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Special Registration Rate! Eldorado National Forest, CA – Volunteer Vacation 2024

July 7 @ 5:00 pm - July 13 @ 10:00 am

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USE CODE: 2024EldoradoNFVV for a special registration fee of $250 thanks to grant funding received for this project. To register at this price please select “First Trip of the Year” registration cost. Additional trip discount not available for this special rate.

Join this project to backpack into a stunning river valley of granite and pine trees and help restore access along this popular canyon trail. The Mokelumne River Canyon has been described as a smaller version of the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne River in Yosemite National Park, with sections of the canyon up to a mile deep.

This project will take place deep in the Mokelumne Wilderness. Due to its remote location the trail system surrounding Munson Meadow has fallen into a state of disrepair and is in need of significant cross-cut work. This project will involve a base camp at the Munson Meadow Trailhead which will require volunteers to hike to the location as very high clearance 4×4 would be needed to get there by vehicle. The work will involve tree removal and treadwork on the Munson Meadow Trail and the surrounding trails to Cole Creek, Long and Black Rock Lakes. The hike to the base camp is a challenging 7.5 mile hike with around 1,400 feet of elevation gain. Hikes to the project site will vary from 1 to 3 miles.

During this trip, Eldorado National Forest’s average high temperature is 91°, and average low temperature is 67°.

There is no experience needed to join a Volunteer Vacation! Your expert hosts will provide detailed instruction, tool demonstrations, and project oversight throughout the week. All you need is a willing attitude and to be in good physical condition to participate in moderate physical activity for approximately 6-8 hours a day with plenty of breaks, at your own pace. Find out more about what it’s like to join a Volunteer Vacation and other frequently asked questions here.

AHS acknowledges with gratitude that this project takes place on the traditional lands of the Nisenan and Wašišiw Ɂítdeʔ (Washoe) peoples past and present. We honor the land itself, the Indigenous communities who have stewarded this land for generations, their deep and sacred connection to these lands, and those who continue to steward these lands today. We offer this land acknowledgement as the first of many steps to stand as an ally and amplify Indigenous voices. We invite the American Hiking Society community to join us through continued efforts to support Indigenous communities and learn more about the history of the lands on which we live, work and recreate.

Click here for a PDF of trip details.

Host

US Forest Service

Accommodations

Primitive Tent Sites

Hiking/Access

The hike to the base camp is a challenging 7.5 mile hike with around 1,400 feet of elevation gain. Hikes to the project site will vary from 1 to 3 miles.

Project Rating

Very Strenuous

Minimum Volunteer Age

18

Maximum Group Size

12

Area and Attractions

Classic central sierra scenery with high volcanic ridges, granite domes and lakes, dense conifer forest, wildflower filled meadows, and deep glacial canyons. The project area is at high elevation which ensures views of beautiful Sierra Nevada vistas, aspens and wildflowers and the deep river canyon. There is a plan to eventually create an unbroken trail from the shoreline in the Bay Area to the crest of the Sierra Nevada. This area is known for spectacular wildflower viewing in spring and is great for birding. This is a great location to enjoy picnicking, gold panning, hiking and running. Bring water for the trail, and be sure to follow best safety practices as the temperatures can run high in summer.

Accommodations Description

Volunteers will be camping in the backcountry. Toilets, showers, and electricity will not be provided while camping. Volunteers need to supply their own tent and personal camping gear including sleeping bag, sleeping pad, backcountry gear, and towels.

Travel

Sacramento International Airport in Sacramento, California Airport is the closest major airport. Airport pick up and drop off is not available for volunteers, however carpooling and rideshare can be arranged upon confirmation of the trip. Eldorado National Forest is a one and a half hour drive from Sacramento International Airport.

Location

Eldorado National Forest
30001 Plasse Rd, Pioneer, CA 95666 United States + Google Map
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