Wilderness Ranger - Inyo National Forest

EPIC • Lone Pine, CA

1d • Onsite

About The Position

American Conservation Experience, a nonprofit Conservation Corps, in partnership with Inyo National Forest, is seeking SIX Wilderness Rangers to work alongside Forest Service Staff. For more information about ACE, please visit our website. Start Date: May 18, 2026 Estimated End Date: October 16, 2026 a 22-week minimum commitment is required Location Details/Description: Mt. Whitney Ranger District, Lone Pine, CA; White Mountain Ranger District, Bishop, CA; Mammoth Ranger District, Mammoth Lakes, CA The Inyo National Forest is a large, complex forest, encompassing about two million acres in California and Nevada. It contains several natural features of national and international interest. There are nine wilderness areas and six research natural areas, as well as the Mono Basin National Forest Scenic Area, the Ancient Bristlecone Pine Forest, and Mt. Whitney - the tallest mountain in the contiguous United States. Diverse geologic features, combined with the elevational extremes and attendant wide range of climatic conditions, results in tremendous floristic diversity on the Forest, with vegetation communities ranging from desert scrub, sagebrush scrub, and pinyon woodland, to Jeffrey pine, lodgepole pine, and alpine habitats. Lone Pine, Lee Vining, Mammoth Lakes and Bishop are all premier locations for outdoor recreation in California. These opportunities include backpacking, fishing, hunting, hang gliding, cross-country skiing, downhill skiing, cycling, mountain biking, photography, rock climbing, trail running, off-highway vehicle exploration, and horseback riding. If you want to spend the summer in one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in America, if you enjoy outdoor activities in your free time, and if you are interested in learning about recreation careers in the Forest Service, then this is the job for you! For more information about the Inyo National Forest, please visit the USDA Forest Service website. Position Overview: Make helpful and informative contacts with wilderness visitors, checking wilderness permits, explaining regulations, and providing Leave No Trace educational messages. Naturalize campsites, dismantle fire rings and other developments, remove trash. Perform routine trail tread maintenance like cleaning waterbars with a shovel to ensure proper drainage. Assist with trail clearing using crosscut saws and other tools. Record data on work needed and completed. Technology such as GPS and data gathering apps will be utilized to collect data. Travel and camp in remote backcountry settings. Strenuous hiking of 10 miles in a day is not uncommon. Work in all kinds of weather conditions (unless hazardous). Field work may be performed alone or as part of a small team. Backpacking competency and self-reliance are essential. This individual placement is meant to facilitate professional development and promotes exposure to land management agencies and networking with professionals. This could include gaining experience in different conservation fields and shadowing different work groups. Schedule: The schedule will likely be 9 days on and 5 days off, but flexibility of scheduling may be necessary according to project needs.

Requirements

• Members must be a U.S. citizen or Permanent Resident, as required by U.S. government contracts
• 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.
• Willing to undergo and must pass the required criminal history check.
• 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

• Wilderness First Aid, Wilderness First Responder, Leave No Trace trainer, or equivalent training
• Experience with multi-day backpacking trips in mountainous terrain

Responsibilities

• Make helpful and informative contacts with wilderness visitors, checking wilderness permits, explaining regulations, and providing Leave No Trace educational messages.
• Naturalize campsites, dismantle fire rings and other developments, remove trash.
• Perform routine trail tread maintenance like cleaning waterbars with a shovel to ensure proper drainage.
• Assist with trail clearing using crosscut saws and other tools.
• Record data on work needed and completed.
• Technology such as GPS and data gathering apps will be utilized to collect data.
• Travel and camp in remote backcountry settings.
• Strenuous hiking of 10 miles in a day is not uncommon.
• Work in all kinds of weather conditions (unless hazardous).
• Field work may be performed alone or as part of a small team.
• Backpacking competency and self-reliance are essential.

Benefits

• Living Allowance: The ACE Member is expected to contribute ~80 hours/biweekly and will receive a living allowance of $800/week plus per diem to offset the costs of food and incidental expenses, dispersed bi-weekly.
• Gear Allowance: ACE members will be reimbursed up to $300 for purchase of hiking boots.
• Housing: ACE members will have access to up to $150/week to be used for eligible housing expenses. Space in government barracks may be available.
• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed