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Book a guide. Or become one.
Shoulder Season is building a bookings marketplace for mountain bike, rafting, ski and backcountry guides — plus virtual trip consults and shuttle partners. Guides and outfitters stay independent businesses. We provide bookings and take a booking fee. You handle permits, insurance and the trip.
💻 Virtual trip consults
Book a call with a local guide for itinerary help before you travel. Booking opens soon — join the interest list below.
See sample offers →🚐 Book a car shuttle
We move your vehicle from start to finish — raft put-in/take-out, MTB trailheads, ski-tour exits. Interest list open.
Car shuttles →🧭 Apply to guide
Already permitted and insured? Tell us what you run and where. Free to apply.
Apply →📘 Become a Shoulder Season Guide
The instruction manual: USFS, BLM, NPS, state licenses, insurance, certs and a checklist.
Read the manual →🚗 Become a Shoulder Season Driver
Car-shuttle operators: insurance, MVR, key handoff, winter rules — then apply to drive.
Driver manual →🤝 Rent a Guide
Outfitters short on staff: find freelance guides for specific dates. Guides: post your availability.
B2B matching →🗺️ Adventure trips
Licensed outfitters list fixed trips; travelers request or bid. Separate trips site.
Browse trips →Virtual trip consults
Talk with an experienced guide before you show up. Logistics, route choices, gear, timing and local knowledge — on a video or phone call. No land permits required for the guide. Sample offers (prices are placeholders until booking opens):
Moab 3-day MTB itinerary
Trail picks by fitness, shuttle logistics, bike shops and when to avoid heat.
$50–$75 / call
Booking opens soon
Wasatch touring plan
Zone options, avy outlook habits, parking, skin tracks and bail options — planning only, not a safety call.
$50–$75 / call
Booking opens soon
First river trip planning
Which commercial section fits your group, season timing, what to pack and questions to ask the outfitter.
$50–$75 / call
Booking opens soon
Traveler interest list
Booking isn't live yet. Leave your email and the trip you want. We'll email when you can book. No spam.
The bookings marketplace
- Guides / outfitters list trips and consults as independent businesses.
- Travelers book through Shoulder Season. When booking opens, checkout uses Stripe. We retain a 15% booking fee from each booking (shown at checkout); the Operator receives the rest.
- In-person trips require the guide to hold the right permits and insurance for that place. We request copies before listing.
- Virtual consults are the fastest way for guides to start — no USFS / BLM / NPS land permit for a remote call.
- Car shuttles — operators drive your vehicle from start to finish (raft, MTB, or ski touring). Nobody rides along. Independent businesses only. Shuttle hub.
- Cancellations — Cancellation policy (virtual, day, multi-day, car shuttle).
Booking opens soon. Payments via Stripe Connect when live. No charges are taken on interest-list signups.
Become a Guide Become a Driver Rent a Guide Book a car shuttle
Apply to guide
Free to apply. Tell us who you are. For in-person listings we'll follow up for permit and insurance copies.
The Shoulder Season weekly
New ski, raft, bike, lift, patrol and resort jobs, hiring deadlines, river flows and snow. One free email every Monday.
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— The Shoulder Season crew