How to become a professional Trail builder

Are you looking for a career and cringe at the thought of working in an office? Do you love the outdoors and wonder if there is a way to get paid to be outside? Professional trail building might just be the fulfilling career you are looking for. There are several avenues one can take to get into trail building which are volunteer opportunities, government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private contractors. Let’s dig deeper into each option.

Local trails in your area are often sponsored by local trail association groups. These groups are always looking for eager volunteers to help maintain trails. Volunteering is an excellent way to experience what trail building involves, as well as provide networking contacts to help you learn of opportunities that exist for a paid career in trail building.

Agencies such as the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, and state park departments are always looking for skilled trail builders. Positions available range from entry-level trail maintenance to higher-level positions involving planning and designing new trails. Monitor government websites which continually post open positions, attend career fairs offered in your area, and continue to network with professionals in the field to explore career opportunities.

There are numerous non-profit organizations throughout the US that have websites that post open trail building positions. Check out americantrails.org, trailskill.org for two websites that provide nationwide career opportunities. You can also search for specific organizations like American Conservation Experience, Student Conservation Association to find opportunities.

Last, but not least, private contractor companies are an excellent option to pursue a trail building career. Working for a private company offers the ability to collaborate alongside government agencies, non-profit organizations, and private landowners to construct and maintain trail systems. Working for a private company offers a chance to gain specialized skills along with the ability to become involved in a wider variety of project scopes. Look for contracting firms that specialize in trail construction to find career prospects in this field.