Join the Browns Canyon Rafting family!
We are looking for full and part time customer service professionals for a number of positions. We offer many opportunities for Colorado Rafting jobs & pride ourselves on providing our guest a fun, safe and memorable experience with excellent, personable and attentive service with attention to detail.
We appreciate our staff and are dedicated to paying them the most competitive wages in the industry. We are dog friendly and have free on site camping available for employees.
Everyone that works here at Browns Canyon Rafting has a true passion for the outdoors and what it has to offer. It is our goal to pass that passion on to future employees and most importantly to our guests. The time and dedication that it takes learning the skills of being a guide are truly worth the effort.
Our advantage is in being a smaller whitewater rafting company. Since we are not a get’em in get’em out rafting company we can provide our guests with a more personable and memorable experience. It also gives us the opportunity to build a family amongst our staff. We want to create an environment in which you grow as a guide, feel comfortable sharing what makes you unique and return year after year.
Browns Canyon Rafting – Colorado Rafting Jobs and Opportunities:
We are looking for all positions for the upcoming season. Please scroll down for full descriptions.
Whitewater Raft Guides – Both Trainees & Experienced
No Experience Necessary
CDL Shuttle Drivers
Preferred CDL class-B w/P2 and airbrakes endorsements and a clean motor vehicle report.
We will train and pay for your CDL for the right candidate.
Office/Retail Staff
Should have a personal interest in outdoor activities and willing to participate in all aspects of our company. Must be friendly, outgoing and well organized.
To apply for any position please send an email with your resume, cover letter and references to info@raftbrownscanyon.com
Whitewater Raft Guide Training – Open for 2025
Being a Whitewater Raft Guide is a fun and rewarding experience filled with adventure! Whitewater Raft Guide trainees do not need any previous whitewater rafting experience. We do expect you to posses an avid interest in the outdoors, positive attitude and integrity. You will be trained on both oar and paddle rafts. Whitewater Raft Guides typically handle unexpected and stressful situations on a daily basis. Be prepared to handle stress, rain, cold, wind, and other unexpected conditions that may arise. Training is a fun and challenging experience that is rewarding and worth the effort. You get out of training what you put into training! We want you to love rafting as much as we do and pass that passion on to our guests.
There is limited room in our training class so we encourage you to apply early. Trainees are selected by online applications, resumes, references, and phone or personal interviews.
Qualifications:
- Outgoing personality
- Positive attitude
- Willingness to learn
- Integrity
- Minimum 18 years of age
Whitewater Raft Guide Training Information:
Our whitewater raft guide training course will empower you with the skills and confidence needed to excel as a professional guide. You are responsible for having a positive attitude, integrity and ability to pass this course.
The two week training course begins May 19th and ends on May 30th with weekends off. The cost is $600, a 50% non refundable deposit is due when you are accepted into the course to hold your spot, and the remainder of the balance is due 2 weeks prior to the start. We have limited room and are looking for committed candidates. Being accepted into the training class does not guarantee you a position at BCR, however we do hire most/all of the candidates that complete training. Reasons for non hire would be bad attitudes and poor work ethic. If for any reason you are not hired by us you will have obtained much more than the Colorado guide minimum requirements and be able to apply at other companies.
Colorado River Outfitters are licensed by the Department of Parks and Outdoor Recreation and managed by the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area. A minimum of 50 hours on-river training is required to become a certified raft guide; however you can expect to far exceed the minimum 50 hours of on-river training by the end of our course, closer to 100+.
Our training starts at 9am on May 19th 2025, all trainees must check in at our office in Buena Vista by this time and be ready to begin your training. We recommend you show up the day before training to make camp, settle in and meet your fellow trainees. During training you will learn everything you need to know both on and off the river to be a Certified Whitewater Raft Guide.
What you will learn during training:
- Swift water rescue techniques
- Reading and navigating river features and hazards
- Oar and paddle boat instruction
- Care and use of equipment
- Flipping and recovering boats
- Pining and unpinning boats
- Guest orientation and safety topics
- Swimming in moving water
- Knowledge of all important river aspects
- Emergency protocols
- History and geology of the region
- River section orientations
- Team building and guest relations
Responsibilities as a guide:
- Safely navigate and entertain guests down the river.
- Able to work long hours during busy periods, and be professional at all times.
- Maintain a good attitude when dealing with co-workers, guests and in all conditions, including, wind, rain, cold etc…
- Complete pre trip tasks before the guests arrive.
- Responsible for company equipment.
- Treat customers the way you would want to be treated when on vacation.
What we provide:
- All river gear and equipment throughout training (wetsuit, splash top, booties, PFD, helmet, ect)
- Free camping
- Certified guide instructors
- More than double Colorado minimum training hours to become a professional river guide
- Memories that will last a lifetime!
Recommended Gear To Bring With You:
- Personal rafting gear if already owned (we will provide you with all necessary rafting gear throughout training if needed and access to our industry deals after training)
- Warm synthetic layers
- Sunscreen
- Sun glasses
- Raincoat
- Water bottle
- Camping gear if you are planning on camping throughout training
- A great attitude and willingness to learn
- You are responsible for your own food during training
If interested please email info@raftbrownscanyon.com with a cover letter and resume.
CDL Shuttle Driver – Currently available
At Browns Canyon Rafting teamwork is very important. Being approachable and positive with guest and fellow employees is a must. You will become familiar with our vehicles, trip times, and driving routs. You are responsible for making our guest feel comfortable and safe when you are transporting them.
Qualifications:
- Must be a team player.
- Must possess or have the ability to obtain a class B CDL with a P2 endorsement.
- The ability to drive and back a vehicle with a trailer
Responsibilities include:
- Driving guides, guests and shuttling vehicles to/from our shop & river locations.
- Inspections and minor maintenance of vehicles
- Washing & cleaning vehicles as needed
- Ensuring the boat stacks are secured on the trailers
Office and Retail Staff
It is important that you have excellent guest service skills. You will become familiar with our products & services, reservation system, point of sale program and daily operations. You are responsible for making our guest comfortable and directing them thru the check in process.
Qualifications:
- Outgoing and friendly
- Flexibility with hours
- Gain familiarity with all of our products and services
- Capable of dealing with long hours and stressful situations during busy periods
- Interest in the outdoors
Responsibilities include:
- Money management
- Opening and closing the shop
- Inventory of retail goods
- Management of paperwork and documents
- Answering phone calls and selling trips
Experienced Whitewater Raft Guide
To be considered for our experienced whitewater raft guide position you need to be competent in both oar boats and paddleboats. If you need to obtain skills in either of these areas we will ask that you participate in certain parts of our training program.
When you are with our guest, safety is key! It is also important that they have a fun and memorable trip. Time management when you are on the rafting trip is very important, to ensure you are at the put-ins and take-outs at the appropriate time.
Qualifications:
- 2 years guiding class III or higher preferred
- Minimum CPR and First Aid, WFR or higher recommended
- River logs with at least minimum Colorado guiding requirements documented
- Pass a check out run performed by qualified trainer
- Must be at least 18 years old
Responsibilities include:
- Safety and customer service are our top priorities
- Care of rafting equipment
- Preparing lunches
- Keep river logs accurate and up to date
- Washing customer wetsuits and booties after use
- Show up on time ready to work
- Loading/unloading trailers, rig and d-rig boats
- Safety and paddle talks to guests