a river guide guiding a group

Truly the Best in the Business

From the very beginning, Sheri Griffith River Expeditions has been committed to developing and retaining the “best guides on the Colorado Plateau” because we know that extraordinary guides are what differentiate a pleasant trip from an unforgettable one. Our guides stay with us for years and we consider them part of our family. These talented and passionate individuals consistently receive glowing reviews from new and returning guests alike.

What makes the guides at Sheri Griffith River Expeditions so special?

Experience: Our guides are one of our most valuable resources. They go through an in-depth training prior to ever taking you down the river. Every guide on a Sheri Griffith Expeditions trip is qualified based upon the requirements of the Utah State Parks, which means they have logged enough whitewater trips and have demonstrated their abilities to read and run the rivers on which they are guiding. Many of our guides have current WFR (Wilderness First Responder) or EMT certifications and all carry at least Basic First Aid and CPR training. We highly encourage our guides to obtain Swiftwater Rescue training and all guides practice Swiftwater Rescue Techniques during the training each year.

Training: As we all know practice makes perfect. Our custom training program is led by hand picked Trainers, each with a special quality and/or skill. Each year, all of our new guides are taught a variety of technical skills and soft skills by these trainers that have been passed down the line from years of experience. Some of these topics include; River and Backcountry safety, whitewater navigation, cooking skills, interpretive skills and what we call “Our Bag of Tricks.” We all strive to learn and build upon our skills. We do this through annual continuing education, which all guides participate in each year. Beyond that, we highly encourage guides to seek out other ways to expand their vast knowledge to improve themselves and their ability to give you the best trip possible.

Any guides who are new to the company complete an extensive, company-specific training program prior to leading their first trip with us. This professional training includes Wilderness First Aid, Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), Swift Water Rescue, food handler’s classes, and on-river cooking courses as well as geology and natural and human history of the region. New guides also learn the “Sheri Griffith Style” of customer service and are required to run each stretch of river multiple times on their own before they are qualified to guide guests.

The training for returning guides includes changes to trip itineraries, logistics, company policies, tasty new recipes for trip menus and any new research regarding the natural and cultural history of the region. We require all our returning staff to complete training each year, ensuring that our guides will always have the most up-to-date information to help make your trip unforgettable.

Personality and Passion: A few of the words our customers have used to describe our guides are: thoughtful, informative, funny, skilled, passionate, personable, great cooks, gracious, helpful and professional. Our guides continually strive to perfect their knowledge and understanding of our rivers and their secrets so they can share them with you. Being a river guide is much more than simply floating down a river, it is a way of life and our guides made the choice to share their love of the rivers and their canyons with all of our guests.

Our Company is a
Reflection of Our Team

We want to make it work for you.

We know that no two people are alike and that what works for one person isn’t necessarily a good fit for another. We have carefully designed our services to be flexible and accommodating enough to provide an outstanding adventure for everyone. If you’re on a special diet, we’ll make sure you get what you need; if you want the trip to be a day shorter or longer (or need something we haven’t thought of), just let us know and we’ll be happy to work with you!

We want to make a difference in your life.

Our office staff is just as committed to your experience as our river guides. Sure, they will help with logistical details like sending brochures, giving you directions to the office, or reserving camping equipment for you; but what they love to do is listen to your desires and use their extensive knowledge to help you choose or design the perfect outdoor adventure.

We want you to jump for joy!

Our guides are skilled at maneuvering boats down rivers, leading hikes to ancient dwellings, cooking fabulous outdoor meals and taking care of all the logistics so that your vacation is fun and easy. Our guides are professional, knowledgeable, fun, and committed to creating the ambiance you need to feel comfortable enough to jump for joy!

a guide guiding a group

A sampling of guest reviews

Click for more reviews or visit our Trip Advisor Page or follow us on Facebook

“I really did not appreciate how well planned the trip was until I got away from the immediate experience and was able to let it all sink in. The guides were excellent to fantastic. Quality and quantity of food was superb, and I am not at all used to that level of service, I was amazed.” –David Gennert, Dover OH

“Thanks for saving Snoozer my bear. She was sleeping in the raft when she fell out of the raft with no life jacket. My guide saved her, dried her off and she’s glad.” –Chrisit age 5

“Fortunate enough to experience a 4 night trip in Cataract Canyon as part of a teambuilding program….resounding success from many reasons, the main one being the river guides…what an asset these people are.” –Radisson Hotel International

“My concern planning this trip was to find a company that was ‘open’ to working with people with disabilities…All of you were very accommodating and you never saw the wheelchair as a barrier…everyone is telling me this was ‘a trip of a life time.'”- Wheelchair Fitness Program, St. David’s Rehabilitation Center

tour guide sharing info with the group
people rafting down a river
a guide pointing to a rock
a guide pointing to a hut