Jackson, Wyo. — A family float turned into a potentially serious ordeal on Sunday, June 1, when a party of seven became stranded on the Snake River. During a float from Moose to Wilson, the party’s raft got hung up on the rootball of a downed tree in the middle of the river outside the boundary of Grand Teton National Park. As the raft took on water, one adult and three children ended up stuck on top of the feature. Meanwhile, two adults and one child stayed in the raft and were able to land on a nearby riverbank.
TCSAR volunteers help some stranded boaters off an obstacle in the Snake River on June 1, 2025. Photo: Teton County Search & Rescue
An emergency call was placed at approximately 12:55 p.m., prompting a multi-agency response from Teton County Search & Rescue, the Teton County Sheriff’s Office, and Jackson Hole Fire/EMS.
As TCSAR formulated a rescue plan, they learned that the stranded boaters were in the vicinity of a private river access on the Snake River Ranch. The team requested and received permission to launch a jet boat from this access point. This allowed the team, including one boat captain and two team members, to navigate the river and approach the site from the downstream side of the feature. The team then helped the adult and three children off the feature and into the rescue boat. Several other volunteers and deputies observed from the bank as backup in case anyone fell into the water.
Numerous personnel were involved in a Snake River rescue on June 1, 2025. Photo: Teton County Search & Rescue
The jet boat then piloted to the other stranded boaters. There, they picked up the one remaining child. The two other adults stated they would be able to float the raft down to the take-out at Wilson. At that point, the jet boat transported the rest of the party to the private river access and drove them to Wilson where they were reunited with the rest of their party.
This incident serves as a reminder of the many hazards present on all sections of the Snake River. During spring runoff, the river corridor becomes braided into different channels with numerous strainers, logs and other debris creating significant hazards. These obstacles often shift and move around as water levels fluctuate, creating unpredictable hazards. Add swift, cold water to the mix, and these elements present serious navigational challenges that should be attempted by only the most experienced boaters.
TCSAR extends its gratitude to the numerous personnel who aided in this rescue, and to the Snake River Ranch for granting access to its boat launch.