Trail Coordinator - Great Job for Those Who Love to Hike and Enjoy the Wilderness

If you like working outdoors and enjoy the wilderness, a position as a Trail Coordinator might be ideal for you. This position is one that is all about trails. Hiking trails, biking trails, horseback riding trails, and even snowmobile trails were all designed and built under the direction of a trail coordinator.

Planning and building a trail isn't all fun and games, as one would think. Many trails stretch for hundreds of miles and usually include various types of terrain. Sometimes it's extremely difficult - at times seemingly impossible - to tie pieces of trails together over mountain ranges, deserts or through heavily wooded areas. Yet, it must be done somehow, and for a trail coordinator, figuring it out is all in a day's work.

In addition to planning trails, a trail coordinator must make sure the trail is mapped accurately, marked as needed, and posted with signs. The trail coordinator himself often does some or all of these job duties. Usually it takes months, or even years to plan, build, map, mark and sign a trail. Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation trail coordinator Leo Hennessey began signing the Centennial Trail, a 1200-mile winding trek through Idaho, 11 years ago and is still working on it, although he is nearly finished by now.

Trail coordinators must also sometimes be responsible for maintenance on trails they plan and build. Usually this means hiring people or asking for volunteers to pick up litter and fix problem areas, but often it means the trail coordinator must see to repairing sections of the trail himself. Sometimes landslides, flooding, or undergrowth become issues and when that happens, many times the trails must be rerouted, another job duty of the trail coordinator.

Trail coordinators must be physically fit and able to walk long distances, as well as be able to lift, bend and do other physical activities. In addition, most of their work is done outside and often in all kinds of weather, so unless you love nature well enough to enjoy the outdoors regardless of the weather -this may not be the ideal job for you. Often the only educational background required for a trail coordinator is a high school diploma, but unless you have a college background in natural resource management, or experience in surveying or other related field, it's likely you'll have to start at the bottom, which usually means working for the Department of Parks and Recreation as a general maintenance person. With some experience in the field, however, it is possible to work your way up. Trail coordinators make an average salary of $44,000, not bad money for a job you enjoy doing.

For the right person; that is, someone who loves hiking and natural resource management, it's a dream job. However these jobs are limited, so you'll need to be on your game and highly devoted in order to get this position.

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