Work in Jackson Hole

“When I first applied to Mad River I thought it would be cool to work a fun job in a beautiful area for a few months. Little did I know how hard I would fall in love. My co-workers have become some of my best friends and my family. Mad River has the funnest and friendliest work environment I have ever been a part of. One season has already turned in to two and I definitely can see more in the future.”

“I was somewhat lost when I found my job at Mad River. When I arrived I was treated like a long lost family member. As the summer progressed the love in this family grew stronger. We all became a great team that ran without too many hiccups. We got our work done with a smile on our faces and our guests always shared that smile at the end of the day. Leaving for the winter was heartbreaking. Don’t be too sad for me, the reunion and addition of more family members the following summer made the time apart worth it. I love the people that I work with and this job is one that people are happy to be at. All I ask is that in the many summers to come I be invited back.”

“Working at Mad River feels more like going to summer camp than going to a job. The community at Mad River is second to none and every day when I go to work it feels like I am getting paid to have fun with my friends. The atmosphere is always great and there is always something new and fun going on. Whether you’re on the river guiding or just hanging out at the boat house, you’re going to be having a good time at Mad River.”

“Wanted: Hard working, fun loving, good-looking individuals with a passion for the outdoors and an attitude to boot. I’ve worked a variety of jobs at Mad River for the last two summers, and they’ve been some of the best times of my life (so far!) There’s nothing better than working a job where your co-workers also end up being not just your friends, but your family as well. We’re just a big group of dirty river hippies who love each other to death. In all seriousness, though, Mad River Boat Trips is probably the greatest place you could ever seek employment. There’s never a dull day on the river, or in the office. If you are looking for a work environment full of some of the most wonderful people you’ll ever meet, we’d love for you to join us.”

“My summer at Mad River was the most fun summer I’ve ever had. I go to school during the fall and winter semesters in school, and my summers are really important to me because of that. There is no better place to spend summer than in the Tetons and working for a river rafting company -especially Mad River. I had already landed a job in Jackson somewhere else, but I kept looking since I didn’t feel right about it. But when I met KC and Andrew at Mad River, I knew right away that it was the right place. Mad River is a big family. Everyone works together, plays together, work relationships are friendships – that’s really the bottom line right there. People are happy to help you with questions and help you succeed. Mad River will always be a stop for me when I’m in Jackson for the rest of my life. Heck – people that had worked there 20 years earlier stopped in for a visit now and then. And after a summer working there, it’s easy to understand why!”

“I signed up for Mad River Guide School in 2007 in hopes that I would get a job for a raft company. I was waiting tables at the time and wanted to find a fun job that challenged me and was outside.I had no idea what I was in for. Mad River Boat Trips is an amazing company to work for.My bosses have become two of my best friends and the crew is like family to me. I get to share my passion for rivers with children that may be experiencing rafting for the first time, adults that may be on their one and only trip to cross off their bucket list, and young girls who learn they too can guide or do whatever they want. My favorite part of my job is being outside and working in the best office you could ask for – sitting on the back of a boat floating down the Snake River.”

“Working at Mad River is not really like work at all… You come to the shop in the morning to prepare a bunch of toys for a day on the river and then go play, and then comes the kicker, we get payed to do it! Beside the fact that our office is the Snake River itself, probably one of the more beautiful offices in the world, there are many things I love about working for Mad River. Mad River is a place to expand one’s knowledge of the river world. It’s encouraged to go run other rivers when given the opportunity and to learn about the conservation of our watershed. We give back to the community and offer educational floats to the local 5th graders in the fall, and also have rafting programs that encourage young kids to read instead of being sucked in by too much technology these days. There are many more examples that I could give that would help explain why I think Mad River is an amazing place to work, but what it comes down to is that Mad River has created a work environment built around safety and fun, and in the river world, or any profession, that’s hard to beat!”

“Working for Mad River can be be described in this short phrase: work hard, play harder. My husband and I took a big jump moving to Jackson and working for Mad River, and it was one of the best things we have done together. We were immediately a part of the Mad River family, and made lifelong friends with some of the coolest people on the planet (for reals, the whole planet). We ate a lot of good food (you haven’t lived until you have eaten Mad River Ribs), listened to a lot of live music and spent a lot of time exploring Wyoming. I wish we could have made the summer stretch just a little bit (or a lot) longer. Mad River offers so much more than just a summer job, it is a community that opens so many doors.”

“Working at Mad River has been one of the most fun experiences of my life. My wife and I have always wanted to do things out of the norm, when we decided to go live in our van and work for a river rafting company many people were skeptical, (mostly our parents), including us. When we pulled in the first day and my wife saw that outdoor shower she panicked. I think we were both worried about making the right decision. However, in that same day we were accepted as if we were life-long friends. Mad River has a family feeling; many of us live in close quarters. We work, play, eat and do most things together. I was able to meet and socialize with people who have done amazing things with their lives, some of the most interesting people in the world. This summer taught us a lot about ourselves, we grew and changed and we loved it. If you are considering coming to work for Mad River, DO IT. It is the right decision; where else is there a summer job where you can finish the summer feeling like you were on a 3 month vacation. I promise you will finish the summer glad you did and if you have a wife, she will even learn to love the outdoor shower.”

“The river guiding life is a life that few people get to experience. The years I was a guide for Mad River were some of the funnest years of my life. KC Bess offers unreal trainings that require you to maintain control and manage rescue scenarios and situations. Many of the skills I learned as a guide have helped me in other aspects of my life like “go slow to go fast” and “stop, reset, go”. I have so many fond memories from boat flips to surfing Lunch Counter when the water levels are just right. Not to mention meeting people from all over the world. Germans are crazy!”

“You wanna work here. Trust me. Look around, sure it’s pretty in Jackson Hole, but look deeper. Look at the smiles pasted on the faces of the staff. Look at the way they enjoy their surroundings almost as much as they enjoy each other’s company. When I first started here, I couldn’t stop saying to myself “Really!? This is a JOB?!” Thirteen years have come and gone since and I’ve never stopped feeling that way. Sometimes, I look up at the half light of the canyon on the cliffs, take a deep breath, and I still can’t believe it’s real. I never loved a job the way I love this one. You learn things you can’t get doing anything else. You have to face fears, facts, shortcomings, accountabilities, and you’ll make the best friends of your life all at the same time. It’s my favorite thing I’ve ever done. Seriously, get in the yellow boat!”

“Mad River Boat Trips is an awesome place to work! Why you ask? I’ll tell you why. I’ll start with the family like atmosphere. As a seasonal employee I live on site along with other seasonal employees. The company has gone out of their way to make us feel at home as much as possible. There is a common area in the boat house for us to gather and socialize. Internet is available for all to use. There is a really awesome outdoor shower, a refrigerator for our use, a barbecue and microwave, as well as a washer and dryer. There is a multitude of outdoor activities to enjoy on your day off as well as while you are working. One of the perks of working for a whitewater rafting company is you can go down the river as many times as you want for free as long as there is space on the boat. I like to go into town to shop and eat at the local restaurants. If you like to see wildlife there is an abundance of mule deer, elk, moose, bald eagles, and osprey. If you’re lucky you might get to see some buffalo, mountain goats, or a bear. One of my favorites to see are the American White Pelicans that nest on the scenic stretch of the river. The pay in my opinion is awesome and a bonus is available if you work the entire high season. This is a great place to work. My only regret is that I didn’t find this job 20 years ago.”

“Mad River is, hands down, the best rafting outfit in Jackson. I love working at Mad River for a few reasons: 1) Getting paid to play–The days are long and there is a lot of physical and mental work done on the daily, but at the end of the day, we’ve been getting paid to do what others are paying to do. 2) Friends—Going back to Mad River season after season and catching up with great friends about their winter’s crimes is one of the things I look forward to all winter long; hanging out at the boat house, climbing, hiking, biking, and paddling in the mountains of Jackson with good friends is one of my favorite things about working at Mad River. 3) The boat house—another reason I love working for MRBT is that the boat house is literally and figuratively my home. Despite the rowdy river guide scene, I know my four kids are safe to hang out there. Also, the dinner parties (lobster, low-country boil, BBQ, grilled pizza) are top notch. 4) The training—Mad River is one of the only outfits that pays their employees to train and pays for their training; not to mention that Mad River has, by far, the most rescue certifications and medical training in Jackson. Through Mad River’s extensive training I have been able to join my local Swift Water and High Angle Search and Rescue teams.”

“I have been working for Mad River for 4 summers and could not imagine working for anyone else in the valley. The friends you meet will last a lifetime and the fun you will have will last all summer. It can get pretty hectic in the high season so being a team player is imperative. Most people around Mad River are jack of all trades. I can’t wait till next spring to do it all over again! See you at high water!!!”

“The best thing about working for Mad River is you are constantly surrounded by natural beauty and you get to work with some of the greatest people that you’ve ever met in your life. It’s the kind of place where you work together and you want to hang out with each other at night. Whether you’re working here for a summer or many years, Mad River will change your life.”

“Working at Mad River, you’re surrounded by quality people who are very knowledgeable and enjoy the outdoors. I learned so much from the new friends that I made here. The people that work at Mad River inspire me to leave my temporary belongings aside, and to go out and get after it! It’s an amazing thing to have so many positive examples surrounding you daily; showing you that life is a full and colorful experience if you let it be. At Mad River I consider my co-workers my family; we’re a team who works together, laughs together, rafts together, shares a couple beers together, and ultimately grows together. Because of our family dynamic, Mad River has created an inviting environment for fellow rafters and friends to join our team or to at least join us as we go down the river. I’m so happy that I can say that there’s nothing like the feeling of being excited when I wake up to go to work. Thank you Mad River for the experience, inspiration, and new friends that I can call family!”