Whitewater Raft Guide - Experienced

The Outlaw Group; Buena Vista (VA); On-site; USD 22,000 - 50,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Gear discounts

Tips encouraged

Job summary

AVA Rafting & Zip Line is seeking Whitewater Raft Guides for the upcoming season in Colorado. You will lead safe, educational, and fun river trips while ensuring an exceptional guest experience.

Starting pay is 15.56 per hour with tips typically adding 10–20 dollars per hour. AVA offers living accommodations in Buena Vista and Idaho Springs for summer placements for qualified candidates.

Qualifications

• Physically capable individuals passionate about the outdoors.
• Strong teamwork and guest-care mindset.
• Experience with river safety and guest instruction is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Navigate rafts down a river while managing a great guest experience.
• Maintain equipment, gear, and the work area.
• Maintain situational awareness and readiness to help perform river rescue maneuvers if needed.
• 2-3 trips a day typically ~9-hour workdays.
• Having a great time outdoors with guests and coworkers.

Skills

Outdoor enthusiasm

Teamwork

Customer care

River rescue

CPR/First Aid

Job description

Join the Team!

At the Outlaw Group, we believe in working hard, playing hard, and constantly striving for excellence.

Not only do we seek to provide unforgettable experiences for our guests, but we encourage our employees to reimagine the best of Colorado’s outdoor spaces and urban areas. We are adventurers, innovators, and explorers, and we look for employees that share this same passion for life. We intend to grow together, testing the boundaries of what is possible, as we constantly consider new ways to challenge ourselves and industry standards.

Job Description:

AVA Rafting & Zip Line: Raft Guides

Location(s):

Moab Utah, Kremmling, CO. Idaho Springs, CO. Buena Vista, CO

Work Season:

Full time and Part Time, May 2026 to September 2026,
Relocation?:

Would you be moving to Colorado for this summer gig? AVA does offer some employee living accommodations at Buena Vista and Idaho Springs Outpost.

Pay Rate:

Starting pay for experienced guides is 15.56 an hour, with tips adding anywhere from an additional 10 to 20 dollars an hour on average. Guides with additional experience are eligible for further compensation.

AVA is seeking enthusiastic, safety-oriented, and dynamic individuals to join our team as Whitewater Raft Guides for the upcoming season. As a Raft Guide, you will be the face of our company, responsible for leading safe, educational, and fun river trips while ensuring an exceptional customer experience.

A Whitewater Raft Guide is responsible for safely navigating a commercial raft down the river while managing guests, providing interpretive information, and executing swiftwater rescue techniques as needed.

Have River Experience?

AVA is looking for experienced raft guides to join our team across Colorado. If you are looking for new water and great people we are the company for you!
*Experienced raft guides will need up-to date and verifiable river miles upon employment start and will be required to perform checkout runs for each stretch of river to be commercially guided with AVA*
*NOTE*This job does require onsite location in Colorado, the company does have options areas for employees to live during the summer

What You’ll Do

• Navigate rafts down a river while managing a great guest experience!
• Maintain equipment, gear, and the work area.
• Maintain situational awareness and readiness to help perform river rescue maneuvers if needed.
• 2 -3 trips a day typically ~9-hour workdays
• Having a great time outdoors with guest and coworkers!

What we Look For

• Physically capable individuals passionate about the outdoors.
• Strong teamwork skills.
• People with an emphasis on customer care.
• Experience on class III to class V whitewater.
• Individuals with up-to-date CPR, First Aid, and other training is always a plus!

Work Availability

• Part Time < ~30 hours
• Full Time ~ 40 hours
• Holidays (4th of July)

Benefits

• The job is a service industry job meaning guest are encouraged to tip.
• Base pay is, with tipped income commonly adding an additional 10 to 20 dollars an hour.
• Gear discounts! AVA works with many companies in the outdoor industry, as an AVA employee you have access to discounts strictly for outdoor industry professionals across many major brands such as North face, Yeti, Patagonia, and more.

Why Apply Today?
Whether it’s your love for the Rockies, soaking up the sun, meeting new friends, or trying something new – AVA offers all this as a Whitewater Raft Guide!

AVA Rafting & Zip Line is an equal opportunity employer. Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, age, disability, protected veteran status or any other status protected by applicable law.