1

Backpacking Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

TASC Staff

Elbert, CO · On-site

$2.0K - $2.3K/wk

As a guide on TASC trips , you will assist in leading a 10-day trip (6 - 7 days of backpacking and 3 - 4 days of whitewater rafting, climbing, and other outdoor adventure activities) with a group of ...

TASC Staff

Elbert, CO · On-site

$12.25 - $16/hr

As a guide on TASC trips , you will assist in leading a 10-day trip (6 - 7 days of backpacking and 3 - 4 days of whitewater rafting, climbing, and other outdoor adventure activities) with a group of ...

Showing results 21-29

Backpacking information

What are the daily responsibilities of a backpacking guide?

As a Backpacking Guide, your daily responsibilities include leading clients on planned routes, setting up and breaking down campsites, providing safety briefings, and teaching essential outdoor skills. You’ll also be responsible for monitoring group well-being, adjusting itineraries based on weather or trail conditions, and ensuring all participants follow wilderness ethics and safety protocols. Interaction with clients is key, as you’ll need to foster a supportive and engaging environment while managing any questions or concerns that arise during the trip. Teamwork and clear communication with co-guides or support staff are also often part of the role, especially on longer or larger expeditions.

What is a backpacking guide?

A backpacking job typically refers to temporary or seasonal work that travelers take on while exploring different locations. These jobs can include roles in hospitality, agriculture, tour guiding, or remote freelance work. They provide income to sustain travel expenses and often offer opportunities to meet new people and experience different cultures. Many backpackers take advantage of working holiday visas to secure short-term employment in various countries.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a backpacking guide?

To thrive as a Backpacking Guide, you need strong outdoor survival skills, route planning experience, and a background in wilderness safety, often supported by certifications such as Wilderness First Aid or Leave No Trace training. Proficiency with GPS navigation devices, map reading, and outdoor gear is essential in this role. Excellent communication, leadership, and problem-solving abilities help guides manage groups and respond calmly to unexpected situations. These competencies are vital for ensuring group safety, a positive client experience, and successful expedition outcomes in varied and sometimes challenging environments.

What are the most commonly searched types of Backpacking jobs in Colorado? The most popular types of Backpacking jobs in Colorado are:
Infographic showing various Backpacking job openings in Colorado as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 76% Full Time, 10% Part Time, 12% Temporary, and 1% Contract. Highlights an 95% Physical, and 5% Remote job distribution.

$19.37 - $19.89/hr

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement

Posted 22 days ago


Job description

Title: Trip Leader Apprentice

Position Type: Workstudy

College: Red Rocks Community College

Division: Student Affairs

Department: RRCC Student Recreation Center

Campus: RRCC Lakewood Campus

Location: Lakewood

Salary Range:$19.37 - $19.89 / hour

Job Summary:

The RRCC SRC Adventure Program is seeking a Trip Leaders! Come boulder with us! The Red Rocks Adventure Program (RRAP) is designed to offer students a unique and valuable opportunity to experience the outdoors. The trips program is a part of the RRAP that works to facilitate an outdoor experience for participants which will allow them to learn about the outdoors while also gaining a better understanding of themselves.
At the core of this program are the Trip Leaders, who will be paid staff members who have successfully completed the semester-long Apprentice Training Program. In this position, you will be responsible for leading outdoor adventure trips that range from half-day excursions to week-long expeditions. A key part of your role will be monitoring the well-being of all participants, maintaining both group and personal safety, and ensuring a supportive and inclusive environment. You will be expected to model and promote the RRAP (Recreational and Adventure Programming) philosophy throughout all programs, while also educating participants on its values and practices.
Additionally, you will assist in leading at least three trips or clinics per semester, fostering positive group dynamics and engagement. As a representative of RRAP and the Student Recreation Center, it is important that you maintain a professional, approachable, and positive attitude at all times, promoting the program and its mission with integrity. Providing excellent customer service is essential, including being courteous, well-spoken, and respectful in all interactions. You will work closely with the Adventure Coordinator to support the goals of RRAP and the broader objectives of the Student Recreation Center. This position also requires active participation in staff meetings, seminars, and trainings, including three (3) or more training trips and classroom sessions each semester. Your commitment to collaboration, safety, and education will play a vital role in delivering meaningful and impactful experiences for all participants.
It is the job of the Apprentice Trip Leader to learn the skills necessary to be successful in the role of trip leader, and to apply their passion for the outdoors to our team. This process includes training in everything from interpersonal skills (such as communication and team building) to technical skills (such as backpacking, wilderness survival, and rock climbing). Upon successful completion of the training program, Apprentices will be offered paid trip leader staff positions.
*This position is open and continuous. Candidates selected will be contacted.*

Required Qualifications:

  • Leadership and outdoor experience will be given preference.
  • First Aid, and CPR certification or ability to obtain within 1 month of hire.
  • Ability to maintain high academic standards with a minimum of 2.0 GPA.
  • Ability to communicate effectively, a strong work ethic, ability to act in a mature and responsible manner.
  • Willingness to make a minimum of two-semester commitment to the RRAP upon completion of the Apprentice Program.
  • Positive work ethics including a team-oriented attitude, initiative, a commitment to providing the highest quality programs possible, and a welcoming personality.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities:

  • Ability to interact and communicate effectively in all settings (in-person, remotely, written, and verbal correspondences)

Physical and Cognitive Demands:

The following are some of the physical and cognitive demands commonly associated with this position.

  • Ability to bend frequently, lift object weights up to 45 lbs. up to 5.7ft, eye-sight is required in order to manage groups of 10- 12 students using visual route-reading techniques.
  • This position requires that the employee stand for long periods of time.
  • This position requires that the employee walks for long distances.
  • Cognitive demands include comparing, synthesizing, negotiating, communicating, instructing, interpersonal skills, and coordinating.
  • The person in this position constantly communicates with internal and external constituents and students. Must be able to exchange accurate information in these situations.

To Apply

All applicants must submit:

  1. Resume
  2. Detailed letter of interest (cover letter) addressing the job announcement.

Candidates will be evaluated based on their qualifications as related to the duties and responsibilities of the position. Candidates may redact any personally identifiable information on their materials including but are not limited to age, date of birth, and dates of attendance and date of graduation for educational institutions. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
Advertised Hourly Pay

The hourly pay for this position is $19.37 - $19.89, commensurate with education and experience. This is a part-time, FLSA non-exempt position. This position may work up to 20 hours each week while class is in session and up to 28 hours each week during academic breaks or breaks between terms while an RRCC student, depending on need and budget availability. This position has been exempted from the State Classified System.
Candidates will be evaluated based on their qualifications as related to the duties and responsibilities of the position. Candidates may redact any personally identifiable information on their materials including but are not limited to age, date of birth, and dates of attendance and date of graduation for educational institutions. Incomplete applications will not be considered.
If you have questions regarding this position, please contact Alana Leonard, Adventure & Sport Programs Coordinator, (303) 914-6464 via email at Alana.Leonard@rrcc.edu.

Benefits

Medical insurance is offered to instructors and other variable hour employees who have worked, on average, at least 30 hours per week in a 12-month period. RRCC/CCCS uses an initial 12-month measurement period to determine medical benefit eligibility, and a 12-month standard measurement period. Student employees are limited to working no more than 20 hours a week, and non-classified hourly and temporary staff are limited to 28 hours in a workweek, depending on budget and need. Additional information about medical insurance, and Life and Disability benefit information can be found at the CCCS Employee Benefits site under “Instructor & Variable Hour Employee Benefit Information.”
Sick leave is granted in accordance with SB20-205, Sick Leave for Employees, accrued at one hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours worked, up to a maximum of 48 hours per year.
Instructors and non-student hourly are required to contribute to Colorado PERA at a fixed percentage of their salary and do not contribute to Social Security. RRCC/CCCS student employees are not eligible to participate in PERA. RRCC/CCCS offers three tax-deferred investment plans, including 401(k), 403(b) and 457. Employee assistance services such as counseling, professional coaching, financial planning, and more, are available to you and members of your household at no cost through the Colorado State Employee Assistance Program (C-SEAP). State employees are eligible to participate in BenefitHub which offers discounts for retailers and services and other benefits resources. Employees may qualify for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program. Additional information about this program can be found on the Colorado Division of Human Resources website.

Notice to all Applicants

  • Final candidate will be subject to successful completion of a background check, and, if applicable, a motor vehicle record review.
  • Former employees of the Colorado Community College System, or one of its 13 colleges, who were disciplinarily terminated or resigned in lieu of termination, must disclose this information in their application material.
  • Final candidates are required to submit unofficial transcripts for non-instructional positions and official transcripts for instructional positions to Human Resources within thirty (30) days of hire.
  • Direct deposit of payroll is a condition of employment.
  • Red Rocks Community College participates in E-Verify.
  • Red Rocks Community College is a tobacco and smoke-free campus.
  • All RRCC employees, except student employees, contribute to Colorado PERA at a fixed percentage of their earnings and do not contribute to Social Security.
  • Finalist must be willing to make Colorado their primary workplace.

RRCC/CCCS is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Red Rocks Community College and Colorado Community College System believes when all human qualities are regarded with dignity and respect and when everyone has access to the individualized support they need, all will have the opportunity to thrive. In all aspects of the employment process, decisions are made based on merit, competence, performance and business need without regard to sex, gender, race, color, age, creed, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, familial status, veteran or military status, pregnancy status, marital status, religion, genetic information, gender expression, gender identity, sexual orientation, or any other protected status in accordance with applicable law. Our Accommodations and Non-Discrimination policies, plus other helpful information, can be found publicly at https://www.rrcc.edu/about-us/disclaimers-and-legal-notices.

We also believe in going further. At RRCC we have a focus on equity and belonging. We strive to create a community in which everyone feels respected and valued for their unique talents and contributions, and where people from all backgrounds are able to achieve their goals. Red Rocks Community College acknowledges that inclusion and equity are multifaceted and complex concepts, and that our efforts in these areas will require innovation, intention, and an institutional commitment to these principles, across our entire college community.
Red Rocks Community College is an emerging Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI). As we move toward full HSI status, we are focused on servingness and are committed to creating a learning environment where equity is expected and our Latinx students thrive.
For information regarding Red Rocks Community College Security, including Clery Act/Crime Statistics for the campuses and surrounding area, please see the https://www.rrcc.edu/about-us/disclaimers-and-legal-notices.