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Wilderness Guide Jobs in Colorado (NOW HIRING)

Field Therapist Seeds Wilderness Way (Seeds) works with families with troubled teens. We take teens ... guides, executive director, insurance case managers, or other need to know clinical staff.

Yampa is known as the Gateway to the Flat Tops Wilderness Area, and there is easy access to an ... guide a small municipality into its next era. Qualifications: A bachelors degree in business ...

Field Instructor

Telluride, CO ยท On-site

$20/hr

Serve as a role model, mentor, and guide for participants, helping them build confidence ... Current Wilderness First Aid (WFA) and CPR certification (or the ability to obtain prior to staff ...

Serve as a role model, mentor, and guide for participants, helping them build confidence ... Current Wilderness First Aid (WFA) and CPR certification (or the ability to obtain prior to staff ...

Showing results 21-40

Wilderness Guide information

See Colorado salary details

$8

$20

$41

How much do wilderness guide jobs pay per hour?

As of Aug 7, 2026, the average hourly pay for wilderness guide in Colorado is $20.72, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $14.42 and $20.96 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a wilderness guide?

Wilderness Guides are professionals trained to lead individuals or groups safely through natural, undeveloped areas such as forests, mountains, or national parks. They are responsible for planning routes, providing information about local ecology and wildlife, ensuring safety, and sometimes teaching outdoor skills like navigation, camping, and survival techniques. Wilderness Guides help create memorable, educational, and safe outdoor experiences for participants, ranging from day hikes to multi-day expeditions.

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

To thrive as a Wilderness Guide, you need strong outdoor survival skills, first aid certification, and knowledge of local geography and ecosystems. Familiarity with navigation tools (like GPS, maps, and compasses), wilderness medicine certifications (such as Wilderness First Responder), and outdoor gear are typically required. Outstanding communication, leadership, and decision-making skills help guide groups safely and create memorable experiences. These abilities are crucial for ensuring safety, managing risks, and providing an informative and enjoyable adventure for clients.

What are some common challenges faced by wilderness guides during multi-day expeditions, and how are they typically managed?

Wilderness Guides often encounter challenges such as unpredictable weather, navigation through difficult terrain, and managing group dynamics over extended periods. To handle these, guides rely on thorough pre-trip planning, constant monitoring of weather updates, and strong communication skills to ensure group safety and morale. They are trained in first aid and emergency procedures, allowing them to address any medical or safety issues promptly. Adaptability and proactive problem-solving are key to ensuring a safe and enjoyable experience for all participants.

What is the difference between Wilderness Guide vs Outdoor Educator?

AspectWilderness GuideOutdoor Educator
CertificationsWilderness First Aid, CPR, outdoor skills certificationsWilderness First Aid, CPR, teaching credentials
Work EnvironmentRemote wilderness areas, guiding outdoor activitiesSchools, camps, outdoor programs
Industry UsageTourism, adventure companies, outdoor recreationEducational institutions, youth programs

Wilderness Guides and Outdoor Educators both work outdoors and often hold similar certifications like Wilderness First Aid. However, Wilderness Guides primarily lead adventure activities in remote areas, focusing on guiding clients safely through wilderness experiences. Outdoor Educators typically work in structured settings like schools or camps, emphasizing teaching outdoor skills and environmental education. While their roles overlap in outdoor environments, their main focus and work settings differ.

What are popular job titles related to Wilderness Guide jobs in Colorado? For Wilderness Guide jobs in Colorado, the most frequently searched job titles are:
What job categories do people searching Wilderness Guide jobs in Colorado look for? The top searched job categories for Wilderness Guide jobs in Colorado are:
What cities in Colorado are hiring for Wilderness Guide jobs? Cities in Colorado with the most Wilderness Guide job openings:
Infographic showing various Wilderness Guide job openings in Colorado as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 73% Full Time, and 27% Part Time. Highlights an 100% In-person job distribution, with an average salary of $43,098 per year, or $20.7 per hour.

Field Therapist

Seeds Wilderness Therapy

Montrose, CO โ€ข On-site

Full-time

Re-posted 25 days ago


Job description

 Field Therapist


Seeds Wilderness Way (Seeds) works with families with troubled teens. We take teens on an intensive 40 day experience. The process includes what we refer to as Retreat, Restore, Revive-- where as we invite our students to retreat to the mountains with Jesus, find heart restoration with Jesus, and go home to revive friends and neighbors with the gospel. Seeds  combines the best practices in therapy with the teachings of Jesus and solid discipleship.  


In this role, the Field Therapist interacts directly with students 14-18 years old and their families, as well as assist in communicating with continuing programs and therapists.  With this approach, Seeds is striving to support healthy relationship building, increase self-efficacy, strengthen self-determination, as well as provide life-long tools for students and families. 


This is a seasonal gig, with significant time in the summer months. Thursdays and Fridays therapists are in the field with students doing 1 on 1 therapy, group therapy, or running initiatives for experiential learning. Mondays through Wednesdays are reserved for sessions with parents and notes. (There would likely be room to squeeze in some private practice therapy sessions as well.) 


Extra work may be available in off seasons for other programming (i.e. youth pastor or parent seminars), curriculum, recruiting/marketing, and conference engagements, etc. 


The Field Therapist interacts directly with the Clinical Director, Executive Director and the Director of Operations, and the job will encompass a variety of duties.


The duties and expectations include:


  • Primary therapist to students, caseload based on assigned group 
  • Run group sessions
  • Meet with each student twice per week
  • Participate in staff training 
  • Help with facilitating field instructor training sessions.
  • Assist with on-call schedule
  • Facilitate updates and collaboration to support team members.  This could include (but is not limited to): Parents, caregivers, legal guardians, educational consultants, prescribers, transition personnel, medical practitioners, previous therapists, clinical director, clinical staff, guides, executive director, insurance case managers, or other need to know clinical staff.
  • Documentation including progress notes, clinical summaries, discharge summaries, assessments, treatment planning, diagnosing, phone log summaries, on-call clinical recommendations, and email communications to need to know support staff.
  • Continued professional development specific to wilderness therapy outcomes and necessary continuing education credits for licensure.
  • Collaborate and provide clear and precise direction regarding the treatment of the adolescents to the team - ie. field therapists, field directors/instructors, and logistics.
  • Facilitation of graduation ceremonies.
  • Alumni support 
  • Attendance at conferences and other marketing events
  • Attendance of weekly staff meetings and weekly supervision/collaboration.
  • Collaboration with admissions and clinical staff on group dynamics and cohesion.
  • Writing assignments for students should include Hope letter, Letter of responsibility, Forgiveness letter, etc.
  • Adhere to state regulations regarding mandated reporting
  • Developing and implementing student and parent curriculums.


Qualifications

  • Minimum of Master’s degree in Social Work, Clinical or Counseling Psychology, Family Therapy, or related field
  • Colorado License or eligible and working towards CO licensure
  • 2+ years of clinical experience working with adolescents in a wilderness, residential or outpatient setting
  • Confident in relationship building capabilities with students, families, referring professionals, and team members
  • Ability to maintain clinical records in a timely manner, and in compliance with state and company regulations and requirements
  • Ability to demonstrate understanding of sound ethical practice 
  • Ability to respond to a range of clients’ needs using differential diagnoses and treatment approaches
  • Ability to utilize safe de-escalation skills in a volatile situation
  • Ability to provide appropriate crisis intervention services and reach out for additional support in critical situations
  • Current CPR/First Aid Certification
  • Must possess a valid Colorado Drivers License or willing to obtain within 60 days of being hired
  • Fluent English - both oral and written
  • Supports the company values
  • General knowledge of google  G-suite software - e.g. doc, sheets, slides, calendar, etc
  • Knowledge of BestNotes preferred, but not required
  • Ability to work autonomously as well as part of a team
  • Experience in wilderness therapy or counseling helpful
  • Comfortable working in a wilderness environment
  • Willing to travel to and from the field area (up to 3 hour drive)
  • Loves to learn new things
  • Ability to hike on uneven terrain, while carrying a pack or other equipment weighing up to 50 lbs.