Trail Projects


Each year, ABWF volunteers, staff, and Forest Service trail-crew members venture out to disparate corners of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness with saws and pulaskis in-hand to clear trail, clean drains, and assist with trail construction. On our projects, volunteers learn trail building techniques practiced by crews in the Custer-Gallatin Forest, while experiencing firsthand the thought, intention, and hard work that goes into maintaining our incredible trail system. Expect to learn and work during the day, eat delicious food around great company, and rest your head each night in a beautiful spot in the Absaroka-Beartooth. 


Take a tour of The AB to see our upcoming projects and events on the fully interactive map below.


Summary of 2024 Programs

ProjectLocationDatesDifficultyOpen Spots
Multi-Day Projects*:
West Boulder River
Habitat Restoration
Camping at TrailheadJune 6-10Mod.
Strenuous
10
Cooke City area
trail clearing
stay at Cooke City
Ranger Station
June 20-24Mod.
Strenuous
10
East Rosebud Trail Retread
aka The Beaten Path
Camping near
Elk Lake
June 22 – July 2Mod.
Strenuous
10
Meatrack Meadows
brushing & weeds
Backcountry CampsiteJuly 6-11Mod.
Strenuous
Full
Widewater Lake Puncheon
Construction
Cooke City
Lake District
July 18-22Mod.
Strenuous
Full
Boulder Divide
Solitude Monitoring
East Fork
Mill Creek
July 26-29Strenuous2/4
Stillwater River
Thru-Hike
Trail Clearing
Daisy Pass to WoodbineAug 5-11Most Strenuous7/10
Lake Plateau
Solitude Monitoring
Upside CreekAug 16-18Strenuous4/4
Single-Day Projects:
Girl Scouts of
MT & WY
Red Lodge,MTJune 19Less Strenuous10
Livingston Peak
Weed Control
Livingston, MTJune 29Less Strenuous10
Gardiner Basin
Habitat Restoration
Gardiner, MTJuly 13Mod. Strenuous10
Eagle Mount Billings
Adventure Day
Wild Bill Lake
Red Lodge, MT
Aug 13Easy10
East Rosebud Lake
Weed Control
The Beaten Path TrailheadTBDLess Strenuoussign up to stay informed
Educational Hikes:
Native Fish
in the
Absaroka-Beartooth
with Chris Parrish from Trout UnlimtedTBDEasysign up to stay informed
Wilderness Trail Managementwith Garry Edson, retired trails manager for Region 1, US Forest ServiceTBDEasysign up to stay informed
Trail Ambassadors:
Become a Trail Ambassador
– no experience necessary –
All Threetraining May 11Easycontact us to join

Pine Creek Trailhead
Paradise ValleyTBDsign up to stay informed
West Fork of
Rock Creek
Red LodgeTBDsign up to stay inform
Lake Fork of
Rock Creek
Red LodgeTBD
sign up to stay inform
East Rosebud Lake
The Beaten Path
Roscoe (northeast)
Cooke City (southwest)
TBDsign up to stay inform
*Upon registration for multi-day projects, ABWF staff will contact volunteers to confirm participation*
Trail projects with the ABWF are
  1. Accessible: Volunteers pay nothing to attend, and we welcome folks with a wide range of backcountry experience. If you are new to the outdoors, we encourage you to get in touch to see if a project like this could be a good fit ([email protected])! We also have some supplemental gear that we borrow out to volunteers.
  2. Productive: We train volunteers how to use their tools and bodies safely and efficiently. Our goal is to do quality work that will leave our trails in good shape for decades to come. 
  3. A Great Time: You betcha! Working hard in the backcountry lends itself well to great conversations, satisfying meals, stunning views, and new friends.