Choose Your Adventure

RIGS has offered its Colorado State River Guide Certification Course since 2002 and provided the most extensive guide certification course, with the highest level of certifications, available in the region. Your instructors have been training top quality river guides since 1991 and look forward to sharing their experience with you. Your Lead Instructor for this course is Owner -Tim Patterson.  Tim has 20 years experience in training Professional River Guide and has worked commercially on the Arkansas River, Gunnison River, Colorado River (Grand Canyon), Salt and Verde Rivers, as well as several rivers throughout Guatemala - C.A.  Several additional RIGS Certified Guide Instructors will join us throughout the course providing a diverse level of skill, technique and experience.

*NOTE: If you are specifically looking for Rowing/Oar Boat Training, please consider our: ROW Course - Oar Boat Skills (including Float Fishing), as an aspect of your Guide Certification (separate cost).  Participants who are signed up for our River Guide Certification Course, will receive a $100 discount if adding the ROW Course to their training and be more valuable to the RIGS Team by being versed in multiple skill sets!  Inquire for further details.  

On the first morning of training, you will be provided a River Guide Training Log Sheet, which must be signed by your Instructor and details the amount of training hours necessary to Commercially Guide River Trips in the State of Colorado. After successfully completing the course, you will have the opportunity to be "signed off" by a Certified Trip Leader, allowing you to legally guide commercial rafting trips throughout the State of Colorado. Small course size ensures a great learning environment and plenty of personal attention. We will be on the river all day, every day, and cover all aspects of river running and commercial guiding. The course will cover all topics required by the State of Colorado for commercial guides including: 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 floatation devices. Immediately following our Guide Certification Course, we will host (separate instructors) the following courses required to be a guide: First Aid & C.P.R. ( additional $100) and Swiftwater Rescue Technician (additional $350).  *Payment for these additional components must be made directly to the instructor, prior to the course

This is a physical course, running class I through IV rivers. You will be required to carry rafts, flip boats, swim in the river, and be generally active. We will provide all necessary equipment including P.F.D.'s, helmets, paddles, etc.  We will provide transportation and take care of all shuttles. If you have personal boating gear, bring it with you and we will determine its suitability. You will need clothing and footwear suitable for rafting (Chaco, TEVA, KEEN or similar wet shoes or booties) and a packed lunch everyday. Dry clothes for the end of the day are also a must. While completing our course does not guarantee employment, we will be hiring for the upcoming season and requires all of the above mentioned certifications. Our company's goal is to provide the best in customer safety, an energetic personality - we are looking for service oriented individuals.