Get paid to lead adventures in the Sonoran Desert
Desert Dog Offroad Adventures is hiring Sonoran Desert ATV/UTV Tour Guide Operators to lead U-Drive tours through the Tonto National Forest just outside Scottsdale & Phoenix. If the desert feels like home and people leave you energized, this is your office.
More than a driver — a great guide wears every hat
A seasoned tour guide operator is the whole experience rolled into one person: the calm hand on the wheel, the safety brief before the throttle, the voice that names every cactus and canyon, and the reason a nervous first-timer steps off the trail grinning ear to ear.
Below is exactly what the job asks of you — the many roles you’ll grow into on the trail with Desert Dog.
The many roles of a seasoned tour guide operator
One shift, ten hats. Master these and you’re not just an employee — you’re the adventure people drove across the country for.
Trail guide & navigator
Lead the convoy through exclusive Tonto National Forest routes — reading terrain, weather and light so every group gets the best of the desert and always finds its way home.
Certified UTV operator
Confidently drive and demonstrate our Polaris RZR side-by-sides on sand, rock and wash — setting the pace and the standard for safe, smooth, fun riding.
Safety officer
Own the pre-ride briefing, helmet and gear checks, and trail protocols. You keep every rider inside the lines and stay ready to respond if anything goes sideways.
Driving coach
Turn anxious first-timers into confident drivers in minutes — clear instruction, patience and encouragement so families, bachelorette crews and corporate teams all feel capable.
Desert naturalist & storyteller
Bring the Sonoran to life — saguaros and wildflowers, coyotes and Gila monsters, geology and local history. The facts and stories are what guests remember and repeat.
Trip photographer
Capture the free adventure photos we send every guest — the hero shots, the group cheers and the sunset silhouettes that fill their group chats and our reviews.
Hospitality host
Read the room and match the energy — hype up a bachelorette send-off, reassure a first-time family, run a slick corporate outing. Every guest should leave feeling like a friend.
Field mechanic
Run pre- and post-trip inspections, fuel and clean the fleet, and troubleshoot common issues on the trail so a small hiccup never ends a great tour.
Fleet & logistics
Stage vehicles, manage radios and timing, and keep tours launching on schedule — the behind-the-scenes rhythm that makes the guest-facing magic look effortless.
Brand ambassador
You are Desert Dog on the trail. The five-star reviews, the repeat guests and the “best day of the trip” moments all start with how you show up.
Is this you?
- 18 or older with a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record.
- Comfortable operating — or eager to learn to operate — side-by-side UTVs on unpaved desert trails.
- A genuine people person who loves hospitality and making guests feel like friends.
- Physically able to work outdoors in desert heat, handle gear (~50 lbs) and stay sharp on the trail.
- Available weekends and holidays — our busiest, best-tipping days.
- CPR & First Aid certified — or willing to get certified (we’ll help you).
Bonus if you have off-road, powersports, tour or customer-service experience — but we train the right person from the ground up. Attitude first, skills we can teach.
An office that’s 40,000 acres of open desert
We’ve run the trails outside Scottsdale for over 27 years. Guides here get real training, real seat time and a real path to grow.
What a shift looks like
No two tours are the same, but the rhythm is: prep hard, ride safe, send everyone home with a story.
Prep the fleet
Inspect and fuel the RZRs, load gear and water, and check the day’s route and weather.
Brief the group
Welcome riders, fit helmets and gear, and run the safety briefing and driving basics.
Lead the ride
Guide the convoy, coach drivers, tell the desert’s stories and grab the photos.
Reset & send-off
Thank the group, share their photos, then clean and stage the fleet for the next tour.
Join the Desert Dog crew
Tell us a little about you and when you can ride. We read every application and reach out if it looks like a fit — no cover letter required.
Apply to guide
Sonoran Desert ATV/UTV Tour Guide Operator — we’ll reply within a few business days.
See the tours you’d be leading
Ride with us first, or reach out with questions — the best guides usually start as guests who never wanted the tour to end.
Get to know us