ExplorUS Crater Lake

Work & Travel USA: Porter at ExplorUS Crater Lake, Oregon

Imagine finishing your shift and walking ten minutes to the rim of the deepest lake in the United States – a bowl of impossibly blue water resting inside an ancient collapsed volcano. That’s not a holiday photo; that’s your summer. ExplorUS Crater Lake is hiring international university students for the Porter position from Summer to Fall, and this is your chance to live inside one of America’s most spectacular national parks.

What You’ll Be Doing

As a Porter, you are the friendly face guests remember and the engine that keeps our hospitality operation running smoothly. Your day-to-day responsibilities include:

• Greeting arriving guests, assisting with luggage and escorting them to their rooms or cabins
• Keeping lobbies, hallways, public restrooms and entrances clean, tidy and welcoming
• Transporting linens, supplies and deliveries between storage areas and departments
• Supporting the housekeeping and front desk teams during busy check-in and check-out periods
• Answering basic guest questions about the lodge, the park and local hiking trails
• Light maintenance support such as reporting repairs and setting up furniture for events

Why Crater Lake, Oregon?

Crater Lake National Park is Oregon’s only national park and one of the most photographed places in the Pacific Northwest. On your days off you can hike the Garfield Peak Trail, cycle the 33-mile Rim Drive, swim at Cleetwood Cove, stargaze under some of the darkest skies in the country, or take a boat tour to Wizard Island. Weekend trips can take you to Bend, Ashland, the Oregon coast, Portland or even northern California.

You’ll also be part of a genuinely international crew – students from Bulgaria, Europe, Asia and South America all living and working together in one of the most beautiful staff communities in the USA.

Pay & Benefits

• $16.00 per hour
• 35 guaranteed hours per week, with the possibility of extra hours during peak season
• Employer-provided housing available inside/near the park (fees apply)
• Employee meal and staff discount programs
• Free or discounted access to park attractions and employee recreation activities
• A U.S. work reference and hospitality experience that looks great on any CV

Who We’re Looking For

• University students aged 18–25 enrolled in the Work & Travel USA program (J-1 visa)
• Conversational English and a confident, friendly attitude with guests
• Physically fit – the role involves standing, walking, lifting luggage and supplies
• Reliable, punctual and happy to work weekends, holidays and rotating shifts
• Comfortable living in a remote mountain location with limited nightlife and shopping
• Team players who want an authentic national park experience, not just a city job

Note: This position does not include tips – your income comes from a solid, dependable hourly wage.

Ready to Apply?

Positions at Crater Lake fill up fast every season because nature-based placements are the most requested in the entire Work & Travel USA program. Apply early, secure your spot, and spend your summer in a place you’ll be telling stories about for the rest of your life.