Join the LCTA team!
Start your next chapter in adventure!
Fill out our Job Application
Email: guide@trailadventures.com with resume and any other pertinent documentation, river logs, first aid/WFR/CPR, etc..
Kick start your guiding experience, head down the Main Salmon on our Annual training trip.
Fundamentals of Whitewater rafting AKA Guide Refresher is a great way to get to know us as a company and vice versa. An opportunity to run the Salmon River of No Return before the summer season starts. There are opporunities to gain experience rowing oar frame gear boats, paddle team guiding, rigging rafts, camp set up and breakdown, camp cooking and Leave no Trace wilderness camping ethics. This trip covers the same 87 miles of the Salmon River where we run our commercial trips during the summer, just condensed into 4 days and 75% off the regular rate.
Not just for guides: If you are a private boater looking to gain multi day river trip experience, this is a great opportunity.
April 16-20, 2025
Price: $460
You will be asked to fill out a detailed participant form after booking your space.
Below are some helpful packing tips:
This is also offered as a course through UM – Fundamentals of Whitewater Rafting ACT 176 – contact us or register through UM for the most up to date course requirements.
The Guide Experience
We accept applications from experienced guides AND first year guides. We cater to a diverse guest clientele, families with kids, professional and social groups, historical & cultural travelers and whitewater thrill seekers. We are looking for staff who are; socially engaging, attentive to details, creative problem solvers, ready for a fast paced and dynamic work environment. We want your experience at LCTA to be more than just a line on your resume, but an impactful life experience, building relationships that span far into your future.
LCTA guides get a diverse guiding experience, between the day trips on the Alberton Gorge, Lochsa, Salmon and even the canoe trips on the Missouri. Our guides tend to gravitate towards working in a particular trip area, however, we are a diverse TEAM of guides and we expect all staff to expand their experience by guiding or training in all locations. We encourage our staff to take advantage of opportunities professionally and personally from your guiding career that can take your life down unexpected and amazing paths!
Many guides locate permanently in Montana or Idaho and return to guest guide trips for years after they transition to year around careers. We think it says a lot about our company, that many of our guides return each season.
The Living Experience
We have a mix of guides that live in Missoula year around or come just for the summer, attend college or work other outdoor industry jobs during the winter. Those that stay in Missoula, enjoy living and working jobs/careers that allow them to return and guide trips as often as they choose. Missoula has so much to offer – of course outdoor adventure, kayaking, fishing, hiking & biking, but also – culture and diversity from the University of Montana, live MUSIC, great food and nightlife.
We now have 3 new outposts for guide quarters in different locations – each place has space for camping / sleeping with access to a bathroom, shower and cooking facility.
Alberton Gorge – located right on the river next the Cyr bridge put-in.
Lolo, MT – in the town of Lolo, Salmon River trip base location.
Fort Benton – 1310 Front Street – conveniently located acrsoss from the Grand Union Hotel.
Hiring, Training and Summer Season Timeline
Mid April – Guide training & refresher course the week of April 15th. After the training trip, we will be prepping for Lochsa River season. Potential non-guiding work opportunities or also a good time to continue with other work until the season gets busier.
May – mid June – new guide training in mid-May, exact date TBD depending on guide & staff availability and water levels on Missoula rivers. LOCHSA SEASON – weekends May – mid June – experienced Class IV guides, mostly returning LCTA guides or new guides with Lochsa or equivalent river experience. Excellent opportunity for new guides to train up on a Class IV river.
June – ongoing training for new whitewater guides on the Clark Fork Town Float, Blackfoot, Alberton Gorge and Missouri River canoe trips. By mid – late June the season is in full operation, running commercial trips on all areas.
End June – July – mid August – PEAK season and fully staffed running at capacity for day trips on the Alberton Gorge and Clark Fork Town Floats, multi day trips on the Missouri & Salmon Rivers. All hands on deck!
Mid August – mid September – end of season trips ongoing but less volume. Some guides return to college or fall / winter jobs.
Diverse work opportunities available with option to combine with guiding
Driving and/or equipment maintenance
Food shopping and/or trip prep & packing
If you are looking to expand your work experience into management in the outdoor industry
Alberton Gorge River Manager – oversee overall operations of the Alberton Gorge, may include but not limited to – logistics, guide scheduling, gear maintenance, customer meet & greet
Missouri River Manager – oversee overall logistics of the Missouri River trips, may include but not limited to – logistics, food shopping & packing, gear maintenance, shuttles
We strive to match staff skill set with job opportunities, sometimes a combination of any of the above is the best match!
ALL POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES ARE EVALUATED WITHOUT REGARD TO RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, GENDER, NATIONAL ORIGIN, AGE, MARITAL OR VETERAN STATUS, THE PRESENCE OF A NON-JOB RELATED HANDICAP OR ANY OTHER LEGALLY PROTECTED STATUS.
Lewis & Clark Trail Adventures (LCTA) is a licensed service partner with the USDA Clearwater and Salmon National Forests, Bureau of Land Management, and Fish, Wildlife & Parks. We are members of the Idaho Outfitter and Guides Association