About Wyoming River Trips

Our company has been featured in many national publications such as; Travel and Leisure, Better Homes and Gardens, and Mature Outlook magazines. We have also been featured on the Travel Channel and the Outdoor Life Network.

Humble Beginnings

Brothers, Rick and Ron Blanchard were born and raised in Port Arthur, Texas. From humble beginnings, their trail from Texas to Cody had plenty of detours along the way including: work on the Alaska Pipeline, Pro Rodeo careers, and guiding river trips on the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon. They were first drawn to Cody for its reputation as a world-renowned rodeo destination, but after spending some time in the area, they fell in love with the town, the people, and the natural beauty northern Wyoming has to offer.

Wyoming River Trips was founded in the winter of 1978 with Rick and Ron personally escorting trips that following summer. Since its inception, Wyoming River Trips is the only continually owned and operated rafting company in the Cody area, focusing on providing safe, family whitewater adventures that are accessible and approachable to all.

Culture

Besides creating family-focused river trips, in it’s 43 year history, WRT has cultivated a family culture within the business itself. Consistently hiring personable, hard-working, capable staff has not been an accident. Instead, it has been an intentional decision from day one. Couple that with high levels of training and attention to detail, and you begin to see a company that is committed to providing more than a fun trip down the river — you see a company that is committed to our clients, staff, and community.

Moving Forward

During the winter of 2020/2021, Landon Blanchard and Elyse Guarino took over ownership and operations at Wyoming River Trips, moving the company into its second generation of continual ownership. Additionally, Leighton Blanchard has stepped into to oversee operations. This transition period has been an exciting time for the whole family!

Landon grew up within the company and began guiding trips at an early age, growing into leadership and management roles over his 11 season with WRT. Elyse has spent the last 13 years working as a professional outdoor leader and guide with NOLS, facilitating outdoor leadership courses for novices and professionals alike. Together, Elyse and Landon founded Wyoming Rivers Cooperative in the winter of 2019/2020 — a company specializing in small, customizable, multi-day packrafting and rafting trips throughout Wyoming — building upon their combined outdoor skills and their passion for water, wildlife, and land conservation. Leighton Blanchard will take over operations of the company, relying on his nearly 11 years with WRT. The three will bring decades of professional outdoor leadership and guiding experience to Wyoming River Trips, building upon the foundation put in place by Rick and Ron, and growing the professional guide and river community in Cody, WY.

Why Work here

Wyoming River Trips prides itself on providing professional outdoor guiding services with a personal touch. All of our guides do an excellent job of combining their river experiences with experience they bring from all other river and outdoor jobs. Our complete staff is trained in CPR and First Aid with additional guides trained in Wilderness First Aid and Swiftwater Rescue. The company provides WFA and Swiftwater training for full-time Summer hires and hosts these out of our office and on the stretches of river we run.

Why Work for Wyoming River Trips?

Wyoming River Trips prides itself in hiring all types of individuals that specialize in safety and enjoyment. From College students to teachers; ski instructors to retired couples, we are looking for diverse and highly motivated self-starters to join our team. There is no better way to add experience, knowledge, and fun to your Cody summer experience!

WRT is a launchpoint for new guides and those looking to start an outdoor career AND a place for experienced guides to build leadership skills, coach new guides and impact the next generation of guides and educators.

New guides can expect: 

• training and certification paths + financial support in acquiring them.
• competitive pay
• to be part of a creative, collaborative, conservation and sustainability minded community.
• to learn to guide on various stretches of river through canyon and forest environments that will help hone skills and risk management.
• regular coaching and check-ins.
• goal setting and acheivement sessions.

Experienced guides can expect:

• all of the above.
• to work with management to find a schedule that supports lifestyle and other professional goals.
• advanced guiding opportunities with  our sister company, Wyoming Rivers Cooperative (3-6 day backcountry packrafting expeditions).

WE ARE CURRENTLY HIRING:

North Fork Guide

Raft Guide General

Most of our hiring is done between January and March with the majority completed by May 1st. However, we do accept applications year-round.