Put your passion for the Appalachian Trail to work!

Trail Crew and Ridgerunner Positions

2025 Paid Seasonal Positions

Maine Appalachian Trail Club – 2025 Seasonal Positions Available

Put your passion for the Appalachian Trail to work!  Apply for a job with the Maine Trail Crew or as a Ridgerunner and help conserve a remote and wild region of the beautiful Maine woods. Develop skills applicable to the growing industry of trail building and conservation – whether you are seeking a fun, active summer job, or a steppingstone in your path to a career in the outdoor industry.

Housing and Logistics Information for all Positions:

• Trail Crew members and Ridgerunners will camp in the backcountry during workdays.
• Days-off housing will be available at no cost at our new Trail Center, in Skowhegan.  It will include bunk style bedrooms, a kitchen, common room, storage, Wi-Fi, showers and laundry.
• Having a personal vehicle for days off is required as Maine is rural with limited public transportation.
• Sorry, no pets allowed.

Core Qualifications (all positions)

• Backcountry backpacking, camping, and cooking experience.
• Knowledge, skills and ethics of low impact backcountry hiking and camping practices.
• Good health, physical fitness and the ability to hike long distances in mountain terrain.
• Ability to solve problems with flexibility and resourcefulness.
• Ability to work well with others from a variety of backgrounds.
• Professional appearance and attitude.
• Good communication skills including oral, phone, and written.

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Appalachian Trail Ridgerunners

Located in the Hundred Mile Wilderness, Saddleback Mt. or Bigelow Mt.

Job Description:

• Manage and provide light maintenance at campsites.
• Meet, greet, register and educate hikers on the Appalachian Trail.
• Impart backcountry camping and hiking knowledge, skills and ethics to hikers focusing on youth groups, day hikers, and long-distance backpackers. For example: where to camp, how to protect water sources, ford a stream, and minimize fire impacts.
• Provide education about rare alpine plants and steward summits and ridgelines.
• Manage and provide light maintenance at campsites.

Pay range: $18.00 to 22.00/hour

Schedule: May 16 through October 19 including weekends and holidays (40 hrs/week.)

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Trail Crew Positions

The Maine Trail Crew will rebuild damaged trail sections along the Appalachian Trail.  Crew members will hike into remote areas for five days at a time, camp on the trail, and use stone building techniques to control erosion. This will include rigging equipment to lift and move large boulders into place,  and building stone staircases, water bars and step stones.  Advanced training in stonework and rigging will be taught. The schedule will be Mondays through Fridays, 40 hrs./week, late-May until mid-August (the exact dates depend on each position.)

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Trail Crew Leader

Pay range:  $22-24/hr.

Schedule – May 14 to August 27

Job Description:

• Supervise a small paid/volunteer trail crew in trail reconstruction and backcountry camping.
• Ensure a safe, sanitary, and productive environment at camp and work sites.
• Transport the crew safely.
• Respond appropriately to emergency situations.
• Trouble-shoot problems related to vehicles, staffing, basecamp, equipment, etc.

Additional Qualifications: 

• At least one season in an outdoor leadership role (preferred).
• Ability to take responsibility for all aspects of a trail crew, teach skills and motivate others.
• Valid driver’s license and a clean driving record.
• Good record keeping and organizational skills.
• Comfortable working without direct supervision.

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Trail Crew Coordinator

Pay range – $20.00 – $21.00/hr.

Schedule – May 14 to August 27

Job Description –

• Plan, purchase, and organize backcountry meals.
• Maintain the crew budget.
• Manage basecamp living which will be used for off day housing by the crew, other seasonal employees and volunteers.
• Keep records and generate reports.
• Help trouble-shoot problems related to vehicles, staffing, basecamp, equipment, etc.
• Work as a crew member on the Appalachian Trail (roughly 50% of the time).

Additional Qualifications –

• Strong organization skills.
• Valid driver’s license and a clean driving record.

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Trail Crew Member

Pay range:  $17.00 – $18.00/hr.

Schedule: May 19 to August 23

• Job Description: Serve as a key part of the Maine Trail Crew and reconstruct the footpath in backcountry locations along the Appalachian Trail.