Trail Crew Member- Great Smoky Mountains National Park

EPIC • Cherokee, NC

13h • Onsite

About The Position

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with Great Smoky Mountains National Park is seeking SIX Trail Crew Members to contribute to trail projects alongside NPS Staff. For more information about ACE, please visit our website. Start Date: April 20, 2026 Estimated End Date: October 17, 2026 (or 26-weeks after start date) a 26-week minimum commitment is required Location Details/Description: Great Smoky Mountains National Park is unique among America's National Parks; located on the border between North Carolina and Tennessee, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park is renowned for its rich diversity of plant and animal life, the beauty of the ancient mountains and forests, and its preservation of the Southern Appalachian mountain culture. Four of the ACE members will be stationed in Gatlinburg, TN and two ACE members will be stationed in Cherokee, NC. For more information about Great Smoky Mountains National Park please visit the parks website. Position Overview: The Great Smoky Mountains Trail Crew will train and mentor ACE EPIC members to prepare them for a future career in trail work or a related field in conservation. As recreation and hiking increases in popularity, there is a growing need for skilled trail workers to enter the workforce. This 6 month internship will provide members with the skills needed to start a career in trail work or a related field in recreation or conservation. ACE EPIC members will be led and trained by NPS Trails Staff on a variety of trail maintenance and construction tasks. Maintenance Tasks include clearing trail drainages, clearing trails of fallen trees, mowing trail sides to keep trail corridors open, cemetery maintenance (blowing leaves, mowing), and other cyclic trail maintenance tasks such as widening and outsloping the trail surface, trail surface repair, and maintaining erosion control structures. Trail construction tasks include assisting NPS Staff with building trail structures such as foot logs, staircases, retaining walls, and turnpikes. The mission of the National Park Service is to preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations" Work accomplished by the members will be directly contributing to hiker safety and hiker access to the most popular trail destinations in the Park. Trail improvements and erosion control measures will improve trail sustainability and better protect natural resources. The purpose of these positions is to offer training and mentorship to interns while completing trail maintenance and trail projects. Following the completion of the six month internship, participants will have a wide array of training and skills to be able to seek employment with land management agencies and organizations seeking skilled trails staff. These same land management agencies and organizations will benefit with having more skilled trails workers available. The ACE members will work directly with the NPS Trail Crew. This will entail meeting at the trail shop each morning at 7am, working a full day, and returning with the crew at the end of the day. The North Carolina Trail Crew meeting place will be in the Cherokee Office located just inside the GRSM Boundary from Cherokee, NC. Two interns will work directly with the North Carolina Trail Crew. Four interns will work out of the Gatlinburg Office on the Tennessee Side of the Park. Schedule: Monday – Thursday 7am to 5:30pm

Requirements

• Members must be authorized to work in the United States. ACE does not provide sponsorship for employment visas.
• Willing and able to represent ACE and the partner organization in a professional, positive, and enthusiastic manner.
• Ability to be both self-directed/work alone, and be a positive, contributing member of a group.
• A valid driver's license and an insurable driving record (documentation to be provided upon request). Members must be 21+ to drive due to ACE's insurance and liability requirements.
• A current and valid form of ID (will be required to provide copies of ID's upon hiring)
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history checks
• Ability to perform the essential duties of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.
• ACE Members will need to complete bi-weekly timesheets, beginning of term feedback forms, end of term evaluations and for longer terms, a mid-term evaluation.
• Member may not participate in any prohibited activities as listed in the Member Service Agreement.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with hiking, camping, and previous manual labor jobs is preferred
• Ability and willingness to work outside in less-than-ideal conditions including working in the rain and working in hot/humid and cold weather.
• Applicants must be comfortable hiking 8-15 miles per day.
• Deep interest in hiking, challenging oneself physically, conservation, and working outdoors

Responsibilities

• clearing trail drainages
• clearing trails of fallen trees
• mowing trail sides to keep trail corridors open
• cemetery maintenance (blowing leaves, mowing)
• widening and outsloping the trail surface
• trail surface repair
• maintaining erosion control structures
• assisting NPS Staff with building trail structures such as foot logs, staircases, retaining walls, and turnpikes

Benefits

• Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~40 hours/week and will receive a living allowance of $740/week to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly .
• Housing: A taxed reimbursable housing allowance in the amount of (NTE) $500 per month for (6) months will be available.
• Gear Allowance: ACE members will be reimbursed up to (NTE) $200 for approved boots.
• Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members will receive position specific training and an orientation outlining ACE policies and procedures, clear guidance on prohibited activities, and networks for support. Specific training may include NPS Operational Leadership Training, First Aid and CPR Training, Chainsaw Certification, and trail maintenance and construction techniques, rigging, stone drilling and splitting using hammer drills and feathers/wedges, chainsaw use, string trimmer use, working around mules, and rock bar and other trails hand tool use training.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 101-250 employees