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Trail Crew Jobs

18 open listings · updated Sep 13, 2026

Median posted pay $480/wk (12 listings) · 17% include housing · Pay report

Trail crew jobs build and maintain hiking, horse and bike trails on public land. Employers are the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, state parks, conservation corps (Montana Conservation Corps, Utah Conservation Corps, Northwest Youth Corps, Rocky Mountain Youth Corps, California Conservation Corps and others), trail associations and private trail contractors.

More About Trail Crew Jobs

The work is clearing downed trees with crosscut and chain saws, building rock steps and retaining walls, digging drainage, brushing corridors, and building bridges and turnpikes. Backcountry crews work 8 to 10 day hitches, camping near the worksite, then take 4 to 6 days off. Front-country crews work a normal week from a bunkhouse or their own housing.

Pay ranges from a living stipend of roughly $500 to $700 per week at AmeriCorps conservation corps, plus an education award, to $18 to $25 per hour at agencies, trail associations and contractors. Food is provided on hitch and many programs provide a bunkhouse between hitches. Seasons run May or June through September or October.

No experience is required for most crew member positions; programs train and certify sawyers. Crew leader positions require a season of trail work and saw certification.

Questions About Trail Crew Jobs

How many Trail Crew jobs are open right now?

18 listings are live on WildWork as of September 13, 2026. 18 state their pay and 3 include housing.

What do Trail Crew jobs pay?

The median posted rate is $480/wk across 12 current listings that state pay in that unit, with posted rates from $400/wk to $1,025/wk. These are advertised rates; tips, overtime and room and board are extra where the listing says so.

Do Trail Crew jobs come with housing?

17% of current listings say the employer provides housing, free or at a charge, and 44% include meals. Each listing shows whether housing is included and what it costs when the employer says.

Do I need experience for a trail crew job?

No. Conservation corps and most agency and association crews hire first-timers and train them on tools, crosscut saw and rock work. You need to be 18 or older, able to hike with a 40 to 60 pound pack, and willing to camp for 8 to 10 days at a time.

How much does trail work pay?

Agency, trail association and contractor crews commonly pay $18 to $25 per hour. AmeriCorps conservation corps pay a weekly living stipend of roughly $500 to $700 plus a Segal Education Award of a few thousand dollars at the end of the term. Food on hitch and a bunkhouse between hitches are typical.

What is a hitch?

A hitch is a block of consecutive workdays in the backcountry, usually 8 to 10 days, followed by 4 to 6 days off. Crews hike or are packed in with tools and food, camp near the project, and work 10-hour days. Front-country crews work a standard 4 or 5 day week instead.

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