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Wilderness Trip Leader Jobs (NOW HIRING)

Outdoor Recreation Assistant

Grinnell, IA ยท On-site

$14.25 - $17/hr

Support student trip leaders with trip planning and logistics; co-lead out-of-state trips with ... Wilderness medicine certification (wilderness first aid, wilderness advanced first aid, wilderness ...

Outdoor Recreation Assistant

Grinnell, IA ยท On-site

$14.25 - $16.75/hr

Support student trip leaders with trip planning and logistics; co-lead out-of-state trips with ... Wilderness medicine certification (wilderness first aid, wilderness advanced first aid, wilderness ...

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Wilderness Trip Leader information

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$13

$28

$59

How much do wilderness trip leader jobs pay per hour?

As of Sep 6, 2026, the average hourly pay for wilderness trip leader in the United States is $28.88, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $17.79 and $35.82 per hour, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What is a wilderness trip leader?

Wilderness Trip Leaders are professionals who guide groups on outdoor adventures such as backpacking, canoeing, or camping trips. They are responsible for ensuring participants' safety, teaching outdoor skills, managing group dynamics, and facilitating a meaningful experience in nature. Wilderness Trip Leaders are often trained in first aid, navigation, and environmental stewardship, and may work for summer camps, outdoor education programs, or adventure travel companies. Their role is essential for helping people enjoy and learn from wilderness settings while minimizing risks.

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

To thrive as a Wilderness Trip Leader, you need strong outdoor survival skills, first aid certification (such as Wilderness First Responder), and experience in backcountry navigation. Familiarity with GPS devices, map and compass, satellite communication tools, and risk management protocols is typically required. Exceptional leadership, communication, and decision-making abilities help you guide and motivate diverse groups in challenging environments. These skills and qualities are crucial for ensuring group safety, effective trip management, and delivering a positive wilderness experience for all participants.

What are the typical challenges faced by wilderness trip leaders during multi-day expeditions?

Wilderness Trip Leaders often encounter challenges such as adapting to rapidly changing weather, ensuring group safety in remote areas, and managing the varying skill levels and needs of participants. Effective communication, risk assessment, and problem-solving are essential, as leaders must make real-time decisions while maintaining group morale and safety. Additionally, leaders are responsible for logistics like meal preparation, navigation, and Leave No Trace practices, all of which require flexibility and strong organizational skills.

What is the difference between Wilderness Trip Leader vs Wilderness Guide?

AspectWilderness Trip LeaderWilderness Guide
CertificationsCPR, First Aid, Leave No TraceCPR, First Aid, Leave No Trace
Work EnvironmentLeading groups on multi-day trips, managing logisticsLeading individual or small groups, providing expertise on terrain
Employer & IndustryOutdoor adventure companies, camps, nonprofitsOutdoor outfitters, guiding companies, parks
Search & Comparison IntentYesYes

Wilderness Trip Leaders and Wilderness Guides share similar certifications and work environments, often overlapping in outdoor adventure settings. Trip Leaders typically oversee entire trips, managing logistics and group safety, while Guides focus on leading and instructing groups on specific terrains. Both roles are essential in outdoor recreation, with Trip Leaders often having broader responsibilities for trip planning and coordination.

More about Wilderness Trip Leader jobs

What states have the most Wilderness Trip Leader jobs?

States with the most job openings for Wilderness Trip Leader jobs include:

What job categories do people searching Wilderness Trip Leader jobs look for?

The top searched job categories for Wilderness Trip Leader jobs are:

Infographic showing various Wilderness Trip Leader job openings in the United States as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 1% As Needed, 81% Full Time, 14% Part Time, and 4% Contract. Highlights an 94% Physical, 2% Hybrid, and 4% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $60,062 per year, or $28.9 per hour.

Trip Leader Apprentice

Colorado Community College System Career Site

Lakewood, CO โ€ข On-site

$19.37 - $19.89/hr

Full-time

Medical, Life, Retirement

Re-posted 24 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.