Wildland Trekking Guide Jobs

In this position, guides work 3-4 day-hikes on a weekly basis and are guaranteed a minimum of 12 days of work per month.

*Part-time work available November-February. Full-time work to resume in March of ’24.

In this position, guides work 3-7 day trips (up to 3-4 per month). Incoming guides are required to lead all trip types offered out of their program area (Backpacking trips, Base-camp trips, Inn-based trips and Llama trips).

Llamas trips: All of Rocky Mountain programs (Colorado, Utah, and Idaho/Montana/Wyoming programs) offer llama trips. Incoming guides in those areas will get trained on all llama responsibilities in addition to guide training. No previous llama experience required!

For more information about which National Parks and Forests are operated from which branch, please refer to the ‘Office Locations’ section at the bottom of the page.

*Flagstaff, AZ: Multi-day Guides MUST be available all of September.

**St George, UT: Multi-day guides are needed to start working in July – future seasons will typically include Spring.

WILDLAND TREKKING Office Locations

The Wildland Trekking Company, founded in 2005, is a premier adventure travel (backpacking and hiking) tour company headquartered in Flagstaff, AZ. Our program areas include 12 US states, 25 US national parks and wilderness areas, and 13 countries. We have been featured in Backpacker Magazine, The New York Times, Men’s Health, Sunset Magazine, Lonely Planet Traveler and the Discovery Channel. As a guide, you have the opportunity to work from any or all of our domestic office locations and associated National Parks, forests and recreation areas:

• Flagstaff, AZ: Grand Canyon National Park and Havasupai Falls, Sedona &  Moab, UT area: Canyonlands National Park and Arches National Park
• Mariposa, CA: Yosemite National Park, Inyo National Forest, Lost Coast, Lassen Volcanic National Park, Sequoia- Kings Canyon National, Joshua Tree National Park
• Olympia, WA: Olympic National Park. Mount Rainier National Park and North Cascades National Park
• Pleasant Valley, near Estes Park, CO: Rocky Mountain National Park and Flat Tops Wilderness
• St. George, UT: Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon National Park, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, Paria Canyon-Vermillion Cliffs Wilderness, Grand Canyon National Park (North Rim), Capitol Reef National Park and Grand Staircase- Escalante National Monument
• Driggs, ID: Yellowstone National Park, Wind River Range, Jedediah Smith Wilderness, Bridger-Teton Wilderness and Absaroka- Beartooth Wilderness
• Asheville, NC: Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Blue Ridge Mountains
• Morrisville, VT: White Mountains National Forest and Green Mountain National Forest

COVID- 19 Protocols

Based on guidance from the CDC, WHO and World Travel and Tourism Council, Wildland Trekking developed guest and guide safety protocols designed to protect staff and guests to the greatest extent possible while continuing to provide work for our staff and show guests the majesty of the world’s wild places.  Click here to read more about what we’re doing to maximize safety.

Safety Protocols

FAQs

What are the main seasons Wildland Trekking guides work?

Wildland Trekking’s main guiding season lies between mid-March and end of October. As a company we operate year round, but rarely hire for winter positions (November – February) as our current employees can almost always accommodate this reduced volume.

Seasons available to work are defined as follows:

-Full season: Field staff that work mid-March through end of October and with the opportunity for occasional winter work

-Spring and Fall: Field staff that work March through end of May and then again in September and October

-Summer: Field staff work from June to mid/late September

How much work can I expect with Wildland Trekking?

Multi-day guides are generally hired to work 1-3 multi-day trips per month. We consider ‘part-time’ field staff to be guides that only work 1 – 2 multi-day trips a month and ‘full time’ field staff to be those that work 2-4 multi-day trips a month. Trips can be anywhere from 4-8 days of work.

In some branch locations, field staff work day hikes to fill in their schedule or as their main trip style of choice. Guides who desire more work also have the opportunity to do shuttle driving for trips, porter trips, and do warehouse work on an as-needed basis.

As an incoming guide to Wildland Trekking, the key to getting all the work you want is leaving your schedule open. Last minute staffing needs are a near constant in our busy seasons, and if your schedule is clear you’re all but guaranteed to get as much work as you’d like. It may take some time to build up to a full advanced schedule as you advance through the staffing levels. During slower times when a guide may not have a full schedule of trips, we encourage field staff to scout trip routes in their program area so they are increasingly qualified to lead as many trips as possible.

What does the hiring process entail for a guide position?

A successful candidate will:

1.) Complete an online application

2.) Fill out a Skills Self Assessment form upon request

3.) Participate in 1 video and 1 phone interview

4.) References contacted by our team

5.) Pass a background and motor vehicle check

6.) Must have a valid driver’s license and no DUI type infractions within 5 years

6.) Currently have or obtain before the first day of work, a Wilderness First Responder or EMT

7.) A Backcountry Food Handler’s Certification

NOTE: Some program areas, such as Rocky Mountain National Park, Sedona, AZ, and Zion National Park to name a few, require additional certifications or area specific quizzes in order to guide there. If interested in leading tours there, these requirements will be told to you.

Upon acceptance and completion of the above 7 steps, a newly hired guide must also successfully complete a training and shadow trip process.

What sort of training does Wildland provide newly hired guides?

Wildland provides new guides with a 3-part training process. All training time is paid at each program area’s base guide wages.

Part 1:  Self-directed reading, videos and information to be completed before in-person training.

Part 2:  In-person field based training; The field based training is generally 5-6 days total with 3-4 days in the field and 1.5 – 2 days at a warehouse location or in a front country setting.

Part 3: Shadow Trip Process:  Join a senior guide and guests in the field for more training while helping run a trip. The shadow process is the backbone of Wildland Trekking’s training as this is when a newly hired guide will get to interface with guests in the field and apply what they have learned in the trainings. As a shadow guide, you will not only observe the senior guide in their preparation of the trip, execution of the trip and their skills in the field managing the trip,  you will experience first-hand the expectations of what it means to run a Wildland Trekking trip so you are set for success.

Newly hired guides shadow at least one trip of any trip type they wish to lead, i.e., Day Hikes, Backpacking trips and/or Front Country (basecamp and inn-based) trips. Senior guides must sign off on the trainee/shadow guide before he or she begins leading trips. The senior guide will evaluate the trainee/shadow guide based on criteria set forth by management in an evaluation form. Evaluation of the trainee/shadow guide includes pre-trip communication, preparation for a trip including packing of gear and food preparation, and how the shadow guide interfaces with guests in education and group management.

How are GUIDES STAFFED TO TRIPS AT WILDLAND TREKKING?

I applied for a Driver or Guide position at Wildland Trekking, now what?

Thank you for applying! Our Hiring Department will be in touch to coordinate an interview if your credentials and experience match what we are looking for. If you have any additional questions about our hiring process, employment requirements or application, please reach out to [email protected]