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Trail Guide Jobs (NOW HIRING)

The Horseback Trail Guide provides exceptional guest service and frontline support for customers visiting Kualoa Ranch. This role involves safely conducting informative and engaging tours of the ...

Chauffeur

Charlottesville, VA ยท On-site

$13 - $19/hr

Chauffeurs, CDL DRIVERS, & Wine Trail Guides Help wanted: Will train the right person to be a chauffeur or wine trail guide. Also seeking trained and qualified CDL drivers with a Class B license and ...

Assistant Barn Manager

Clermont, FL ยท On-site

$16 - $18/hr

Fulfill the duties of a Lead Trail Guide. * Assist with equine nutrition and feed schedule by observing and collaborating on equine body condition and performance, make adjustments to feed and care ...

$11.50/hr

We operate a backcountry adventure tour of the Stampede Trail, a historic mining road made infamous ... guides. In addition, the company offers other adventures including those by air and operates a ...

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Trail Guide information

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$7

$17

$29

How much do trail guide jobs pay per hour?

As of Jun 9, 2026, the average hourly pay for trail guide in the United States is $17.27, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $12.98 and $21.15 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What are some common challenges Trail Guides face when leading groups, and how can they prepare for them?

Trail Guides often encounter challenges such as managing groups with varying fitness levels, adapting to changing weather conditions, and ensuring everyone's safety on the trail. To prepare, it's important to thoroughly assess the group's abilities before setting out, carry appropriate first-aid and navigation equipment, and stay updated on the latest weather forecasts. Strong communication skills and the ability to make quick decisions are also essential for addressing unexpected situations and keeping the group engaged and safe.

What is the difference between Trail Guide vs Outdoor Instructor?

AspectTrail GuideOutdoor Instructor
CertificationsFirst Aid, CPR, Wilderness NavigationFirst Aid, CPR, Outdoor Education Certifications
Work EnvironmentTrails, parks, wilderness areasSchools, camps, outdoor education centers
Industry UsageRecreational, tourism, adventure companiesEducational, youth programs, camps

While both roles involve outdoor activities, a Trail Guide primarily leads groups on trails and wilderness routes, focusing on navigation and safety. An Outdoor Instructor often teaches outdoor skills and safety in educational or camp settings. The certifications overlap, but the work environments and employer types differ, with Trail Guides more involved in recreational guiding and Outdoor Instructors in educational contexts.

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

To thrive as a Trail Guide, you need strong outdoor navigation skills, first aid certification, and a solid understanding of local terrain and wildlife. Familiarity with GPS devices, map-reading tools, and wilderness safety protocols is typically required. Exceptional communication, leadership, and problem-solving abilities help guides manage groups and respond to unexpected situations. These skills are crucial for ensuring guest safety, delivering informative experiences, and fostering a positive group dynamic in outdoor environments.

What are trail guides?

Trail guides are professionals who lead individuals or groups on outdoor excursions, such as hiking, horseback riding, or trekking, often through natural or wilderness areas. They are responsible for ensuring the safety of participants, providing information about the local environment, flora, fauna, and history, and creating an enjoyable and educational experience. Trail guides are knowledgeable about navigation, first aid, and outdoor survival skills, and often customize their tours to suit the abilities and interests of the group. Their role may also include preparing equipment, managing logistics, and following environmental regulations to preserve the natural setting.
What cities are hiring for Trail Guide jobs? Cities with the most Trail Guide job openings:
Who are the top companies hiring for Trail Guide jobs? The top employers for Trail Guide jobs are:
What states have the most Trail Guide jobs? States with the most job openings for Trail Guide jobs include:
Infographic showing various Trail Guide job openings in the United States as of June 2026, with employment types broken down into 64% Full Time, 33% Part Time, and 3% Temporary. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $35,919 per year, or $17.3 per hour.

Outdoor Education Daily Trail Guide

Transformation Ministries Camping

Crestline, CA โ€ข On-site

$18 - $20/hr

Temporary

Posted 29 days ago


Job description

Outdoor Education Daily Trail Guide
Overview: The OE Daily Trail Guide's primary role is to lead hikes, teach lessons based on the state science standards, and inspire student growth through a variety of program elements.
Essential Functions
  1. Instruct groups of students in various activities during programs
  2. Develop professional relationships with coworkers and guests (students, chaperones, teachers, and administrators)
  3. Perform duties and/or participate in activities including:
    1. Teach the outdoor education curriculum, which includes standing, walking, and hiking, sometimes strenuous, over uneven terrain and in all weather conditions
    2. Lead various program elements including rock wall, archery, songs, games, chapels, worship, skits, dances, and team building exercises

Additional Functions
  1. Attend OE team meetings
  2. Provide supportive leadership when necessary
  3. Assist in cleaning and inventory management
  4. Provide first aid and basic health care when necessary
  5. Other duties as assigned by supervisor

Major Competency Areas
  1. Ability to work effectively within a team or alone
  2. Strong communication and teaching
    skills
  3. Ability to model desired behaviors, including a positive attitude on a consistent basis
  4. Reliability, punctuality, and good time management

Qualifications
  1. Minimum education of a bachelor's degree or minimum of two years equivalent experience
  2. Adaptability and Godly Christian character
  3. Current Red Cross or American Heart Association CPR & First Aid certification which includes an in-person training element
  4. Full agreement with TM Camping's statement of faith, mission, vision, and values
  5. Compliance with the employee handbook

Physical Demands
  1. Abilities sufficient to carry out the essential functions of the job, including the physical fitness and endurance needed to lead hikes and activities. Applicants and/or employees may be asked to take a Fitness-For-Duty test in regard to the physical nature of the job.
  2. Must be able to lift a minimum of 50 lbs

Opening Letter
Thank you for your interest in American Outdoor Christian Education!
With a home base at Thousand Pines Christian Camp in Crestline, CA, at AOCE we travel across California and beyond to run programs at multiple partner camps. While we serve both public schools and private christian schools, we seek to serve, love, and live in ways that glorify God and represent our salvation in Jesus Christ.
Our outdoor education team serves in many ways - teaching lessons, running games, leading chapels, being overnight cabin leaders, and more - and in all of these we can point others toward the message of God's love. This applies not only to our guests but to each other: we desire to help facilitate your own spiritual growth in a community of believers, sharing in joys and difficulties together.
We will be praying for you as we seek God's direction together.
Mission, Vision, Values
American Outdoor Christian Education is a member company of Trademark Camping (TM Camping). We desire to have a distinctly Christian atmosphere and influence. Though campers and attendees come from many Christian and non-Christian backgrounds, all are included in activities. Ministry team members participate in leading guests and other staff in chapel services, prayer, devotions, etc.
In applying for a ministry role with us, you are subscribing to a high moral, ethical, and spiritual life style and give assurance that you will try to lead campers and staff, in both word and deed, to practical, real faith for themselves. In addition, no matter where one works, all staff are expected to live exemplary Christian lives before campers and staff alike.
We seek to be a group of people who care for our guests and work as a team. It is our desire that every employee and their entire family feel part of the ministry team here at TM Camping. It is important that all employees share our mission, vision, and values. We hope that all our employees adopt and advance them as their own.
Our Mission: American Outdoor Christian Education exists to help students learn, grow, and experience the outdoors.
Our Vision: Every student experiences personal growth through hands-on learning, new challenges, and positive interactions.
Our values:
  • Integrity: "Integrity is doing the right thing even when nobody is watching."
  • Safety; We will seek to protect the safety of our guests and staff.
  • Attitude: "Character is realized not so much in words as in attitude and in actions."
  • Saying "YES!": We will seek to say "yes" to our guests whenever possible.
  • Excellence: "Every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph your work with excellence."
  • Teamwork: "Together we can accomplish the extraordinary."
  • Initiative/Follow Through: "What can I do to make it better?"
  • Out-of-the-box Thinking: "Can it be done better, more creatively, less expensively?"
  • Fun: "The most wasted of all days is one without laughter"- E.E. Cummings

Statement of Faith
The Statement of Faith outlines the beliefs of Trademark Camping (TM Camping) and its companies. All beliefs are listed and founded in God's Word, the Bible.
PREAMBLE
TM Camping, in accordance with the historic Baptist tradition, hold to Believers Baptism by Immersion, Liberty of Conscience, the Separation of Church and state, and the Priesthood of the Believer. We also affirm the following distinctive which need emphasis at the present time:
I. THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE
The Bible is the inspired, authoritative and infallible Word of God and is our sole rule of faith and practice. It is the standard by which all human conduct and creeds should be tried.
II. THE TRINITY
There is only one true and living God who is manifested in three eternal and coequal person; Father, Son and Holy Spirit. God possesses holiness, omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, love, mercy, and all other perfections. All humankind owed to Him supreme faith and obedience.
III. HUMANKIND
Humankind has been created in the image of God but through Adam's fall is now sinful, lost and condemned. By deliberate choice all participate in sin which is open rebellion to God's law. Notwithstanding the fall, all human life through creation has value and dignity.
IV. JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH
Human beings can be forgiven of sin and justified solely through the redeeming work of Jesus Christ who died for sinners and rose again from the dead. Only by repentance from sin and faith in Jesus Christ the Lord can acceptance with God be attained.
V. REGENERATION
Regeneration is the work of the Holy Spirit by which the believer receives a new nature from God. Christian growth or sanctification is the continuation of the new life principle which begins in the new birth.
VI. THE CHURCH
The church in its widest sense includes all believers of all ages. The church is manifested visibly in the local body of baptized believers who covenant together to worship, observe the ordinances, and evangelize.
VII. HUMAN DESTINY
Jesus Christ will eventually return visibly at which time He will raise the dead and judge all people. Believers will enjoy an eternal state of blessedness in heaven while unbelievers will experience eternal separation from God in hell.
VIII. EVANGELISM AND SOCIAL CONCERN
The church has been called to preach the gospel so that individual people can receive salvation. Also the church is to become involved in the improvement of society by advocating biblical principles which militate against poverty, racism, violence, and all forms of injustice against humankind.
IX. HUMAN SEXUALITY
God's design is that man and woman either be joined together in a perpetual monogamous relationship or live in a single state. Extra-marital sex, adultery and homosexuality are inconsistent with biblical teaching.
Applicant Statement
I certify that all information provided in order to apply for and secure work with the employer is true, complete and correct.
I understand that any information provided by me that is found to be false, incomplete or misrepresented in any respect, will be sufficient cause to (i) cancel further consideration of this application, or (ii) immediately discharge me from service, whenever it is discovered.
I expressly authorize, without reservation, the employer, its representatives, employees or agents to contact and obtain information from all references (personal and professional), employers, public agencies, licensing authorities and educational institutions and to otherwise verify the accuracy of all information provided by me in this application, resume, or job interview. I hereby waive any and all rights and claims I may have regarding the employer, its agents, employees or representatives, for seeking, gathering, and using such information in the employment process and all other persons, corporations or organizations for furnishing such information about me.
I understand that the employer does not unlawfully discriminate in employment and no question on this application is used for the purpose of limiting or excusing any applicant from consideration for employment on a basis prohibited by applicable local, state or federal law.
It is my understanding that TM Camping is an at-will employer and by understanding this is has been explained to me that if I am hired, I understand that I am free to resign at any time, with or without cause and without prior notice, and the employer reserves the same right to terminate my employment at any time, with or without cause and without prior notice, except as may be required by law. This application does not constitute an agreement or contract for employment for any specified period or definite duration. I understand that no supervisor or representative of the employer is authorized to make any assurances to the contrary and that no implied oral or written agreements contrary to the foregoing express language are valid unless they are in writing and signed by myself and TM Camping's Executive Director.
I also understand that if I am hired, I will be required to provide proof of identity and legal authority to work in the United States and that federal immigration laws require me to complete an I-9 Form in this regard. I agree to a background check, fingerprinting and on-going drug testing.
Closing Letter
Thank you for applying to be a part of the American Outdoor Christian Education Team!
The work done here influences eternity! We are excited about how God is using our ministry to impact people and other ministries throughout the world. If you are hired, we hope that as you get to know us and experience God's work here, and you will love this ministry as much as we do!
Sincerely,
Gregory Lewis
Outdoor Education Director