EL PRADO GUIDED TOUR FIELD GUIDE
Seven Days of Rivercraft: Intensive Guide Training in Taos’ Wild Waterways
A 7-day course run by Far Flung Adventures teaching paddle-raft guiding, rowing, river camping and two-river, hands-on experience that prepares participants for entry-level guiding roles.
Seven Days of Rivercraft: Intensive Guide Training in Taos’ Wild Waterways.
Set in the high-desert river country around Taos, this weeklong guide school combines classroom orientation with hard hours on whitewater—covering river skills, teamwork and commercial-camp systems while moving between sections of the Rio Grande and a wilderness overnight on the Rio Chama.
Highlights
Outing Highlights
Two-Day Rio Chama Overnight
A multi-day wilderness section on the Rio Chama is built into the course to teach expedition packing, commercial camp setup and rowing heavy-gear boats—an essential dose of backcountry experience that anchors the week.
Hands-On Whitewater on the Rio Grande
Early days focus on guide commands, flat-water practice and intro class II–III runs on the Rio Grande, with the program pushing to more rigorous training—potentially including a Taos Box day run—on the final days.
Professional Instruction and Career Prep
Instruction is delivered by seasoned professionals and an American Canoe Association-certified rafting guide instructor; qualifying students will leave with a Rafting Guide assessment card and practical skills applicable to guiding careers.
What the day feels like
What the Week Feels Like
Expect an immersive, skills-first rhythm: classroom briefings and gear checks give way to on-water practice and command drills, then a wilderness stretch on the Chama for campcraft and heavy-boat rowing, before returning to the Rio Grande for intensified training and final exams.
Suitability
Who it's for
Who this course is for — and who should reconsider.
Practical planner
Details to review before reserving
The program runs over 7 days; students should plan to arrive in Taos the day before the course begins.
Meet at the Far Flung Adventures Boathouse: 15 NM 522, El Prado, NM 87529.
Participants should come prepared for rafting, camping, swimming and hiking; pack accordingly for wet days and overnight river camping.
Students must be 18 years of age or older and physically prepared for the rigors of multi-day river work and camping.
Review cancellation policies before reserving.
Frequently asked questions
Planning Your Outing
Do I need prior rafting experience to join?
No prior experience is necessary; the course accepts students 18 and older and is structured to teach raft guiding fundamentals.
What certification or assessment do I receive?
Qualifying students will leave with a Rafting Guide assessment card; the lead instructor for every guide school is an American Canoe Association-certified rafting guide instructor.
Is there an overnight trip included?
Yes — the week includes a two-day wilderness trip on the Rio Chama to practice multi-day packing, commercial-camp setup and heavy-boat rowing.
How long is the program and when does it start?
The program is 7 days long; specific dates are listed as 'Dates Coming Soon' by the operator.
What should I be prepared for physically?
Participants should be prepared for the rigors of rafting, camping, swimming and hiking over several consecutive days.
Who runs the course?
Far Flung Adventures runs the program; the company has over 48 years of experience and instructors with more than a decade of guiding experience across rivers worldwide.