About Backcountry Trails Program

Do you seek adventure and challenge in a spectacular outdoor environment while getting paid and kickstarting your career? The Backcountry Trails Program might be for you!

The Backcountry Trails Program is a special program of the California Conservation Corps in partnership with AmeriCorps. It is a paid work and development program for 18-25 year olds from across the country that focuses on trail work, wilderness exploration, and personal, community, and career development.

Members live and work in remote parks and forests in California for five continuous months (end of April through the end of September) as part of a backcountry trail crew of 12-15 corpsmembers, where they learn technical trail skills, wilderness safety and navigation, community building, and more.  Crews are trained and mentored by a staff Supervisor, camp cook, and project sponsors from our partner agencies including the NPS, USFS, and CA State Parks.

In addition to work duties, crews participate in educational classes, community meetings, games and events, camp chores, and weekend backpacking trips.

Why Work here

Personal growth: Backcountry alumni consistently rate themselves higher in self-confidence, work skills, community-building, and physical fitness after completing the program.

Career advancement: Most of our alumni go on to be hired for one or more seasons with other outdoor or conservation organizations, including the NPS and USFS.

Rare opportunities: Spend five months living in and exploring some of the most beautiful places in California, where many people only get to visit for a few days in their lives if they’re lucky.

New friends: Meet people from all across the country and bond over a unique experience that very few people have done.

Trainings and scholarships:  All members receive free Wilderness First Aid certification and a half-time AmeriCorps Segal Education Award, in addition to on-the-job training like wilderness navigation, pack animal safety, and trail construction techniques.