Become a Whitewater Rafting Guide - Join our Wild West Rafting Team

We are currently accepting applications for the 2026 summer season. We are looking to hire adventure seekers wanting to become professional whitewater raft guides. No experience is necessary. We provide in-house training, private camping for employees, and a great work/life balance. We have a tight-knit team who love to spend their summers in Montana, exploring the Yellowstone area and getting on the river as much as possible.

Where: Wild West Rafting is a family owned outfitter located in Gardiner, MT the North Entrance to Yellowstone National Park. We commercially run 18+ miles of class II & III+ whitewater on the Yellowstone River. We offer half-day, full-day, and overnight whitewater and scenic float trips. The Yellowstone River runs right through town, bordering Yellowstone National Park and surrounded by the Absaroka and Gallatin mountain ranges. 

Training: Our summer season runs May 15 - September 15. Training for new hires will begin on Monday, May 18th. Training will take 2 - 3 weeks to complete. We can provide new guides with cold-water river gear if needed. We will provide Swift Water Rescue, CPR, and First Aid certifications during the training period if needed. We provide lunch, gear and all the resources needed to get you checked off as a professional river guide. We also offer access to a company pro deal through NRS where guides can get a 40% discount on guide gear.

Job Details: Once checked off, you are expected to be a full-time employee. You can expect to take 2-3 trips per day, 5-6 days a week. We do our best to keep everyone on a set schedule, with two days off per week. But during peak season it is common to be on call for at least 1 of your days off. We pay $50 per trip plus gratuities. We are located in a vacation town, so typically gratuities can be strong. On average, 30-50% of your income will come from gratuities. You can take up to 3 half-day trips per day. Each trip takes approximately 2 -3 hours to complete. This includes setting up the trip, gearing up clients, the safety briefing, time on the river, transportation and trip takedown.

Employee Housing: Our raft shop facility is located on 13 -acres on the Yellowstone River. We provide private camping for all of our staff. You will be given plenty of space to set up your living quarters. Any size camper can fit. You will have use of our facilities while camping. Our facility includes a boathouse, basement storage, multiple kitchen areas, multiple bathrooms, a shower, dry storage, refrigeration, communal areas, and wifi. Cost: $150/month.

The town of Gardiner, MT offers a gas station, a grocery store and plenty of restaurants to check out. It has direct access to Yellowstone National Park and excellent access to National Forest for any kind of mountain adventure.

Culture & Experience: We are proud of our tight- knit team at Wild West, with many of our guides and staff coming back year after year. We are all passionate about the outdoors and love the opportunity to share the Greater Yellowstone area with our awesome guests.  When not on the clock, our team is always doing something fun, whether it is mountain biking, rock climbing, backpacking, or fun runs on the river there is always a new adventure to be had. Come join our team and live, work and play in the Greater Yellowstone area for the summer months!