Rafting and Kayaking Resources

Northeast:

Southeast:

  • Nantahala Outdoor Center, based on multiple rivers in the region with decades of experience in rafting, kayak instruction and adventure travel
  • Wildwater Ltd. runs rafting trips on rivers throughout the southeast

Rocky Mountains:

Southwest:

  • AzRA specializes in Grand Canyon rafting adventures
  • Wild Rivers operates on multiple rivers and offers additional adventure packages
  • Mild 2 Wild in the scenic deserts of the southwest runs raft and adventure trips on multiple rivers

Northwest:

Canada:

  • Esprit Whitewater on the Ottawa River in Quebec runs raft trips, kayak instruction and international adventures
  • Kootenay River Runners located in British Columbia runs raft trips throughout western Canada

Best Raft Guide Training Schools

  • Wilderness Voyageurs in Pennsylvania offers a comprehensive weekend guide training school every spring
  • Wet Planet Rafting on the Salmon River in Washington offers a guide school to complete all 50 hours required by Washington State
  • Esprit Whitewater boasts a one-month, WAVE, and a three-month, WILD, guide training program that develops student’s skills in rafting, kayaking and outdoor leadership
  • Nantahala Outdoor Center in the southeastern United States trains new guides on multiple rivers to fit any skill level
  • National Outdoor Leadership School, NOLS offers month to semester long outdoor leadership training programs including medical certifications
  • American Canoe Association sponsors kayak instructor training and raft guide training sessions throughout the country
  • SOLO offers medical certification courses required to be a rafting guide
  • O.A.R.S. Instructional Paddling Programs are top-notch. Check out their 7-14 day whitewater guiding programs (California and Utah) and their Rogue River rowing clinic in southern Oregon. O.A.R.S. also offers a stand-up paddleboarding clinic as well as whitewater kayaking instructional courses in Idaho.
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