Best Places To Be A River Guide

Being a river guide is one of the most freeing and adventurous occupations one could have. Unlike cubicle jobs, river guides are right in the middle of nature on a daily basis, taking in the freshwater air and the fragrances of the surrounding flowers and vegetation; occasionally spotting wildlife and helping others enjoy their river adventure. It's a world set apart from the all-encompassing presence of technology; a return to simpler times.

3 Best Places to Be a River Guide

While factors can help determine where you'll seek employment as a river guide, there are 3 top places for being a river guide. The beauty of the region coupled with a fair amount of adventure create for some of the best river tours available in the United States.

- Grand Canyon: It's one of the most frequented tourist attractions in the world, and why not enjoy its beauty daily on the ground level? Being a river guide in the Grand Canyon will give adventurous tourists an up-close look at some of the Canyon's most spectacular ridges and colors that cannot be viewed from the top peering in.

- Yellowstone River: A sparkling river nestled in the heart of some of America's most beautiful landscape, the Yellowstone river is a safe, family-accessible river that will take your breath away each time you begin your tour.

- Rio Grande: Various tour groups will provide river tours on several stretches of the 1900 mile Rio Grande, which extends all the way from southern Colorado to the Gulf of Mexico, crossing through the entire state of New Mexico while forming a boundary between Texas and Mexico. River guides can find employment in any of the states that the Rio Grande flows through.

Factors that Can Help Choose the Best River

If those three locations were a little too mainstream (pun intended!) or touristy for you, fortunately, you have hundreds of other options! With over 25 major rivers and 250,000 smaller rivers and creeks in the United States, choosing the best place to work can be difficult. Consider different variables, such as:

- River Velocity: Do you enjoy slower rivers that result in a slow and relaxing tour? Or do you enjoy the energy of a faster-paced river? The speed of a river is determined primarily by the slope of the landscape, while also factoring in the volume or mass of the river.

- Climate: Summertime is the peak season for river rafting and river tours; but the type of heat varies depending on the river's geographical location. The South is humid and sticky with frequent thunderstorms, while the West has an intense, dry heat and limited rainfall. Mountainous regions (such as the Rockies) can offer bursts of cool air, and the Northeast is generally hot with fluctuating humidity levels.

- Topography: Perhaps the single-most important factor in choosing the river that will best suite your interests is the topography of the region. Do you prefer muddy rivers that wind through marshy swamps; or do you like clearer waters that glide between two mountain peaks?

Ultimately, the best place to be a river guide depends on personal preference. Fortunately, the United States provides ample selection - you can give tours to large groups of people in heavily trafficked areas, or you can opt for personalized tours down a lazy creek. The choice is yours, and you have the freedom to change locale every season.