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Sheep Mountain, WY – Volunteer Vacation 2024

June 23 @ 5:00 pm - June 29 @ 10:00 am

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Providing access to explore over 25,000 acres of BLM-administered public lands, The Sheep Mountain Trail is a foot and horse trail that winds up an impressive box canyon to the top of Sheep Mountain. This area provides abundant recreational activities such as hiking, horseback riding, hunting, wildlife viewing, sightseeing and shed hunting. The ample amount of BLM-administered public lands, unique settings and resources, and its location make it an excellent recreation resource for travelers and the surrounding communities

The Sheep Mountain trail is a popular destination due to its desirable settings and its close proximity to Buffalo Bill State Park and along the popular US Highway 14 connecting Cody to Yellowstone National Park. Volunteers will work together to reroute two of the existing trails.The first reroute is located less than ½ mile from the trailhead and will provide a safer option and less grade for hikers and horseback riders then the existing trail. This reroute will be 600 total feet on a side slope with rolling contours to resist erosion. It will be built using full bench cut to create a solid, durable tread and may require grade reversals. The second reroute is 0.8 miles up the trail and will eliminate a steep grade with erosion issues. The reroute will require 1 to 2 switch backs with rock work and vegetation removal. The switchbacks will incorporate a landing or turning platform and have a rock retaining wall or a crib wall. Smaller spot upgrades and maintenance may also be done along the trail to include slough and berm work, water bars, grade reversals and vegetation removal. If time allows, the BLM would like to start construction on a new 1-mile section of proposed trail that would bring recreational users to a scenic overlook of Buffalo Bill Reservoir. Volunteers may drive or hike to the project site. The Sheep Mountain Trailhead is located less than 1 mile from the camping location.

During this trip, Sheep Mountain’s average high temperature is  75°, and average low temperature is 50°.

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 Newe Sogobia (Eastern Shoshone), Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla, Apsáalooke (Crow), Tséstho’e (Cheyenne), and Očhéthi Šakówiŋ 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

Bureau of Land Management

Accommodations

Car Camping Tent Sites

Hiking/Access

Volunteers may drive or hike to the project site. The Sheep Mountain Trailhead is located less than 1 mile from the camping location. Volunteers will hike up to 2 miles a day, and work on switchbacks with varying grades.

Project Rating

Difficult

Minimum Volunteer Age

18

Maximum Group Size

10

Area and Attractions

The City of Cody, noted as the east entrance to Yellowstone National Park, has about 9,500 citizens, a regional airport, and a tourism-based economy. Cody has several grocery stores, coffee shops, and restaurants. The cultural environment is rich in tourism activities, which include the Buffalo Bill Dam Visitor Center, The Buffalo Bill Center of the West, Old Trail Town, Cody Trolley Rides, and Old West Shoot-Outs. Cody offers a front-row seat to winding rivers, sweeping vistas, untamed wilderness, historic charm, and home of the world’s longest-running nightly rodeo. There are a wide variety of great restaurants here from western classics like rocky mountain oysters, wild game, and buffalo burgers to Mexican, Italian, Thai, Japanese, Chinese, and German cuisine. The local area has endless amounts of outdoor recreation opportunities to include mountain biking, hiking, kayaking, paddle boarding, whitewater rafting, ATV and off-roading, caving, world class trout fishing, wildlife viewing, horseback riding, rock hounding, stargazing, rock climbing and bouldering, and even a zipline course.

Accommodations Description

Volunteers will camp at Buffalo Bill State Park located just south of the Sheep Mountain Trailhead (lat. 44.479326, long. -109.329688). There is access to showers, grills, bathrooms, and potable water will be provided. Volunteers will need to bring their personal camping gear, bedding, towels, and toiletries.

Travel

Yellowstone Regional Airport in Cody, Wyoming is the closest major airport. Airport pick up and drop off is available for volunteers and will be arranged upon confirmation of the trip.

Location

Buffalo Bill State Park
4192 N Fork Hwy, Cody, WY 82414 United States + Google Map
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