Raft Guide Training Course Registration

Three Rivers Outfitting has been offering Raft Guide Training for over 30 years.

The 2024 will be held from May 20th – May 31st.

Participants are encouraged to participate in both Raft Guide Training as well as the Swiftwater Rescue Training (SRT). This intense course is held in both classroom and river environments and is recommended for those seriously interested in guiding commercially in Colorado. Class is held from approximately 8:00 am to 5:00 pm each day.

After completing the course, participants will meet the bare minimum requirements to commercially guide rafts in Colorado. Before taking commercial trips trainees must also take a ‘check-out’ run with an instructor in the raft before guiding paying customers on their own. We strive to put only our safest guides on the river with our customers.

Additional practice beyond the raft course is mandatory if you wish to guide commercially at Three Rivers. Once the course is complete, guide trainees are invited to hone their skills on our commercial trips that go out twice daily at no charge. Completion of the course does not guarantee employment but if you successfully complete the course and have the desire to guide commercially, we will give you every opportunity to join our guide team.

Since you will be working in a resort environment, there are plenty of other jobs available in addition to guiding if you would like to apply for supplemental work (see above). If needed, you can check out gear for the entire class: PFD (personal flotation device), neoprene booties, splash top/bottom, wet suit. After the class, you will need to purchase your own gear in order to guide commercially. Pro deals are available to all guides at Three Rivers.

Course Highlights & Information:

• Equipment orientation, boat rigging, repair, maintenance, and safe boat loading techniques
• Ample time spent on both oar and paddle guiding.
• Basic and advanced guide strokes
• River dynamics and characteristics of moving water
• River Hazards
Types, causes, and classifications of rapids
• Self rescue and whitewater swim techniques
• Introduction to Rope Rescue Systems
• Commercial Passenger Orientation
• First Aid and CPR Certification included
• All day trip on the Class IV Lake Fork of the Gunnison River. (*Dependent on the river conditions)
• Over 100 years of guiding experience collectively among instructors
• PFD, helmet, splash gear, booties, and wet suit provided.
• Minimum 18 years of age