2025 Colorado River Guide Certification course

This professional river guide course is designed to give you the skills needed to guide commercially on the rivers in and around Colorado’s North Fork Valley. These rivers range from calm class I/II waters of the Gunnison, to intermediate class III whitewater on the North Fork. Though it takes years of dedication to master river-running skills, this 2-week course provides the foundation from which to begin the journey, teaches basic competence, gives you the opportunity to earn your Colorado River Guide License, and work as a professional river guide with Western Slope SUP. Class size is limited to provide personalized instruction in the best learning environment available. We intend to hire all graduates. 50% of tuition will be paid back to guides who complete the 2025 season with Western Slope SUP.

River guiding requires a high degree of physical and mental endurance. During this course you will be expected to carry rafts as a team, swim in the river potentially everyday… rain, snow, or shine, flip boats, and spend all day every day on the water. All necessary equipment including wetsuit, helmet, and river shoes will be provided. No previous experience is necessary, or expected to join this program.

This course is divided into two sessions:

Session 1 focuses on stand up paddle, and rafting with oars in class I/II whitewater.

Session 2 focuses on whitewater paddle rafting in class III whitewater.

Over both sessions we will cover all State of Colorado requirements for commercial river guides including:

• 50+ hours of training with a professional guide instructor

• Rigging and maneuvering

• River currents, eddies & waves

• River Hazards

• Types and causes of rapids

• Running & scouting rapids

• River rescue & emergency procedures

• Minimizing outdoor recreation resource impacts

• proper fit, wearing, and use of personal flotation devices.

What to Expect

Each day begins at 8:00 am at our boat house in Hotchkiss. Here we will get an overview of the day ahead, load boats on trailers, dress for conditions, and head to the river in the company van. You will need to bring a lunch, water bottle, warm layers, and a dry change of clothes each day. We will not return to the boathouse until the end of the day. Prepare to be in session as late as 5:00 pm. Expect to work hard, learn a lot, and be treated with respect.

After course completion you will be given the opportunity to hone your skills by riding along with, and shadowing commercial river trips. Once you are ready, we will schedule a day for you to guide your first commercial trip with a guide instructor riding along. This is called a checkout run. The day of your checkout run you must show up with all required guide gear listed below, a log of 50+ training hours which you completed in guide school, and a valid CPR/First Aid certificate. After the checkout run your instructor will determine whether or not your skills are proficient to guide commercially. If not, we will schedule another checkout run for you. If so, congratulations! Your training is over and you just became a licensed Colorado river guide.

As a first year guide, work on the river can be scarce at first. We recommend a second job while you develop your skills, and work your way up on the roster. We can usually fill in a part-time schedule for those interested in driving shuttles and working in the shop as well.

What is included

• Professional instructor

• Small Class size

• All rafting equipment

• Wetsuit, water shoes, PFD, helmet, dry bag for use during the course

• Half tuition paid back to guides who complete the 2025 season with Western Slope SUP

Still interested?

We Can’t wait to talk with you!

Send us an email or give us a call:

info@westernslopesup.com

(970) 872-2352