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Trail Building Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Alterra

Bike Park Trail Crew

Snowshoe, WV · On-site

$15/hr

This position is responsible for the building, repair, and maintenance of Bike Park trails ... Ensures proper finish on trail work by clearing debris, seeding disturbed areas, and maintaining ...

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How much do trail building jobs pay per year?

As of Jun 8, 2026, the average yearly pay for trail building in the United States is $98,146.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $78,000.00 and $120,000.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a Trail Builder, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Trail Builder, you need expertise in outdoor construction techniques, environmental stewardship, and physical stamina, often supported by experience in landscaping or conservation work. Familiarity with hand tools, power equipment, GPS devices, and safety certifications like Wilderness First Aid are typically required. Strong teamwork, problem-solving, and adaptability are essential soft skills for working in varied terrain and weather conditions. These abilities ensure trails are built safely, sustainably, and to high standards, supporting recreation and habitat preservation.

What is the difference between Trail Building vs Trail Maintenance?

AspectTrail BuildingTrail Maintenance
Required CredentialsBasic knowledge of construction, safety certificationsSame as Trail Building, often with additional focus on safety
Work EnvironmentConstruction sites, outdoor natural settingsExisting trails, outdoor natural settings
Employer & Industry UsageOutdoor recreation, parks, conservation groupsPublic parks, trail organizations, government agencies
Common Search & Comparison IntentUnderstanding how to create new trailsMaintaining and repairing existing trails

Trail Building involves constructing new trails from scratch, requiring skills in excavation, grading, and safety. Trail Maintenance focuses on preserving and repairing existing trails to ensure safety and sustainability. Both roles are essential for outdoor recreation and conservation efforts, often performed by similar organizations and requiring comparable certifications.

What is trail building?

Trail building is the process of designing, constructing, and maintaining trails for hiking, biking, horseback riding, or other outdoor activities. It involves planning routes, clearing vegetation, shaping the trail surface, and installing features like bridges or drainage systems. Trail builders work to create paths that are safe, sustainable, and minimize environmental impact, often collaborating with land managers and volunteers. Proper trail building ensures enjoyable and accessible outdoor experiences for the public while protecting natural resources.

What are some common challenges faced by trail builders during a typical project?

Trail builders often encounter a variety of challenges, such as adapting to changing weather conditions, working with difficult terrain, and minimizing environmental impact while meeting design specifications. Coordination with land managers or stakeholders is crucial to ensure compliance with regulations and community needs. Additionally, trail builders may need to use specialized tools or machinery and work collaboratively in teams to complete tasks efficiently and safely.
What cities are hiring for Trail Building jobs? Cities with the most Trail Building job openings:
What states have the most Trail Building jobs? States with the most job openings for Trail Building jobs include:
Infographic showing various Trail Building job openings in the United States as of May 2026, with employment types broken down into 84% Full Time, and 16% Part Time. Highlights an 97% Physical, 1% Hybrid, and 2% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $98,146 per year, or $47.2 per hour.
Bike Park Trail Building Machine Operator

Bike Park Trail Building Machine Operator

Boyne Resorts

Big Sky, MT • On-site

Other

Posted 21 days ago

Boyne Resorts rating

7.4

Company rating: 7.4 out of 10

Based on 44 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

11th of 105 rated hotels

Job description

Overview

Big Sky Resort’s Bike Park is seeking an experienced machine operator for trail building. Must be a motivated individual to help continue building 40+ miles of bike park trails. The bike park is expanding fast and Big Sky Resort is looking to add new flow trails and tech trails of all difficulties as well as maintain and update existing trails.


Responsibilities
  • Must be familiar with bike park trail designations and difficulty ratings, and be able to build trails to each specification
  • Must be able to operate excavators of various sizes, in a safe and productive manner.
  • Maybe requested to operate front-end loaders, skid steers, all terrain fork lifts, and bulldozers in a safe and productive manner.
  • Must be able and willing to use hands tools such as rakes, picks, and shovels when requested.
  • Must be able to safely operate a chainsaw
  • Must have a keen eye for trail flow and creating safe features
  • Will create trail and feature designs with the Bike Park managers
  • Will be requested to build new trails as well as re-building/updating existing trials, and creating new trails sections

Qualifications
  • A minimum of 2 years’ experience trail building with excavators is required
  • A minimum of 2 years’ experience with creating new bench cut machine trails with jumps, berms, and features is required
  • A minimum of 2 years’ experience operating a chainsaw is preferred
  • Must have experience using hand tools such as rakes, picks, and shovels
  • Must have a keen eye for trail flow
  • Experience operating other heavy equipment such as front-end loaders, skid steers, all terrain fork lifts, and bulldozers is preferred.
  • Must be able to ride a mountain bike at an intermediate level or higher.

All full time seasonal employment at Big Sky Resort includes:

  • FREE All Access Bike Haul Pass and discounted Golf Pass
  • Discounted Golf and Mountain Biking for friends and family
  • F&B/Retail discounts at all Boyne outlets
  • Eligibility for affordable employee housing and lodging discounts for friends and family
  • FREE Basecamp activities including zip line course
  • Monthly employee events
Qualifications:
  • A minimum of 2 years’ experience trail building with excavators is required
  • A minimum of 2 years’ experience with creating new bench cut machine trails with jumps, berms, and features is required
  • A minimum of 2 years’ experience operating a chainsaw is preferred
  • Must have experience using hand tools such as rakes, picks, and shovels
  • Must have a keen eye for trail flow
  • Experience operating other heavy equipment such as front-end loaders, skid steers, all terrain fork lifts, and bulldozers is preferred.
  • Must be able to ride a mountain bike at an intermediate level or higher.

All full time seasonal employment at Big Sky Resort includes:

  • FREE All Access Bike Haul Pass and discounted Golf Pass
  • Discounted Golf and Mountain Biking for friends and family
  • F&B/Retail discounts at all Boyne outlets
  • Eligibility for affordable employee housing and lodging discounts for friends and family
  • FREE Basecamp activities including zip line course
  • Monthly employee events
Education:UNAVAILABLEEmployment Type: UNAVAILABLE

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About Boyne Resorts

Sourced by ZipRecruiter

Boyne Resorts, headquartered in Boyne Falls, Michigan, US, is a renowned leader in the resort industry. Offering a wide array of recreational, real estate, and retail products, Boyne specialises in providing memorable vacation and lifestyle experiences. The company's expansive portfolio includes ski and golf resorts, real estate developments, and other leisure-based businesses across North America. Founded in 1947 by Everett Kircher, it represents one of the most successful, privately-owned, multi-resort companies in the history of the leisure industry. Boyne Resorts is deeply committed to providing exceptional guest experiences, underpinned by values including innovation, integrity, passion, perseverance, and stewardship.

Industry

Traveler accommodation

Company size

5,001 - 10,000 Employees

Headquarters location

Boyne Falls, MI, US

Year founded

1947

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