San Juan National Forest, partners launch seasonal hiring push for summer 2026

San Juan National Forest and partner organizations launched a hiring push in mid-February for 11 temporary seasonal positions across Bayfield and Pagosa Springs, aimed at beefing up trail crews, campground maintenance, road work, and visitor services ahead of the recreation season. The application window opened Feb. 20, with the majority of federal listings set to close March 3, and partner postings carrying their own deadlines through mid-March.

“The San Juan National Forest is hiring a variety of temporary seasonal positions on each district through the Forest Service hiring portal and through partner organizations (San Juan Mountains Association and Southwest Conservation Corps.),” the Forest Service outreach notice states, noting coordinated hiring through both USAJOBS and partner webpages. Forest Service materials also describe the hiring as beginning in mid-February while partner organizations listed specific application deadlines.

Forest and partner staff will focus on front- and back-country trail work, developed recreation maintenance, road construction and visitor services. “All partner and FS employees work together out of each office to implement a variety of forest management projects including front/back-country trail work, developed recreation maintenance, road construction/management, and visitor services administration,” the outreach notice says. Seasonal fire hires are also underway in the region and will run alongside these recreation hires.

San Juan National Forest positions will be advertised on USAJOBS; applicants are instructed to select Durango, Bayfield, Dolores, and/or Pagosa Springs as preferred locations when applying. Partner positions for the San Juan Mountains Association and Southwest Conservation Corps will be posted and filled through those organizations’ recruitment pages rather than exclusively on USAJOBS.

The outreach table lists these openings and contacts exactly as provided: Facilities and Assistant Heavy Equipment Operator - 1 position, preferred grade GS-5; hiring manager Pete Merkel, 970-385-8647; location Pagosa Springs, CO. Wilderness & Trails Technician - 5 positions, preferred grade GS-5; hiring manager Jordan Burningham, 970-398-1570, Jordan.Burningham@usda.gov; location Bayfield, CO. Trails Crew Leader (construction, rehab, and maintenance) - 1 position, preferred grade GS-6; hiring manager Jordan Burningham, 970-398-1570, Jordan.Burningham@usda.gov; location Bayfield, CO. Developed Recreation Technician (campground and facilities management) - 1 position, preferred grade GS-6; hiring manager Jordan Burningham, 970-398-1570, Jordan.Burningham@usda.gov; location Bayfield, CO. Recreation Specialist - 1 position, preferred grade GS-7; hiring manager Jordan Burningham, 970-398-1570, Jordan.Burningham@usda.gov; location Bayfield, CO. SJMA Motorized Trail Crew / Lead - 1 position, preferred grade GS-5; hiring manager Jordan Burningham, 970-398-1570, Jordan.Burningham@usda.gov; location Bayfield, CO. Recreation Technician (SCC AmeriCorps) - 1 position, preferred grade GS-5; hiring manager Niki (N.) Antonio, 970-902-3352, nantonio@conservationlegacy.org; location Bayfield, CO.

The San Juan Mountains Association Wilderness Crew posting lists a companion partner opening with pay at $19 to $21 per hour, an expected season of mid-May through early September, and an application deadline of Mar. 17 for that position. The SJMA posting states applicants will “Perform strenuous manual labor in all weather at high elevations ... Crew Members will receive a broad spectrum of relevant training and will end the season with a range of hands-on Wilderness stewardship experience.” SJMA crews operate out of the SJNF Supervisor’s Office in Durango and work on remote field projects with occasional 8-day hitches.

Minimum qualifications across Forest Service listings require applicants to be at least 18 years old, hold a valid U.S. driver’s license, be able to perform manual labor and hike long distances. Some jobs are open only to current federal employees, and the outreach says permanent hiring for 2026 is complete; these are temporary seasonal vacancies for the May-November window with flexible start and end dates.

For follow up and direct inquiries contact Jordan Burningham at 970-398-1570 or Jordan.Burningham@usda.gov for Bayfield district roles, Pete Merkel at 970-385-8647 for the Pagosa Springs facilities position, and Niki Antonio at 970-902-3352 or nantonio@conservationlegacy.org for the SCC AmeriCorps Recreation Technician. USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.