Hiking Guide Jobs
When the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA) did a survey of most popular activities in adventure travel, hiking was at the top of the list. Hiking and trekking has become one of the fastest growing activities in the outdoor adventure industry, and it has opened up many opportunities for outdoorsy people who would like to make a living doing something they love.
The hiking guide profession is exactly that – a profession. It’s a serious reponsibility to be trusted with people’s vacations in a world where time is the most precious resource, and people work 50 weeks a year to enjoy two weeks off, one of which is on a guided tour with you. It’s also a profession with many benefits. Read on to learn all about what it means to make your living out on the trail!
It’s worth noting that the information provided here is most applicable to commercial guiding. I.E. Outdoor ed, science education schools, summer backpacking camps, conservation crews, trail work, field research, college outdoor recreation teaching, etc will share similarities but trip types, pay, staff ratios, level of experience needed to enter and responsibilities will differ from this information.
WHY WORK AS A HIKING GUIDE?
MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN PEOPLE’S LIVES
NATURE IS YOUR OFFICE
WINTERS FREE TO TRAVEL AND GO ON ADVENTURES
SHARE YOUR LOVE OF THE NATURAL SCIENCES WITH OTHERS
PHYSICALLY ACTIVE WORK
TOP AREAS FOR HIKING GUIDE JOBS
Top areas to work as a hiking guide include:
- Grand Canyon National Park
- Yosemite National Park
- The Alps
- Peruvian Andes
- The Great Smoky Mountains
- Sedona, Arizona
- The Colorado Rockies
- Pacific Northwest
- Zion National Park
- Bryce Canyon National Park
WHAT IS REQUIRED TO BE A HIKING GUIDE?
Outdoor guiding requires an amazing diversity of skills and abilities. Because you’re out with paying clients for days in a row, and you are often the sole representative (or one of two representatives) of the organization you represent, there is much expected of you. A guide fulfills all of the following roles when working:
LEADER
TEACHER
COOK
NURSE
COUNSELOR
SERVANT
DRIVER
TYPES OF HIKING TOURS
INN-BASED TOURS
CAMPING-BASED TOURS
PORTERED HIKES
STOCK SUPPORTED HIKES
BACKPACKING TRIPS
DAY HIKES
HOW MUCH MONEY DOES A HIKING GUIDE MAKE?
Commercial hiking guide salaries will differ by area and company. One variable is whether you are leading day tours or multi-day tours. Multi-day tours tend to pay more than day hiking tours. In general you can expect to make $120-$250 per day. You may be paid hourly, which is how hiking guides are legally supposed to be paid, so averaging your daily pay will most likely be between $120 and $250 per day. Most hiking guides also make gratuities.
Related Pages
- All About Outdoor Guide Jobs
- Backpacking Guide Jobs
- Employment Opportunities
- Administrative and Management Jobs
- Hiking Guide Jobs
- Wildland Trekking Driver Jobs
- Wildland Trekking Guide Jobs
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