Trail projects
From front country projects to remote backcountry mini-expeditions, each summer season ABWF volunteers strike out across the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness to muddy their boots and fill their hearts with the good hard work of taking care of this magnificent landscape. We offer volunteer projects ranging from single-day, to long-weekends, up to week-long stewardship adventures.
2025 Single-Day Stewardship Events are now open
Multi-Day projects will open to Register on April 1st
Click on the card below to read more, sign into ABWF and register.
Participation is FREE! Space is limited.
June 7 - National Trails Day
Red Lodge, MT
June 13-15, Davis Ck Trail #38
Big Timber, MT
June 26-28, Annual Cooke City Trails Clearing #2
July 4-6, Lake Abundance Trail #389, Cooke City, MT
July 12 - Annual Livingston
Peak Weed Pull
July 16-22, Wounded Man Creek, Trail #24, Nye, MT
Aug 15-17, East Fork Mill Creek Habitat Restoration, Pray MT
June 20-22, Annual Cooke City Trails Clearing #1
Sept 27 - Public Lands Day
Livingston, MT
All of this is made possible through the contributions from our Generous donors
- Like you!
More Stewardship Opportunities
Hiking
Difficulty Ratings
The difficulty ratings here are our best attempt to categorize the expected challenge level of the hiking you’ll encounter on any of our projects. Of course, every individual’s ability and energy levels are unique. Please be conservative when self-selecting an appropriate outing. If you need more information about the challenge associated with a project to make an informed decision, contact ABWF at info@abwilderness.org.
Easy: 3 miles or less; mostly level ground or only slight incline
Moderate: 4–6 miles and/or 500’–1,000′ of elevation gain
Strenuous: 7–10 miles and/or 1,000’–2,000′ elevation gain
Extremely Strenuous: 10+ miles and/or > 2,000′ elevation gain
Each year, ABWF volunteers, staff, and Forest Service trail-crew members venture out to the far 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 traditional skills and 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. No experience is needed. We will train you! 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.
ABWF has volunteer service opportunities for a single-day, a long-weekend and up to 6 days! Service goups and teams are welcome. Contact us directly if you are looking to book for a larger group.
Trail projects with the ABWF are…
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.
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! We also have some supplemental gear that we loan out to volunteers.
A Great Time!
You betcha! Working hard in the backcountry lends itself well to great conversations, satisfying meals, stunning views, and new friends.
Interested in volunteering for a stewardship project?
Our summer volunteer service opportunities will be published here for review in late-February each year. Projects will open for registration on Monday March 12th. Save the date!
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