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.
2023 Projects
| Project | Ranger District | Dates | Difficulty | Open Spots |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MULTI-DAY*: | ||||
| Meatrack Meadows brushing & weeds | Yellowstone | July 6-11 | Mod. Strenuous | Full, Accepting Waitlist |
| Cooke City area trail clearing | Gardiner | July 20-24 | Mod. Strenuous | 6/6 |
| Specimen Creek flood repairs | Gardiner | Aug 17-21 | Strenuous | 6/6 |
| Stillwater River trailhead flood repairs? | Beartooth | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| SINGLE DAY: | ||||
| Livingston Peak weekend weedpull | Yellowstone | July 8 | Less Strenuous | 10/10 |
| Bassett Creek weekend weedpull | Gardiner | July 15 | Less Strenuous | 10/10 |
| East Rosebud weekend weedpull | Beartooth | July 15 | Less Strenuous | 10/10 |
| Trail Ambassadors: returning vol. refreshers, new volunteer training (NO EXPERIENCE REQUIRED!) | local and online | May TBD | Least Strenuous | 99/99 |
Trail projects with the ABWF are…
- 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.
- 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.
- A Great Time: You betcha! Working hard in the backcountry lends itself well to great conversations, satisfying meals, stunning views, and new friends.