28 - 29 April 2025
Packraft Essentials: A Novice Paddling & Swiftwater Safety Course Sold Out
Animas
FOUR CORNERS GUIDES
BIKE. PACK. RAFT
We run extraordinary human-powered adventures by bike and packraft to remote regions of the Four Corners, Mexico, Chile & (coming soon!) Costa Rica to challenge, empower and simplify peoples’ lives and to make their adventures safer and more fun. Unplug, play hard and discover more. What’s your course?
Locals Courses!
In 2025, we’re running discounted courses for people who live in the places where we guide: La Plata and Montezuma Counties, Colorado, and White and Grand Counties in Monticello. Look also for our 1-day courses specifically designed for people who purchase their packrafts and equipment from 4Corners Riversports.
Learn To Packraft
Turn the blue lines on maps into trails and acquire the whitewater paddling skills you need to run trips on your own! “We want you to get you on the edge of your own reality to feel things you’ve never experienced.” ~Head Guide Steve “Doom” Fassbinder. Find a packrafting course!
Bikerafting Courses
Have you ever considered lashing your bike on a packraft, paddling down a river, then putting that boat on your bike and hopping on some single track? It’s as easy as that! Well sort of. It helps to understand how to transition and navigate a boat with a bike on it. So learn to Bikeraft. Find a bikerafting course!
Bikepacking in the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Park
There are still blank spots on the map, specifically in the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Park. And Four Corners Guides has the exclusive permit to take you on bikepacking and packrafting trips into the Tribal Park. Sign up for a Tribal Park Tour!
International Packraft Courses
In 2025 we’re running three Level ⓶⓷ courses abroad: Expedition Packrafting in New Zealand and Chiapas, Mexico (January), New Zealand (February) and Chile (March 2026). Learn more!
Packraft & Bikeraft Course Schedule
29 April 2025 - 02 May 2025
Bikepacking & Exploring Ruins in The Ute Mtn. Ute Tribal Park Last Few Tickets
Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Park
03 - 04 May 2025
Packraft Foundations: A Basic Paddling Skills Course for Women of Color – The Armida Huerta Adventure Fund Sold Out
Animas
No event found!
What Level Are You?
How good of a packrafter are you? We know this is a tough question to answer. So we developed a self-assessment guide and pre-trip questionnaire to help place you in the right course. Other companies may have different criteria. Assess yourself…
Level 1
You have no experience packrafting!
Level 2
You've navigated a single-person craft at least 6 to 10 times in a river with up to Class I/II rapids.
Level 3
You can solidly packraft any Class II+/III, catch eddies & self-rescue.
Level 4
You solidly paddle Class III+ at high & low water, have swiftwater certification & can surf like a boss.
Bike. Pack. Raft
Guides & Instructors
Our Guides are all certified Wilderness First Responders and Swiftwater Safety Institute Swiftwater Rescue certified. And our Head Guides are American Canoe Association-certified Level 2-4 Packraft Instructors. Additionally, co-owner Steve Fassbinder is as an International Rafting Federation Whitewater Packraft Guide and Rescue 3 Technician, working toward his instructor certification.
What You Will Learn
We base our instructional courses on confidence and skill progression. Thus we push you a little bit harder each time you advance. As well, we tailor your experience to your abilities. So beginner to intermediate paddlers will learn a wide variety of skills, from basic/intermediate paddle strokes to river reading skills. While more advanced boaters will delve into technical and complex strokes, advanced expedition planning and group decision making. Learn more on our Packrafting Curriculum Page.
- Swimming & General Water Confidence
- Self Rescue & Buddy Assistance
- Hazards & River Dynamics
- Using Eddies
- Dealing with Currents
- Technical & Complex Strokes
- Running Big Waves & Laterals
- Managing Vertical Drops
- Paddling an Expedition Loaded Boat in Whitewater
- How to Read Whitewater
Happy customers
Frank G
“I did a bikerafting tour with Doom on the San Miguel and Dolores Rivers. It was awesome. One of my best biking/outdoor experiences no doubt. Not much prior experience with rivers or swiftwater and had a ton of fun combining my mt bike. The ranch is super cool as well, both Lizzy and Doom are…
“Coming from Iceland and having mostly travelled in colder countries, getting to experience “the Wild West” was one of the most unique experience I’ve had. Steve and Lizzy are such good people what they’re doing at Four Corners Guides is just awesome. If you’re into any type of outdoor adventures they will have something that…
Justin D.
“My wife and I joined FCG for a one-day intermediate whitewater course and a three-day intro to bikerafting course and had a wonderful experience. The instruction, hospitality, and location were all top notch. I would highly recommend a course with Four Corners Guides!”
Jeremiah W.
Photographer
“All time course. Exceptional 5 days filled w/ on water experience, some of the best boaters out there, and solid one-on-one packrafting instruction. Easily accelerates your learning curve and comes with top notch dinners at the ranch. Go get it!”
“Wonderful experience with a tremendous guide and team that handled all details with a great level of care and knowledge. Highly recommend for anyone looking for a great adventure.”
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