Wilderness Aware Rafting
Wilderness Aware Rafting
Currently recruiting for the season from May 17th, 2027 to September 7th, 2027.
Find your place in the world of river adventure. At Wilderness Aware Rafting, your work drives turning a guest’s vacation into a lifelong memory. On the water, taking reservations or keeping things operating smoothly behind the scenes, bring your strengths to an outdoor business where high-level service matters as much as the destination.
Buena Vista, Colorado
- Location
- Colorado
- Season
- Summer
- Staff size
- 40
- Housing
- Whether included in the compensation package or provided at a cost, housing is provided for staff.
- Housing details
- Swank mobile home park!
- Family housing available
- No
- Single occupancy housing available
- No
- Pet friendly
- No
- Meals
- Some meals / discounts
- Cell phone service
- Yes, most carriers
- Internet access
- Good
About Wilderness Aware Rafting
Our Colorado headquarters sits beside the Arkansas River in Buena Vista, with a private boat launch right at work. Founded in 1976, Wilderness Aware Rafting now connects three very different river landscapes within one organization.
We operate as Wilderness Aware Rafting in Colorado, Arizona Rafting on Arizona’s Upper Salt River, and Adventure Sun Valley on Idaho’s Middle Fork of the Salmon River. The Salt brings spring rafting through unique desert canyons; the Middle Fork is home to our six-day wilderness expeditions.
Multi-day rafting is central to our business. In Colorado, our work ranges from half-day Arkansas River outings to wilderness trips on the Gunnison, North Platte,Upper Colorado, and Dolores expeditions lasting up to ten days.
For employees, that variety offers a chance to learn how both day-trip adventures and longer expeditions come together. Qualified, experienced guides can also pursue opportunities in Arizona and Idaho as openings become available. Your next river doesn’t necessarily have to mean a different employer.
The Employee Experience
A good team changes the whole day. It’s someone who lends a hand when things get busy and the shared satisfaction when a trip comes together. Those connections matter: coworkers are a major reason our guides return.
We pair that camaraderie with clear procedures, preparation and shared responsibilities. The aim is to help people do their work well, with an understanding of how their contribution fits into the whole trip.
Hospitality is the common thread throughout our company. Helping a nervous guest feel prepared, answering a planning question thoroughly or putting extra care into a riverside meal can make a real difference. Our employees deliver a quality product and exceed our guest expectations.
Your development matters, too. Through responsibility, feedback and working with others, we emphasize planning ahead, clear communication, sound decisions and leadership. Whether your long-term future is in rafting or another profession, we want you to learn habits and confidence that apply to any career.
Ideal Candidate
You love the outdoors—and enjoy helping other people discover what makes it special.
You’re curious about people: where they’re from, what brought them here and what they’re looking forward to. You enjoy a good conversation, sharing your knowledge and making someone feel welcome.
That enthusiasm can take different forms. You might enjoy bringing a guest’s travel plans together, sharing the excitement of a day on the river, or providing a safe, friendly ride that becomes a memorable part of the trip. Whatever your role, there’s satisfaction in knowing you helped someone have a wonderful experience.
We welcome different personalities, backgrounds and strengths. You may be happiest organizing details, introducing people to something new or connecting through conversation. Whether you’re discovering outdoor work for the first time or bringing years of experience, we’re looking for people who are excited about the setting, interested in others and eager to contribute.
Room and Board
Colorado seasonal employee have access to housing at River Rest Mobile Home Park in Buena Vista. Rent is $1,000 for the summer, including utilities, with housing available beginning May 13, 2027.
Two or three guides typically share each mobile home. First-year guides generally share a bedroom; senior guides typically have a room of their own. Beds can be arranged as singles or bunks.
The living spaces are mostly furnished with couches, chairs and tables. Kitchens include pots, pans, dishes and silverware, and bathrooms have hot showers. It’s a great home base without having to furnish an entire place for one season.
Employee Perks
River Trips and Equipment Access
We sponsor guide outings to other rivers and allow guides to borrow company rafts, gear, vans and trailers for approved private trips. Outings and equipment use depend on scheduling, availability and management approval. Any employee can participate in these trips.
Outdoor Discounts
Eligible employees can access pro deals from participating outdoor brands. Employees also receive friends-and-family discounts on rafting and rental equipment, with rafting subject to space availability.
Further Training
Second-year and senior guides can receive a $150 contribution toward approved advanced first-aid tuition and higher daily pay based upon achieving certification.
Retirement Savings
Our SIMPLE IRA offers a 3% employer match for employees who have worked at least two seasons and earned at least $5,000 in salary.
Benefits vary by position; individual listings explain what applies to each role.
Getting Here and Getting Around
Most employees bring a vehicle to Buena Vista. Flying into Denver or Colorado Springs and arranging onward transportation to town is another option.
Our rafting headquarters is approximately three miles from our employee housing. A car is convenient, but bicycling or arranging a carpool with coworkers are practical alternatives for guides without one.
Employee housing is one block from downtown Buena Vista making restaurants, grocery stores, shops and the Arkansas River’s whitewater park accessible on foot or by bicycle. A bike can handle both the commute and many everyday errands.
For Fun
A day off in Buena Vista can start with a hike in the Collegiate Peaks, a mountain-bike ride or a paddle on the Arkansas. Climbing, camping and fishing give you plenty of reasons to head outside—and plenty of ways to try something different.
Not every free day needs to be an expedition. Soak in nearby hot springs, find some live music or spend an unhurried afternoon at a local coffee shop. Summer festivals offer another way to get to know the community.
Leave room for the unplanned moments, too: dinner after a day outside, a new trail someone recommends or a quiet evening beside the river.
Current Job Openings
Multi-day commercial rafting experience
Trip-leading experience
Experience on comparable rivers and whitewater
Sound judgment and confident decision-making
A strong commitment to guest service
Reliability and a willingness to contribute to the entire trip
Curiosity, professionalism and an interest in continuing to learn
A cover letter
A standard résumé in Word format
A detailed river résumé
Operations Manager
Lead the Team Behind the Adventure.
Wilderness Aware Rafting is seeking an Operations Manager for our headquarters in Buena Vista, Colorado.
This is a hands-on leadership role for someone who enjoys bringing people, plans, equipment and logistics together to create a smooth, safe and successful operation. You’ll oversee the day-to-day systems that support our rafting trips while helping lead a seasonal team in one of Colorado’s great outdoor destinations.
Responsibilities include staff scheduling and coordination, trip assignments, vehicles and equipment, river logistics, guide training support, safety procedures, facilities and operational readiness.
We’re looking for someone who is organized, dependable and comfortable managing both people and details. You enjoy solving problems, communicating clearly, planning ahead and helping a team perform at its best. You’re equally comfortable working from the office or stepping into the operation to drive, move equipment or help wherever needed.
Previous rafting experience is helpful, but it is not the foundation of the position. We’re open to strong operations leaders from outdoor recreation, hospitality, resorts, camps, transportation, logistics or other environments where people and moving parts need to work together. We’ll help the right person learn the river-specific side of our business.
The position reports directly to the President and is based at our Buena Vista headquarters. There may also be an opportunity to support our Arizona Rafting operation on the Upper Salt River in March and April, creating the potential for year-round employment.
If you enjoy leading people, improving how things work and want to bring those skills into the outdoor industry, we’d like to hear from you.
Experienced River Guide
Bring Your Experience. Find Your Next River.
Wilderness Aware Rafting is looking for experienced river guides for seasonal positions in Colorado, Idaho and Arizona.
We’re looking for guides with strong multi-day experience, trip-leading experience and time on rivers comparable to those they hope to guide with us. Just as important, we want people who love the outdoors, enjoy working with guests and take pride in creating an experience people will remember long after the trip is over.
Three Distinct River OpportunitiesColorado — Wilderness Aware Rafting
Our Colorado operation combines Arkansas River day trips with multi-day expeditions on rivers including the Dolores, Gunnison, North Platte and Upper Colorado. It’s a good fit for guides who enjoy variety and want to combine whitewater guiding with wilderness-trip experience.
Idaho — Adventure Sun Valley
Adventure Sun Valley operates six-day wilderness expeditions on the Middle Fork of the Salmon River. We’re particularly interested in experienced multi-day guides who understand that a great wilderness trip is about much more than running rapids—from thoughtful guest interaction and camp hospitality to teamwork, preparation and attention to detail.
Arizona — Arizona Rafting
Our spring operation on the Upper Salt River includes half-day, full-day and two- to five-day trips through remote desert canyons. Candidates should bring experience appropriate for the whitewater, trip style and responsibilities of the position.
Strong boating skills matter. So does what happens outside the boat.
We’re looking for guides who enjoy getting to know their guests, helping people feel comfortable and sharing their enthusiasm for rivers and the outdoors. You might be helping someone through a challenging rapid, answering questions around camp, preparing a great meal or simply taking the time to learn what brought a guest on the trip.
We value guides who bring:
We welcome experienced guides who bring ideas and knowledge from other rivers while also being interested in learning how our teams operate.
Hiring and Getting to Know Each OtherExperienced-guide applicants submit a cover letter, standard résumé and detailed river résumé. Our screening process also includes a phone conversation and references.
For candidates interested in Colorado or Idaho, our March interview trips are optional. Experienced guides who would like to participate are welcome to join us for five days on Arizona’s Salt River or Utah’s Green River through Labyrinth Canyon. It can be a great way to spend meaningful time with our team and experience how we approach multi-day river travel before the season begins.
Interview trips are not part of the Arizona hiring process.
Preparing for Your RiverEvery experienced guide must qualify on the specific river sections they will guide.
Your previous experience determines where you begin. New experienced hires participate in the portions of our guide training program that are useful for their position—learning our procedures, becoming familiar with the operation and demonstrating the skills needed for their assigned rivers and responsibilities.
The goal isn’t to reteach experienced guides how to raft. It’s to combine the experience you already bring with the knowledge needed to work confidently within our operation.
Pay and WorkloadBase pay is determined by your experience and river résumé.
Once qualified, experienced guides receive a workload comparable to existing Wilderness Aware guides at a similar experience and qualification level. Assignments reflect the rivers you are qualified to guide, your leadership experience and the needs of the operation.
Additional compensation is available for qualifying responsibilities and assignments, including trip leading, multi-day work and advanced river qualifications.
ApplyPlease submit:
Tell us where you’ve guided, the types of trips and boats you’ve worked with, your trip-leading experience and the rivers where you’ve developed your skills.
We’d also like to know what you enjoy about guiding and what you’re looking for in your next river opportunity.
River Guide
Learn to Guide in Colorado. Build River Skills for a Lifetime.
Wilderness Aware Rafting is hiring first-year guides who love the outdoors and enjoy helping people have a great time. No previous rafting experience is necessary.
Start With an Interview on the RiverOur selection process begins with an online application and a short phone interview. Selected first-year applicants then join a required five-day interview trip on Arizona’s Salt River or Utah’s Green River through Labyrinth Canyon.
Rafting and camping alongside our staff and other applicants gives us time to get to know one another. You’ll experience river life firsthand, meet potential coworkers and discover whether this work feels right for you.
Interview-trip dates:
March 6–11 · March 13–18 · March 20–25 · March 27–April 1
Each date range covers six days: airport pickup and travel to the river on the first day, followed by five days on the river. The cost is $400, plus your transportation to Phoenix or Grand Junction Airport, depending on the trip.
Build Your Skills Through Free Guide TrainingFollowing the interview trips, we invite selected candidates to our tuition-free, month-long guide training class in Buena Vista.
Training on Colorado rivers, you’ll develop paddle and oar skills, practice river safety, and learn to read water and make independent decisions—not simply follow the boat ahead. You’ll also learn how to help guests feel comfortable, involved and excited about their experience.
Multi-day training takes those skills beyond the rapids. You’ll pack and rig boats, organize camp, prepare meals and work as a crew to care for everyone on an expedition.
We provide at least one meal daily during training and three meals daily on multi-day training trips.
Your First Season: Pay and HousingFirst-year guides start at $120 per day, plus additional pay for qualifying assignments and guest tips, and typically work 30–40 days during the season.
Shared guide housing in Buena Vista costs $1,000 for the summer, including utilities. The mobile homes are mostly furnished and equipped with basic kitchen supplies. First-year guides generally share bedrooms.
Apply EarlyComplete our online guide application by the end of February. Interview-trip spaces are limited, so early applications are encouraged.
Visit our website for more information about guide training and the hiring process.
Video Boater / Safety Kayaker
Video boaters will perform as safety kayaker, and must have the ability to competently solo kayak Class II-V whitewater and perform river rescue. With experience in both videography and kayaking, a video boater is responsible for creatively documenting our guest's experiences on both land and whitewater. Trips in which a video boater will be present can range anywhere from half-day trips to overnight expeditions. Proficiency in video editing software is needed in order to create effective video presentations. Experience in photography is preferred, but not required. Call 719-395-2112 for details on how to apply.
How to Apply
Browse our current openings and choose the position that fits your interests and experience.
Each listing explains the work, qualifications, seasonal dates, compensation and selection process. Check out our roles and tell us how you can contribute!
Contact Info
- Brian Ellis
- be@inaraft.com
- 1.800.462.7238
