Echo Canyon River Expedition’s Whitewater Rafting Guides

Written by Ben Sack, 12.17.2018

Guide training classes become friends for life

When you join Echo Canyon for a trip down the famous Arkansas river, you are in for an experience of a lifetime. Yet it is not just the amazing whitewater and awe-inspiring scenery that will stay with you – our guides are experts at more than river safety and rafting. They will keep you and your family engaged with fun and educational stories about the ecosystem, region, and more!

Our Guides Provide an Experience You Won't Soon Forget

Echo Canyon Guides love working with kids

On your journey down the river, you will have periods of time where you aren’t paddling through killer rapids. Our river guides use this time to enhance your rafting experience! You see, they are not simply rafting experts, but know a plethora about the history of the Arkansas River, the geology of the canyon, and the plants and animals that you will find all around you.

You will hear stories about the rugged Rocky Mountain West, including tales from the Pikes Peak Gold rush, when 100,000 people from all across the world came to Colorado in search of riches and excitement. Our guides are even wildlife spotting pros, pointing out bighorn sheep that line some of the canyons that our rafts splash through.

And all of our guides are experts with kids, large groups, and guests who are new to rafting. They know how to calm nerves and entertain kids for hours on end!

 

Raft Echo Guides are the Best-Trained in Colorado

Safely guiding a raft through turbulent waters while entertaining a raft full of guests is not an easy job. Training with Raft Echo is the most rigorous in the state. In order to become a guide, our trainees are required to put in twice the hours that the state of Colorado requires. We do not believe in taking shortcuts when it comes to your safety!

Every river guide attends raft guide school, where they hone their paddle skills, safety training, and rafting skills. Our training program is one of the longest and most intense programs out there. Senior guides ensure that trainees have the utmost work ethic while passing on their years of knowledge.

Each trainee is certified in First Aid and CPR, Youth Protection Training, and swift water rescue, a training designed to help equip guides with the knowledge of what to do in a whitewater river rescue emergency. Thanks to this training program, guests can confidently put their safety in our raft guide’s hands on each and every trip!

Our Family of Guides

At Echo Canyon River Expeditions, we believe that diversity makes our team stronger. We are proud to house guides from all walks of life. When not leading trips during rafting season, our guides hold a wide variety of positions, including:

  • Dog sled guide
  • University student majoring in physical therapy
  • Woodshop and history teacher
  • Highschool guidance counselor
  • Ski instructor

And this is only a handful of the unique positions held by our talented and unique staff! We believe that these different experiences come together to make a fun and educational work environment. Best of all, guests never know what to expect from their river guides! Click here if you would like to learn more about our family of raft guides.Echo Canyon Guides and Support Staff

Interested in Becoming Part of the Action?

If you love people, adventure, and nature, a job as a river rafting guide may be for you! This job is perfect for students, teachers, ski instructors, or anyone who has their summer months free who is looking for a way to grow and connect. You will learn skills that you can take with you for the rest of your life.

But what if you have never paddled down a river?

You do not need any experience to apply for our whitewater rafting jobs – we will provide all of the training that you need to become one of the best guides in the state! If you get through out training program, there is no doubt that you were meant for a career in guiding rafting adventures.

But this job is not for everyone. You will need a solid work ethic, a desire to contribute, and a love for the outdoors that is unparalleled. If you are invited to join our team as a new guide, you’ll undergo a five-week training program. Only those who are truly committed will make it through!

Yet if you do join our team, you will be rewarded with experiences that you’ll never forget. Joining the Echo Canyon rafting team is like becoming part of a family that knows how to work hard and have a great time doing it. You’ll be challenged, but you’ll also have fun and create memories that last a lifetime.

If you are interested in becoming a guide, click here to start the application process.

 

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About the Author

Ben Sack is the General Manager of Echo Canyon River Expeditions, Colorado's largest white water rafting outfitter. He's also a raft guide, a photographer, and he loves exploring Colorado and beyond with his wife and two boys.
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