Mount Rainier Wilderness Ranger Assistant 2025

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The National Park Service is seeking individuals to work alongside our wilderness rangers during the 2025 summer season. The Wilderness Ranger Assistant works under the day-to-day supervision of the Wilderness Information Center supervisor and lead staff who assign work and provide instruction. The volunteer spends 35-50% of their time in the field where the volunteer supports various monitoring and management efforts in Mount Rainier’s wilderness, including overnight and/or day backcountry patrol hikes to learn the park, to help maintain trails and backcountry structures, to make positive connections with visitors, to be available for visitor needs, and to work with other rangers on a variety of projects. In addition, 50-65% of work is spent at the Wilderness Information Center desk where they learn how to use Recreation.gov to issue backpacking/climbing permits and share best practices for recreating in the wilderness (safety topics and permit requirements). The volunteer will make visitor contacts to provide general park orientation, wilderness awareness, Leave No Trace best practices, wildlife/food storage best practices, trip planning assistance, weather and conditions updates, and problem solving. Knowledge of backcountry travel, backpacking, and Leave No Trace is helpful, but not required. Training will be provided.

More than 97 percent of Mount Rainier National Park is legally designated as wilderness, which includes glaciers, forests, meadows, lakes, and other wetlands. The park includes over 260 miles of maintained trails through old growth forest, subalpine meadows with mountain views, lake shore and river vistas and more. If you dream about having all of this in your backyard, you enjoy hiking and talking to people, and you want to work with a team of experienced rangers this volunteer opportunity is for you!

Housing and Uniforms: Mount Rainier National Park provides free housing for volunteers who live more than 50 miles away from Mount Rainier National Park. Housing may be dormitory style, apartment style, or a shared house. Rooms may or may not be shared. Houses are completely furnished, with the exception of linens and cookware/utensils. Camping site/RV pad may be available for this position. Volunteer must provide own transportation to and from the park. The National Park Service will provide a uniform shirt and hat; interns must provide hiking pants and shorts, rain gear, warm clothing, socks, and shoes. Gear such as backpack, trekking poles, GPS, etc will be provided.

Dates:

Mid-May to mid-October 2025 (these dates are flexible)

Required days: 32 hours/week

Hours available: 7:00am-5:00pm

To Apply

• A cover letter or formal email stating your reason for interest in the position.
• Resume (including at least 2 references)

Start Date - 2025-05-16

End Date - 2025-10-17

Activities include: Back Country/Wilderness;Conservation Education;Other;Trail/Campground Maintenance;Visitor Information