Leadville National Fish Hatchery, Colorado – Volunteer Vacations 2022

Leadville National Fish Hatchery (NFH), established in 1889, is the second oldest Federally operated fish hatchery in existence today. American Hiking Society volunteers will work on several trail projects at the Leadville National Fish Hatchery. One project is to create 3/4 mile of new trail which would create a 2 mile loop between the Kearney Park Trail and the nature trail. The trail follows some old logging/mining roads and game trails. Volunteers will conduct handwork and some dry stacking of rocks for trail support, but primarily it would be light trail clearing and delineation. If time allows, volunteers will rehab/cleanup the ~5 miles of trails already existent on the facility. Most of the trails are already in decent shape, but there are sections where dirt landing steps could be rebuilt, delineation of trail, and clearing of ankle twister rocks. There are also a few low bridges on the existing trail that will need to be repaired and rehabilitated. Please note that although the project itself does not involve strenuous tasks, the project location is at over 10,000 feet of altitude which makes physical activity significantly more strenuous.

AHS acknowledges with gratitude that this project takes place on the traditional lands of the Núu-agha-tʉvʉ-pʉ̱ (Ute) peoples past and present. We honor the land itself, the Indigenous communities who have stewarded this land for generations, and those who continue to steward these lands today. AHS invites all volunteers to join us in our commitment to support and amplify the work of Indigenous communities as they work to dismantle the systems of oppression that these communities continue to face today.