Packrafting in Jackson Hole
Ultralight Backcountry BoatsPackrafting: Revolutionizing Wilderness Travel
Hike + Paddle AdventurePackrafting is revolutionizing wilderness access, carrying ultra-lightweight inflatable rafts (5-8 pounds complete) in your backpack, hiking into remote country, then paddling out on rivers and lakes inaccessible by any other means. This game-changing discipline opens up creative point-to-point routes, eliminates vehicle shuttles, and enables adventures that previously required extensive logistics or simply weren’t feasible.
Packrafting Instruction Features
Regional Packrafting PioneersWe’re among the earliest adopters and leading educators of packrafting in Greater Yellowstone. Our instructors have pioneered creative routes throughout the region, understand local conditions intimately, and bring years of experience teaching this emerging discipline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Before You GoPackrafts are ultra-lightweight (5–8 pounds) and pack into backpacks, enabling you to hike them into remote areas then paddle out. This opens up point-to-point wilderness traverses impossible with traditional boats. The trade-off is that packrafts handle differently than kayaks or rafts and require adapted techniques. They’re tools for creative wilderness access, not replacements for traditional paddle craft.
Entry-level packrafts start around $600–800. Quality whitewater models run $1,200–1,800. Add paddles ($150–300), PFD ($80–150), and accessories ($200–400). Complete systems cost $1,000–2,500. Significant investment, which is why testing various models during instruction before purchasing makes sense.
Yes! Modern whitewater packrafts with self-bailing floors, thigh straps, and spray decks allow skilled paddlers to run Class III–IV rapids. They won’t outperform hard-shell kayaks in big water, but they’re far more capable than most people expect. The key is appropriate skill development and understanding their limitations.
Ready to Revolutionize Your Wilderness Access?
Learn packrafting from the region’s pioneers.
Email us at info@jacksonholekayak.com or call (307) 733-2471 or stop by our shop at 945 W. Broadway in Jackson.