Tuolumne River Trust at Stanislaus National Forest, CA – 2023 Volunteer Vacations

Join Tuolumne River Trust to help maintain the Tuolumne River Canyon Trail, known for stunning spring wildflowers, granite walls, the roar of the Tuolumne River, waterfall after waterfall and pristine swimming holes to cool off in. The world class 18-mile whitewater run down the Wild and Scenic Tuolumne River in the Stanislaus National Forest attracts thousands of visitors each year, who come to enjoy the natural scenery and outdoor adventures found there.

Due to lingering effects of the 2013 Rim Fire, this stretch of river is a challenge for the Forest Service in terms of managing and responding to environmental impacts. The Tuolumne River Canyon Trail follows the course of the river for 5 miles, ending at the confluence of the wild Clavey River. Many parts of the trail are becoming overgrown with brush, the tread is in need of widening, and there are trees that need to be cut out of the trail in places. Volunteers will focus their time on brushing back vegetation with hand saws and loppers, and repairing trail tread with hand tools like Rogue hoes and Mcleods. Tuolumne River Trust’s staff will provide background on the project, training to do the work, and work alongside the volunteer crew during their time on the trail. The crew will be driving 25-35 minutes from camp to reach the trailhead. Getting to the trail is a bumpy, narrow road on a steep mountainside, but clearance is appropriate for most 2wd vehicles (AWD/4WD preferred). The host will transport the majority of the crew to the trailhead, up to 8 participants. The daily hiking distance will range between 2-6 miles total a day, along a river canyon trail that has low to moderate change in elevation. The crew will do 3 days of work on the trail, do 1 day of service at the non-profit camp the volunteers are staying at, and have one day off to enjoy visiting beautiful Yosemite Valley (a 1 hour, 10 minute drive from camp).

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 Miwok and Me-Wuk (Central Sierra Miwok) 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.