Trail Crew Member- Smoky Mountains National Park

Summary

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 *

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.

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 out sloping 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.

Monday – Thursday 7am to 5:30pm

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: Housing is the responsibility of the member and not provided by ACE or Great Smoky Mountains National Park. 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. Gear must be approved by the partner and ACE prior to purchase.

Provided Training/Orientation: ACE members…