TL;DR
- Forest Service seasonal trail jobs (GS-3 to GS-5) paid $15.54 to $25.37 an hour on Ashley National Forest in 2026. National Park Service trail laborers (WG-3) were advertised at $20.03 to $24.75 an hour.
- Conservation corps pay a living allowance: $400 a week at American Conservation Experience, $480 a week plus $120 at Southwest Conservation Corps, $1,200 every two weeks at Montana Conservation Corps, plus an AmeriCorps education award of $1,565.08 to $7,395.
- Crews work in hitches. Southwest Conservation Corps typically runs 8 days on and 6 off at 10 hours a day; ACE runs 4 to 8 days in the field and 3 to 6 days off.
- Summer 2026 federal trail jobs opened as early as November 24, 2025; Forest Service windows closed March 3, 2026. Montana Conservation Corps opens in December.
- Sawyer certification comes in A, B and C levels, lasts three years and is valid only with current first aid and CPR. NOLS Wilderness First Aid is 16 hours and $300 to $420.
Trail crews build and repair the trails on public land, mostly by hand. You dig tread, set rock steps and water bars, saw fallen trees out of the corridor, and camp near the work for a week or more at a time. Conservation corps take people with no trail experience and train them; federal jobs screen for related experience or, at GS grades, related college.
So there are two doors. A seasonal Forest Service or Park Service job pays an hourly wage and is posted on USAJOBS in winter. A conservation corps pays a living allowance plus an education award, feeds you in the field, and certifies you on saws and first aid.
What does a trail crew do all day?
Heavy, repetitive labor, usually far from a road. The National Park Service describes its seasonal trail laborer job as clearing brush and fallen logs from trail corridors, digging for long periods with a shovel and pick, carrying logs, rolling rocks, and building drainage structures and backcountry bridges. The job routinely lifts 50 pounds and up to 150 pounds or more with help, and much of the season is spent in remote backcountry camps, cooking over an open fire and sleeping in a tent (NPS trail laborer announcement, 2025).
The work gets more skilled as you move up. Isle Royale’s WG-5 trail workers install and replace water diversion bars and clear windfalls and rockslides. Bandelier’s WG-7 trail worker builds rock steps, retaining walls and bridges, may hike up to 20 miles a day with power or hand tools, and frequently carries objects over 100 pounds. On the Forest Service side, Ashley National Forest lists trail repair and wilderness protection among its 2026 seasonal duties.
Corps crews do it in small teams. A Southwest Conservation Corps crew is 6 members and 2 leaders working 10-hour days on trail construction and maintenance, fencing, fuels reduction and restoration (Southwest Conservation Corps 2026 summer listing). Montana Conservation Corps crews camp for the full length of each project, often in remote places, in all weather.
Who hires trail crews?
Federal land agencies, conservation corps, some state parks and trail nonprofits. The Forest Service hires seasonal trail workers as Forestry Aids and Forestry Technicians in the GS-0462 series, and on February 12, 2026 it announced plans to hire up to 2,000 seasonal positions for the summer recreation season. Ashley National Forest in Utah advertised 2 Recreation (Trails) jobs at GS-3 to GS-5 in Duchesne. Gifford Pinchot National Forest in Washington listed trail and wilderness work at Trout Lake (GS-3 to GS-5) and Randle (GS-3 to GS-6).
The National Park Service hires trail crews on the federal wage-grade scale, as Laborers (WG-3 and WG-4) and Maintenance Workers (WG-5 to WG-7). One 2025 announcement covered Rocky Mountain, Glacier, Grand Teton and Yellowstone, with 10 vacancies at Grand Teton alone. Bureau of Land Management trail work is also done by corps: ACE says its crews work alongside staff from the Park Service, Forest Service, BLM and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
The main corps are Montana Conservation Corps, Southwest Conservation Corps (part of Conservation Legacy), American Conservation Experience, Northwest Youth Corps, the Washington Conservation Corps (run by the state Department of Ecology), the California Conservation Corps (a state agency) and the Student Conservation Association. Most enroll you in AmeriCorps. Some state parks hire crews directly; Colorado’s Eldorado Canyon State Park advertised a trail crew assistant at $20 to $25 an hour in January 2026 to build stone stairways and retaining walls.
The Pacific Crest Trail Association and Appalachian Trail Conservancy run mostly volunteer crews. PCTA’s 979 volunteers put in 57,515 hours and maintained 1,134 miles of trail in 2024. ATC hires crew leaders each winter and says volunteering on crew has led to staff jobs. Current openings are on the trail crew jobs page.
How much do federal trail crew jobs pay?
From $15.54 to $30.40 an hour in 2026, depending on agency, grade and location.
| Job | Agency and grade | 2026 hourly pay | Where |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forestry Aid | Forest Service, GS-3 | $15.54 at step 1 | Rest of U.S. pay area |
| Forestry Technician | Forest Service, GS-4 | $17.45 at step 1 | Rest of U.S. pay area |
| Forestry Technician | Forest Service, GS-5 | $19.52 at step 1 | Rest of U.S. pay area |
| Forestry Technician | Forest Service, GS-6 | $21.76 at step 1 | Rest of U.S. pay area |
| Seasonal Laborer (Trails) | Park Service, WG-3 | $20.54–$24.75 | Rocky Mountain, Glacier, Grand Teton, Yellowstone |
| Seasonal Laborer (Trails) | Park Service, WG-3 | $20.03–$23.51 | Shenandoah |
| Seasonal Maintenance Worker (Trails) | Park Service, WG-5 | $23.20–$27.07 | Isle Royale |
| Seasonal Maintenance Worker (Trails) | Park Service, WG-7 | $26.07–$30.40 | Bandelier |
Sources: OPM Salary Table 2026-RUS, effective January 2026; USAJOBS park announcements. Accessed Sep 13, 2026.
The Forest Service rows are step 1 of OPM’s Rest of U.S. table, which includes a 17.06 percent locality payment; forests in other locality areas use their own tables. Expect step 1, because the Park Service announcements state that a new federal hire is entitled only to the lowest step of the grade. Wage-grade rates vary by location, which is why each Park Service job shows a range. Seasonal appointments are capped at 1,039 hours, though some, like Bandelier’s, run to 1,560.
What do conservation corps trail crews pay?
A living allowance by the week or month, plus an AmeriCorps education award when you finish.
| Program | Who and where | Pay | Season | Housing and food |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Montana Conservation Corps, Field Crew Member | Bozeman, Helena, Kalispell, Missoula; ages 17–30, 35 for veterans | $1,200 every two weeks before taxes; $3,697.50 award | May to October | Own tent on hitches, own housing between; $10 a day food per diem |
| Southwest Conservation Corps, Summer Conservation Crew | Salida, Colorado; 18+ | $480 a week plus $120 a week additional benefit; $1,565.08 award | June 2 to August 13, 2026 | Camp 8 days at a time; food provided in the field |
| American Conservation Experience crew | Bases in Arizona, California, Utah, North Carolina; ages 18–30, 35 for veterans | $400 a week, paid as $800 every two weeks | Rolling starts, 3 to 12 months | Free housing on days off; meals on projects |
| Northwest Youth Corps, Young Adult crew | Eugene, Oregon; ages 19–26 | $6,000 for the session; $1,956.35 award | June 2 to August 14, 2026 | Camp with the crew all session; meals provided |
| Washington Conservation Corps | Statewide; ages 18–25 | $2,952 a month, $3,218 in King, Snohomish and Clark counties; $7,395 full-term award | October 5, 2026 to September 15, 2027 | Provide your own |
| California Conservation Corps, Backcountry Trails Program | Six crews; ages 18–25, veterans to 29 | $2,814 a month, minus $500 for meals and resupply | Last week of April to last week of September | Remote wilderness camps |
| Student Conservation Association, Adirondack Corps | New York; 18+ | $550 a week; $3,697.50 award | May 11 to October 9, 2026 | Room and board provided; camp 5 to 10 days at a time |
Sources: each program’s site or listing, accessed Sep 13, 2026. Montana’s figures are from its posted 2027 terms.
The education award is the other half of the pay. A full-time Segal AmeriCorps Education Award is tied to the maximum Pell Grant, which is $7,395 for 2025 to 2026, and the Washington Conservation Corps lists $7,395 for a full term, $5,176.50 for a three-quarter term and $1,956.35 for a quarter term. Shorter crew terms earn a fraction. You can spend it on school or qualified student loans within seven years and earn up to two full-time awards (My AmeriCorps Portal; Conservation Corps Minnesota and Iowa). Montana Conservation Corps also gives free health insurance to members serving over 4 months.
What is a hitch, and where do trail crews live?
A hitch is the block of days you live and work at the project, followed by days off in town. Southwest Conservation Corps typically runs 8 days on and 6 off at 10 hours a day, and sometimes 4 on, 3 off. ACE spends 4 to 8 days on projects, then gives 3 to 6 days off. Montana Conservation Corps says 9 days is the typical project length, followed by 2 to 5 days off in town. Northwest Youth Corps young adult crews camp on site for the whole 10 to 12 week session, and the California Conservation Corps Backcountry Trails Program spends five months in the wilderness.
Where you sleep between hitches varies the most. ACE gives members free housing on days off, shared with 3 to 7 roommates, and you are not guaranteed the same bed. Montana Conservation Corps expects you to bring your own tent and find your own housing between hitches. The Washington Conservation Corps requires you to arrange your own housing and transportation. Gifford Pinchot National Forest rents bunkhouse space to seasonals for about $10 to $15 a day at every duty station except Vancouver, and Park Service trail announcements say government housing may be available.
SCC and ACE feed you on project days. Montana pays a $10 a day per diem, $540 for a crew of 6 on a 9-day project. At most corps, food on days off is on you. To compare this with other housing-included work, see seasonal outdoor jobs with housing.
When should you apply for trail crew jobs?
In winter, and for the Park Service, often in December. Most Park Service trail jobs for summer 2026 opened in late 2025. The joint Rocky Mountain, Glacier, Grand Teton and Yellowstone announcement ran November 24 to December 17, 2025, and could close early at 550 applications. Shenandoah’s opened December 29 with an early referral cut-off of January 11, 2026. Bandelier’s WG-7 job opened January 28, 2026 and took only the first 30 applicants.
The Forest Service posted later in 2026. Ashley and Gifford Pinchot national forests took applications on USAJOBS from February 20 to March 3, 2026, and Gifford Pinchot tells applicants to apply for every grade and location they would accept. The Spokesman-Review reported it was the agency’s first search for temporary seasonals since a hiring freeze in fall 2024, and that an internal trail program report said some ranger districts had lost all of their trail maintenance staff. Gifford Pinchot says it normally fills seasonal jobs each fall for the following summer, so watch USAJOBS from early fall on.
Corps run on their own calendars. Montana Conservation Corps opens crew roles typically in December. ACE posts positions 2 to 4 months ahead and lists summer crews in March and April. The Washington Conservation Corps opens full-term applications in July for an October start, three-quarter terms in November and quarter terms in April, interviews on a rolling basis, and gives Washington residents priority. The California Conservation Corps closed its 2026 backcountry application window and keeps an interest form for 2027. If you want crews to find you, add a Job Wanted post listing your dates and certifications.
What certifications do trail crew jobs require?
Saw certification and wilderness first aid come up in listing after listing; federal grades also count seasons of experience. Federal employees need certification to run chain or crosscut saws, and volunteers under the Volunteers-in-Forests and Volunteers-in-Parks programs must meet the same standard. Levels are A, B and C, and an A sawyer works under the direct supervision of a B or C sawyer. Cards last three years and are valid only with a current first aid and CPR card that includes an in-person component. PCTA’s initial saw certification course takes two days (Pacific Crest Trail Association).
Corps certify you as part of the term. Southwest Conservation Corps chainsaw crews earn a Forest Service A-faller certification and members can get Wilderness First Aid certification at orientation; Montana Conservation Corps and ACE offer chainsaw and crosscut training depending on crew type. The Washington Conservation Corps offers Wilderness First Responder and wildland firefighting Red Card courses. If you want to move from trails to fire, read wildland firefighter jobs. On your own, NOLS Wilderness First Aid is 16 hours over two to two and a half days, valid for two years, with 2026 sessions from $300 to $420.
For the Forest Service’s Forestry Technician series, OPM counts a season as at least 3 months of continuous seasonal work. One season qualifies you for GS-2, two for GS-3 and four for GS-4. Education substitutes: one year of college with 6 semester hours in related subjects for GS-3, two years with 12 hours for GS-4, and a related bachelor’s degree or one with 24 semester hours of related courses for GS-5. Corps time can also open doors: ACE members who serve 640 hours, 120 of them on an eligible public land project, may qualify for Public Land Corps non-competitive hiring status for federal jobs.
Frequently asked questions
Do you need experience to get a trail crew job?
Not for a corps. ACE says it provides the training, Southwest Conservation Corps’ summer crews require you to be at least 18, and ATC’s Konnarock volunteer crew says no experience is necessary. Federal jobs are different: OPM counts two seasons of related experience, or a year of college with related courses, as qualifying for GS-3. OPM’s examples of qualifying work include forestry aid or technician work and forest or range fire control.
How old do you have to be to join a conservation corps trail crew?
Montana Conservation Corps takes 17 to 30 and ACE 18 to 30, both up to 35 for veterans. Washington takes 18 to 25, Northwest Youth Corps 19 to 26, and the California backcountry program 18 to 25, veterans to 29. Southwest Conservation Corps and SCA require you to be at least 18.
Is the AmeriCorps education award taxable?
Yes, as income in the year you use it. You have seven years from the end of your term to spend it on tuition or qualified student loans. The Washington Conservation Corps notes that AmeriCorps also pays the interest that accrues on qualified loans in forbearance while you serve, once you complete the term.
Can you volunteer on a trail crew before applying for paid work?
Yes. ATC’s Konnarock crew ran 2026 sessions from April 22 to August 11, 3 to 8 days long, with training, equipment and room and board provided, based in southwest Virginia. You must be 17 or older. PCTA’s Trail Skills College classes are free and include saw crew training.
What gear do you need for a trail crew?
Usually your own backpack, tent and sleeping bag. Montana Conservation Corps supplies tools, a hard hat, gloves, ear and eye protection and group camping gear, with limited personal gear to loan. ACE provides a tent and camp kitchen in the field.
Sources
- U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Salary Table 2026-RUS, hourly basic rates, effective January 2026; Qualification Standard for Forestry Technician Series 0462, accessed Sep 13, 2026.
- U.S. Forest Service, “U.S. Forest Service unveils plans to hire summer seasonal employees in 2026,” Feb 12, 2026; Ashley National Forest, Seasonal Hiring and Temporary Positions; Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Seasonal/Temporary Jobs, accessed Sep 13, 2026.
- USAJOBS, National Park Service announcements: Seasonal Laborer (Trails), Rocky Mountain, Glacier, Grand Teton and Yellowstone (850385100); Seasonal Laborer (Trails), Shenandoah (852935100); Seasonal Maintenance Worker (Trails), Isle Royale (852358500); Seasonal Maintenance Worker (Trails), Bandelier (855657800), accessed Sep 13, 2026.
- The Spokesman-Review, “After lengthy freeze, U.S. Forest Service makes seasonal hiring push,” Mar 6, 2026, accessed Sep 13, 2026.
- Montana Conservation Corps, Crew Member Positions and Adult Conservation Crews FAQs, accessed Sep 13, 2026.
- Southwest Conservation Corps (Conservation Legacy), 2026 Short Term Summer Conservation Crew Member AmeriCorps listing; Adult Conservation Crews page, accessed Sep 13, 2026.
- American Conservation Experience, ACE Central Crew Member Application listing; Conservation Crew program page; Crew FAQs, accessed Sep 13, 2026.
- Northwest Youth Corps, Young Adult Program, accessed Sep 13, 2026.
- Washington State Department of Ecology, Join WCC; “Washington Conservation Corps opens recruitment for AmeriCorps members statewide,” July 2026, accessed Sep 13, 2026.
- California Conservation Corps, Backcountry Trails Program; Stipend, Scholarships and Supplies, accessed Sep 13, 2026.
- Student Conservation Association, Adirondack Corps program page, accessed Sep 13, 2026.
- My AmeriCorps Portal, Segal AmeriCorps Education Award Overview; Conservation Corps Minnesota and Iowa, AmeriCorps and Education Award Resources; U.S. Department of Education, GEN-25-02, 2025-2026 Federal Pell Grant Maximum and Minimum Award Amounts, accessed Sep 13, 2026.
- Pacific Crest Trail Association, Volunteer page (2024 totals), Trail Skills College, and Saw Training and Certification, accessed Sep 13, 2026.
- Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Trail Crews and Konnarock Trail Crew pages, accessed Sep 13, 2026.
- NOLS, Wilderness First Aid course listings, accessed Sep 13, 2026.
- Colorado Open Space Alliance, “COSA Eldorado Canyon State Park is hiring seasonal positions,” Jan 30, 2026, accessed Sep 13, 2026.