ABOUT

Grand Junction Adventures is your place for watercraft rentals, with a full suit of equipment up to 16' rafts. We also provide both daily and multi-day guided river trips, guided mountain biking, climbing, hiking and yoga adventures. Full river and Mtn Bike shuttle service available.

Born from hardship and a desire to return to our roots, Grand Junction Adventures started as a paddle board rental shop on the banks of our local Highline Lake. Originally serving 1/2 as a summer side hustle and 1/2 as a day care for our three children. From those humble beginnings we have grown through the years to three locations hosting a full suite of equipment up to large rafts and the ability to provide fully guided private adventures showcasing the amazing nooks and crannies of our beautiful Western Slope.

From our shop on the banks of the Colorado River in Downtown Grand Junction we provide guided river trips on all of the rivers that surround town including the famous Ruby Horsethief Canyon just West of town. Our fleet of high-quality rental equipment spans from large rafts down to tubes and include a local river shuttle to get you out on the water for a family friendly, no hassle experience. We have deep roots here in Colorado and over twenty years on the Western Slope join us for an adventure and you will see that without a doubt.

We Know the West Side!

We have something for all ages and experience levels. Get started today!

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CONTACT

Meet Our Crew!

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Elizabeth Fortushniak - Stover

Owner / Manager

Growing up on the coast of Lake Huron in Eastern Michigan. water was a big part of those early summer days “There wasn’t much for us to do but get out on the water”. Moving to Colorado in 1997 she found herself in Leadville, Colorado working as a Mountain Guide and finishing up an associates in environmental science. A later iteration saw her finish a Bachelors of Science and spending 7 years on the corporate ladder as an environmental compliance manager. The modern version of Liz has her working as a “momtrapnure” running the day-to-day operations of Grand Junction Adventures, head shuttle driver to her three active kids and teaching yoga at one of the local studios. FUN FACT – An interest in yoga that started as a way to keep her sanity has developed into an obsession and has built the foundation of her Ruby Horsetheif Yoga retreats.

Certification

World paddle Association & American Canoe Association L1 Instructor

American Canoe Association L2-L3 Instructor Canidate

American Canoe Association IV Swiftwater Rescue

Certified Colorado 500 River mile Trip Leader

Certified 500 hr. RYT (Registered Yoga Teacher Training)

Wilderness First Aid & CPR

James Stover

Guide Manager / Business Development Manager

A native of South-Central Alaska, James family history spans five generation in the Great North. A day job as a contractor in the Oil and Gas industry, James trades in his hard hat each summer for a guides PFD to help run the day-to-day operations of GJ Adventures. He is the guide manager and helps with business development. Before family life took over, climbing and skiing were primary objectives and resulting in expeditions to places like Kyrgyzstan and Patagonia. Several 1st ascents on the great walls of the Ruth Gorge in the Alaska Range hold true as special memories. He is a former ski patroller, EMT and recovering carpentry addict. The modern iteration James involves being a dad to three amazing kids, teaching them how to ski powder and helping them learn to explore the wonders of life.

Certifications

American Canoe Association - LVL 4 Swiftwater Rescue

American Canoe Association - LVL 3 Swiftwater Instructor

Certified Colorado 500 river mile Trip Leader

American Mountain Guides Association SPI (Single Pitch Instructor)

American Mountain Guides Association Apprentice Rock Guide

Wilderness First Responder & CPR

Matt

A jack of all trades, Matt is always keeping the shop rolling with his tales of high adventure or dirty jokes. The consummate guide in every way he is always ensuring our guess have an awesome time! landing in Grand Junction after a two-year stint on the road. Previous iterations of Matt involve ten years at Boeing welding parts that keep airplanes in the sky and running a Pizza truck he help build with his business partner. Equally at home on the water rowing a rig down Ruby Horsetheif or Guiding guests down the plunge. He passion is all things two wheels and he love sharing this with our guests.

Certification and Experince

PMBIA Level 1 Mtn Bike Instructor

Certified 50 Hr Colorado River Guide

Wilderness First Aid & Current CPR

Scott

With more than 200 trips down Ruby Horsetheif and river experience that spans three states Scott is our most senior guide. A true caretaker he trades his Oars in for a pair of skis as PSIA certified instructor. Scott is a former Hollywood stuntman who relocated and landed back on the western slope after a successful career in the studio guild. He has a passion for providing memorable experiences and has about as many one liner as need to keep us all rolling. Equally at home on a Paddleboard or rowing a rig down Westwater he is the consummate guide in every way, he is full of surprises on those 100-degree Ruby trips.

Certification and Experience

Certified 1500 mile Colorado River Guide Instructor

PSIA Level 3 Ski/Snowboard Instructor

Wilderness First Aid & Current CPR

Dave

Dave is one of our instructors he’s a certified guide and helps with the boathouse and shuttle from time to time. He has been with GJ adventures since the beginning Erics day job is as a full-time manager for the school district hopes to retire from the school district soon.

Certification and Experience

American Canoe Association - LVL 4 Swiftwater Rescue

Lizbet

Lizbet runs our Parachute operations. A three-year veteran of the Parachute boat house, after her season as a schoolteacher she manages our weekend boathouse operations. A lover of the river and providing great experiences to our guests.

Certification and Experience

American Canoe Association - LVL 4 Swiftwater Rescue

Spark

Spark is the unofficial mascot of Grand Junction Adventures. He’s very fond of belly rubs and making friends, A water dog at heart he loves being on front of the Board paddling down a calm flatwater stretch. You can usually find him lounging around our shop at Las Colonias or playing fetch out in the field.

Certification and Experience

Standard Schnauzer 100% Lovable

Land SUP instruction Connected Lakes East Middle School 2018

Susan

Susan is one of our instructors she’s a certified LVL paddle Board Instructor and helps with the boathouse and shuttle from time to time. She has been with GJ adventures since the beginning Susan is a retired nurse.