Backcountry Trails Program Corpsmember – 2027 Season
California Conservation Corps
Sacramento, CA
$2,814/mo stipend (meals deducted at $500/mo)
SeasonalHousing
Trail Crew Jobs
2 open listings · updated Oct 29, 2026
Median posted pay $24.55/hr (3 listings) · 25% include housing · Pay Report
Trail crew jobs build and maintain trails on public land, often alongside fence building, habitat restoration and chainsaw work, while the crew camps near the project for days at a time. Federal land agencies and conservation corps both hire crews, and the pay works differently at each.
More About Trail Crew Jobs
Conservation corps take beginners. American Conservation Experience says it provides the training and experience is not needed. Montana Conservation Corps and Utah Conservation Corps are AmeriCorps programs that pay a living allowance plus an education award. Montana pays field crew members $1,200 every two weeks before taxes plus a $3,697.50 education award for a May to October 2027 term, for ages 17 to 30, or up to 35 for veterans. Utah’s 2026 summer term paid $1,200 twice a month, $6,000 in all, plus a $1,956.35 award.
Federal trail jobs pay hourly on the General Schedule. OPM’s 2026 table for the Rest of U.S. locality pays $15.54 an hour at GS-3 step 1, $17.45 at GS-4 and $19.52 at GS-5. On February 12, 2026, the Forest Service announced plans to hire up to 2,000 seasonal employees for the summer recreation season. See Forest Service seasonal jobs and Forest Service jobs.
Crews live on hitch. Utah crews spend 4 to 14 days on hitch at about 10 hours a day, then typically get 3 to 5 days off. Montana crews camp for the full length of each 4 to 9 day hitch and get a $10 per person daily food per diem on projects, but you cover your own meals on days off. Read trail crew jobs for how to apply.
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Conservation Crew Member – Rolling Start Dates (Location of Choice)
American Conservation Experience (ACE)Flagstaff, AZ$400/week ($800 biweekly) living stipendSeasonalHousing
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Recently Filled (10) These employers hire. Watch for their next listing.
Maintenance Worker (Trails) (Seasonal) – Mammoth Cave & Southeast Parks
National Park ServiceMammoth Cave, KY$20.67 to $33.82 per hourSeasonalClosedMaintenance Worker (Trails) (Seasonal) – Cuyahoga Valley National Park
National Park ServiceBrecksville, OH$29.66 to $34.62 per hourSeasonalClosedMaintenance Worker (Trails) (Seasonal) – Pacific West Parks
National Park ServiceYosemite National Park, CA$21.18 to $39.00 per hourSeasonalClosedMaintenance Worker (Trails) (Seasonal) – Missouri National Recreational River
National Park ServiceYankton, SD$22.33 to $30.06 per hourSeasonalClosedMaintenance Worker Leader (Trails) (Seasonal) – Olympic National Park
National Park ServicePort Angeles, WA$30.76 to $35.85 per hourSeasonalClosedPacific West Conservation Crew Member – Northern California (Nov 2026 Start)
American Conservation Experience (ACE)Sacramento, CA$400/week living allowance + AmeriCorps Education AwardSeasonalClosedCommunity Wildfire Protection Crew Member (Fall 2026)
Northwest Youth CorpsPendleton, OR$9,000 total living stipend (paid monthly) + $1,956.35 education awardSeasonalClosedUrban and Community Forestry Crew Member – Boise (Fall 2026)
Northwest Youth CorpsBoise, ID$7,680 total stipend + $1,956.35 education awardSeasonalClosedUrban and Community Forestry Crew Member – Tacoma (Fall 2026)
Northwest Youth CorpsTacoma, WA$7,680 total stipend + $1,956.35 education awardSeasonalClosedMaintenance Worker (Trails) – Kenai National Wildlife Refuge
U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceSoldotna, AK$28.50 – $33.21 per hourSeasonalClosed
Questions About Trail Crew Jobs
How many trail crew jobs are open right now?
8 listings are live on WildWork as of October 29, 2026. 7 state their pay and 2 include housing.
What do trail crew jobs pay?
The median posted rate is $24.55/hr across 3 current listings that state pay in that unit, with posted rates from $19.50/hr to $26.42/hr. These are advertised rates; tips, overtime and room and board are extra where the listing says so.
Do trail crew jobs come with housing?
25% of current listings say the employer provides housing, free or at a charge, and 25% include meals. Each listing shows whether housing is included and what it costs when the employer says.
Do you need experience for trail jobs?
Not at a conservation corps. American Conservation Experience says it provides the training needed and experience is not needed; what matters is a flexible attitude and realistic expectations. Utah Conservation Corps takes U.S. citizens 18 and older, and Montana Conservation Corps takes ages 17 to 30, or up to 35 for military veterans.
How much do conservation corps trail crews make?
A living allowance plus an education award. Montana Conservation Corps pays $1,200 every two weeks before taxes plus a $3,697.50 AmeriCorps education award. Utah Conservation Corps’ 2026 summer term paid $1,200 twice a month, $6,000 in all, plus $1,956.35, and its summer and fall term paid $13,805 plus $3,697.50.
What is a hitch on a trail crew?
A hitch is the stretch of days you live and work at the project. Utah Conservation Corps crews may be on hitch for 4 to 14 days, working about 10-hour days, then typically get 3 to 5 days off. Montana Conservation Corps crews camp for the whole 4 to 9 day hitch, and 9 days is its typical project length.
Is there an age limit for conservation corps?
It depends on the corps. Montana Conservation Corps takes members 17 to 30, and up to 35 for military veterans. Utah Conservation Corps has no upper age limit and accepts anyone 18 or older who is a U.S. citizen. AmeriCorps rules limit how many education awards one person can earn.
How much do federal trail crew jobs pay an hour?
It depends on the grade. On OPM’s 2026 General Schedule for the Rest of U.S. locality, which includes a 17.06 percent locality payment, step 1 pays $15.54 an hour at GS-3, $17.45 at GS-4, $19.52 at GS-5 and $21.76 at GS-6. The Forest Service announced plans in February 2026 to hire up to 2,000 summer seasonal employees.
Sources: Montana Conservation Corps, Crew Member Positions; Montana Conservation Corps, FAQs; Utah Conservation Corps, 2026 Crew Member position description; Utah Conservation Corps, FAQ; American Conservation Experience, Crew FAQs; OPM, Salary Table 2026-RUS hourly rates; U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Forest Service unveils plans to hire summer seasonal employees in 2026 (Feb 12, 2026).