Raft Guides

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.

• 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).

Job Overview

WE ARE CURRENTLY HIRING: New Guides Guides and those with 1 + years of experience Most of our hiring is done between January and April with the majority completed by May 1st. However, we do accept applications year-round.

Humble Beginnings

Wyoming River Trips was founded in the winter of 1978 by brothers Rick and Ron Blanchard, previously rodeo cowboys, personally escorting trips that following summer. Since its inception, Wyoming River Trips is the only continually family owned and operated rafting company in the Cody area, focusing on providing safe, family whitewater adventures that are accessible and approachable to all. In 2021 the second generation of the family purchased the business and has been incorporating a more-than-profits mission into the day to day operation. Elyse and Landon run Wyoming Rivers Cooperative in addition to Wyoming River Trips, which focuses on using real world experience on rivers to engage clients in thought and conversation about conservation, sustainability and their personal outdoor ethics.

Culture

We run a class II-III rivers primarily with an emphasis on positive client experience, connection to and curiosity about the natural world and fun. We run a section of the North Fork of The Shoshone River on  National Forest in the early Summer. This is a natural flow river that frequently sees down trees and other debris and requires guides with excellent risk management skills and decision making ability. Besides creating family-focused river trips, in it’s 43-year history, WRT has cultivated a family culture within the business itself. We consistently hire personable, hard-working, capable staff looking to help create a stand-out environment on and off the river. We hold our staff to the highest industry standards, professionalism and attention to detail. WRT is committed to providing more than a fun trip down the river — we are a company that is committed to our clients, staff, and community. We aim to set an example within our community and expect our staff to do the same.

What to Expect

Full-time guides can expect to work 5-6 days a week starting at 7 or 8am. Guides can expect up to 2 days off per week. On your work days, you will work 2 – 4 trips a day, with the exception being early and late seasons where you may work 1 to 2 trips a day.

We strive to give our guides as consistent a schedule as possible and ask that all applying guides and persons extend some understanding regarding the nature of guiding work—work is scheduled when there are bookings and that means there will always be an inherent level of uncertainty about your schedule. If guests are booking 2 weeks out, you will have your schedule two weeks in advance. If guests are booking 24 hours ahead of time, you will have your schedule by the end of the work day prior to your next work day. All guides will be asked to pick up trips on short notice at some point during the summer. We ask all guides to keep black out dates between June 1 – Aug 25th to 6 total. This does not include regular days off. We ask all applying guides to be available July 1-14th, this is typically our busiest two weeks of the Summer.

Full-Time Guides can expect to work 2-3 trips per day at $40-$90/ trip + tips during the busiest part of the season. A full-Time qualified guide can expect that during June and July, two of their Five days may be a full day trip paid at $90-$100/trip + tips on the National Forest. Additionally, qualified guides will have the opportunity to apprentice and work for our other company, Wyoming Rivers Cooperative (wyorivers.com) guiding multi-day packrafting courses.

Part-Time Guides can expect to work 3 days a week and receive calls regarding last-minute bookings. They can also expect to work 2-3 trips per day at $40-$70/ trip + tips during the busiest part of the season.

General Schedule and Expectations

Attend Staff Training: First week of May

Have or Get Swiftwater and First Aid/ CPR certs: Swiftwater Certification assistance available (we may be hosting Swiftwater and Wilderness First Responder in 2023)

Special Benefits

Wilderness First Aid and CPR cert/recert assistance available

End of season bonus for guides who commit to working the entire season. Season runs May 1 - Oct 1

Potential housing stipend or assistance finding a place to live/camp for the Season. We are actively developing staff housing at our property. Guides need to bring their own truck or trailer at this point, tents are not currently a viable option. Please let us know in your application if you: Have housing, need housing or would be planning to camp on our property and use the common kitchen in the warehouse.

• Qualified guides may have the opportunity to guide at Wyoming Rivers Cooperative (wyorivers.com)
• We offer our staff 2 days off a week with 1 day off per week in the high season (late June - July)
• Competitive pay
• Fun, welcoming community environment.

Minimum Requirements

• Some river experience or equivalent outdoor guide/education experience that can transfer to working with people in a river environment is preferred.
• Willingness to learn and continue learning if you have experience
• Effective coaching skills
• Excellent communicator able to give and receive timely feedback
• Compassionate, empathetic and able to take ownership for words and actions
• Desire to work in a dynamic and fun environment
• Loves people and can work with anyone, from any background and with differing beliefs and opinions than your own
• Excited to bring your other passions to the community and share them
• Passion for the natural world and helping facilitate meaningful experiences in the outdoors for others
• Love of crazy outfits a bonus