instruction focused on decision making, rigging, reading water and fishing the right water for the moment.
Channel 7 Montana (KTVQ) featured our wooden boat tours on the Yellowstone through Paradise Valley. If you want a quick feel for the boats, the river and the pace of the experience, this is the best look.
What Guests Say About Fishing Here
“Matt guided us for several days recently while on a trip to Montana. I am relatively new to fly fishing and he was very patient with me, helped a ton on my casting and kept us smiling the entire time. We will be back.”
Morgan H.
“Best winter fishing experience we have ever had. Quiet water, clear sight shots and Matt put us on fish all day.”
Doug, returning winter angler
Planning & Instruction Reading
Winter on the Paradise Valley Creeks
Why winter sight‑fishing on DePuy’s and Armstrong’s is worth your time, how we pick days and what to expect from a cold weather spring creek trip.
Yellowstone Rowing Classes
Private rowing instruction on the Yellowstone focused on boat control, reading current, and building confidence before the busy season across drift boats, rafts, and dories.
FROM AROUND SOUTHWEST MONTANA
Stories From the Water AROUND LiVIngston and Bozeman
