Kayaker found dead in Yellowstone Lake in YNP

Boaters found 41-year-old Brandon Rhea of Denver floating in the water on the northwest shore of the lake.

A photo of Yellowstone Lake in Yellowstone National Park, taken from an overlook on the west side of the lake. (Hannah Habermann / Wyoming Public Media)

by Hannah Habermann | Wyoming Public Media | Jun 15, 2026 | News

Boaters found a deceased kayaker in Yellowstone Lake earlier this week.

Forty-one-year-old Brandon Rhea of Denver was discovered in the water on the northwest shore of the lake near Bridge Bay in Yellowstone National Park (YNP) on June 8.

National Park Service rangers responded and recovered the body, as well as a capsized kayak and personal belongings.

The death is under investigation and the agency has provided no other details beyond a June 11 press release at this time.

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About Hannah Habermann | Wyoming Public Media

Hannah Habermann is the rural and tribal reporter for Wyoming Public Radio. She has a degree in Environmental Studies and Non-Fiction Writing from Middlebury College and was the co-creator of the podcast Yonder Lies: Unpacking the Myths of Jackson Hole. Hannah's work has been featured on NPR, Marketplace and National Native News, and she has years of experience leading backpacking and climbing courses throughout the West. Originally from Billings, Montana, Hannah is passionate about the transformative power of storytelling. In her free time, she loves spending time in the mountains, reading, petting other people's dogs and playing music with friends.