On June 1, 2021, at 1:12 pm, Gallatin County dispatch received a call of four people who were rafting the Gallatin River when their raft flipped in the area of House Rock. Initial reports stated one individual was on a rock and the other three were trying to get back to the raft or shore. Gallatin County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Gallatin County Sheriff Search and Rescue from Bozeman and Big Sky responded to the call. The four individuals were assisted by three kayakers that were in the area and were able to get back into their raft and float down to the take out. Two other individuals that were in the raft had safely made it to shore and a motorist gave them a ride down to the take out. All involved individuals were cold, wet, a little banged up but overall okay. They all had life vests and helmets on.

Sheriff Springer would like to remind rafters and kayakers that the Gallatin River is reaching high runoff levels, is very cold and it is not the same river to float that it was a couple weeks ago. If you go rafting, wear the proper safety gear, dress for the water temperature and know your limitations. Thank you to all the citizens who also helped keep this event from becoming more that a cold, wet and scary experience for the involved individuals.