5 Reasons To Become A River Guide

Looking for some of the best outdoor jobs in New Mexico? Join the team at New Mexico River Adventures! We’re actively hiring new and experienced guide staff along with many other supporting positions each year. Our family owned operation strives to provide the greatest outdoor adventures and whitewater rafting in New Mexico. Guess what? Our team gets to have a lot of fun too! Keep reading to learn more about becoming a river guide.

1. Connecting With Rivers

There is no doubt that many people have or develop strong connections with rivers.  Rivers are very powerful forces in nature that will draw you in.  There is nothing like the connectivity you feel when you surf your first wave and delicately carve back and forth while watching the speed of the current swiftly pass you by on its way downstream.  Listen to the river sing sweet songs as you retell the stories of the day with your fellow Guides.   It’s not uncommon at all for river guides to work hard all-day taking care of their gusts through fun whitewater and when the day is done, load up their kayak or raft and head right back out for more with friends.  The river tends to draw you in and help connect you with all your surroundings including the canyon, flora, fauna as well as the friends you’re out their taking it all in with.

2. Learning To Lead

One of the most empowering aspects of river guiding is growing your leaderships skills.  Many career river guides started out as young as 18 years old.  To be put in charge of safely and informatively guiding groups, many of whom are much older than you, for a day or longer, is quite empowering.  Make sure to choose the right Guide Training program which will give you all the tools you need to excel as a guide and evolve into a day and multi-day trip leader with a wide variety of responsibilities beyond simply steering the boat downstream.

3. Community

When you become a raft guide, you enter a large community of great, like minded people.  You gain access to some of the most beautiful parts of the planet.  This world of river guides always feels much smaller than it actually is.  It doesn’t matter if you choose to check out a different river in the Southern Hemisphere in the winter or check out a close by river on our day off, you will be welcomed as a kindred spirit into the local guiding community often times with instant river running partners to explore and adventure.

4. Career Opportunities

One of our favorite comments from people is “when are you going to start your real job or career?”.  Guess what…You Have!  Many career river guides started their river life not knowing that it would become their life long passion.  If it speaks to you, you will soon see how many different places and amazing opportunities exist for you.  Rivers can take you all around the world and introduce you to unique and amazing people places and cultures.  Think about any number of southern hemisphere destinations during your off season like Chile, Zambia or New Zealand as premier destinations.  All forward!

5. Become a Kayaker

I challenge you to find a job that is more fun than being a river guide.  Our office is a beautiful canyon and you typically have the opportunity to learn other ways of paddling downstream on your off time (cough cough New Mexico kayaking).  With certified instructors on the staff, there is usually a bribe you can offer for an after-work lesson and then you’re off.  Even if river guiding doesn’t become your career, you will have leaned other ways to enjoy the river for a lifetime!

Becoming A River Guide At New Mexico River Adventures

Excited about this opportunity? New Mexico River Adventures as a great training program that offers new river guides all of the experience and support they need to get started. Don’t let another adventure-less summer pass you by. Apply online today!

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