Trips

Come enjoy springtime in the desert! Two distinct desert ecosystems, the Mojave and the Colorado, come together in Joshua Tree National Park. A fascinating variety of plants and animals make their homes in a land sculpted by strong winds and occasional torrents of rain. Dark night skies, a rich cultural history, and surreal geologic features…

What is today known as the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge first emerged 120,000 years ago during the Pleistocene era when a barrier island was born. Today, this landscape is best known for its prominent place in the American wildlife conservation movement. In 1941, when only 15 whooping cranes survived in the wild, the iconic bird…

The Cherokee National Forest is your destination for outdoor recreation. Enjoy a scenic drive through the mountains, the pursuit of wildlife, the thrill of whitewater, a night under the stars, or solitude on a backcountry trail. The Whigg Ridge Trail is a 2.8 mile long trail from the Tellico River up Whigg Ridge to the…

Touch of Nature Environmental Center hosts experiential education programs that utilize the many natural resources on and around its 3,400 acres located in beautiful Southern Illinois. These programs offer opportunities for all people and focus on traditional outdoor activities, environmental education, and adventure pursuits. Touch of Nature is currently working to create 15 additional miles…

Initially established as a Federal army supply depot and hospital, Camp Nelson was one of the largest recruitment and training centers for African American soldiers during the Civil War, and served as a refugee camp for their wives and children. Thousands of enslaved African Americans risked their lives escaping to the camp, located within the…

The chain of national wildlife refuges that forms the Savannah Coastal Refuges Complex extends from Pinckney Island NWR near Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, to Wolf Island NWR near Darien, Georgia. The Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, established April 6, 1927, consists of 31,551 acres of freshwater marshes, tidal rivers and creeks, and bottomland hardwoods. About…

The Blue Ridge Center is a nonprofit organization that manages nearly 900 acres featuring hiking trails through deep woods, babbling streams, a working farm, wildflower meadows, and historic farmsteads. Located in the western region of Virginia’s Loudoun County, Blue Ridge Environmental Center land protects Potomac River tributaries and the Chesapeake Bay watershed, preserves the Appalachian…

From bird watching to backpacking, the North Country National Scenic Trail provides visitors an opportunity to enjoy many rewarding experiences as it winds across eight northern states. The North County National Scenic Trail connects a host of natural, historic, and cultural areas from valleys to hilltops, cities to small towns, and everything in between. Join…

Volunteers will work with trail supervisors on the Tepona Point Overlook trail, located along Scenic Drive on the stunning Trinidad coastline in northern California, where the redwoods meet the Pacific Ocean. This staircase trail provides public access to viewing the iconic offshore rocks of the California Coastal National Monument, glimpses of migrating grey whales, and…

The Beaver Basin Wilderness includes 13 miles of stunning Lake Superior shoreline from Spray Falls on the west to Sevenmile Creek on the east. The Beaver Basin Wilderness offers opportunities for quiet, solitude, wilderness recreation, and spiritual renewal. The wilderness zone includes 8.4 miles of the North Country National Scenic Trail and 8.5 miles of…

Encompassing 125,000 acres of the Cumberland Plateau, Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area protects the free-flowing Big South Fork of the Cumberland River and its tributaries. The area boasts miles of scenic gorges and sandstone bluffs, is rich with natural and historic features and has been developed to provide visitors with a wide…

Marais des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge is one in a system of over 550 refuges administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and dedicated to the preservation and conservation of wildlife. The Refuge is named after the Marais des Cygnes River which runs through the middle of the refuge and is the dominant natural…

Situated in the northern reaches of Washington State's Puget Sound, the San Juan Islands are a uniquely beautiful archipelago of over 450 islands, rocks, and pinnacles. The new San Juan Islands National Monument encompasses approximately 1,000 acres of land spread across many of these rocks and islands and managed by the Department of the Interior's…

The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge, often called "Alaska in miniature", is home to a wide diversity of wildlife including moose, eagles, brown and black bears, lynx, wolves and trumpeter swans. Biodiversity is unusually high for this latitude because of the juxtaposition of two biomes on the Kenai Peninsula:  the northern fringe of the Sitka spruce-dominated (Picea…

Letchworth State Park, renowned as the "Grand Canyon of the East," is one of the most scenically magnificent areas in the eastern U.S. The Genesee River roars through the gorge over three major waterfalls between cliffs--as high as 600 feet in some places--surrounded by lush forests. Hikers can choose among 66 miles of hiking trails.…

Near Mount Rogers and Whitetop Mountain, Virginia's two highest mountains, Grayson Highlands offers scenic views of alpine-like peaks more than 5,000 feet high. Facilities include a visitor center, campgrounds, and hiking trails leading to waterfalls and overlooks. The park provides year-round access to the Appalachian Trail and the Virginia Highlands Horse Trail. American Hiking Society…

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…

Seneca Creek Backcountry offers hikers, mountain bikers, and horsemen diverse backcountry to explore. Over 60 miles of trails twist and turn through 19,600 acres mountain vistas, open fields, along gurgling mountain streams and waterfalls, and some of the best camping in West Virginia. Bear Hunter Trail is a steep trail that climbs up to Allegheny…

Join Latino Outdoors and American Hiking Society on this special project which offers the opportunity to learn more about Redwoods Rising, the largest restoration project of its kind in the country that aims to restore over 50,000 acres of second-growth forest into the old-growth redwood forests of the future. Participants will have an opportunity to…

Hope Point Trail and Gull Rock trail are both located in Hope, Alaska along the Turnagain Arm. Gull Rock trail offers many scenic views as it parallels the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet (well above high tide). The trail passes through diverse vegetation: birch-aspen woods; alder-choked gullies; spruce forests; tundra with tiny spruce, mosses, and…

This project will take place in the heavily glaciated, rugged peaks of the Bitterroot Mountains. Volunteers will be clearing with crosscut saws, axes, and handsaws as well as cleaning drains and improving trail tread. The Big Creek Trail #11 threads through a scenic Montana canyon and offers a pristine Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness experience. During the first…

Join the 2022 trip into the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest as we head for Standley Ridge nested high in the Eagle Cap Wilderness! We'll depart from the Bear Wallow Trailhead and backpack into the Historic Standley Guard Station. Pack stock will carry all food and group gear, giving us time for a 4.2-mile hike into base…

Help build the Cross Vermont Trail - a new four season multi-use path spanning the width of Vermont! We are "connecting communities, their schools, and the natural areas in between." The crew will build small bridges, drainage ditches, stone structures, and surface parts of the trail with gravel to make it universally accessible. Join the…

Join the Bureau of Land Management to maintain and establish a new trail up Bald Ridge Trail! This horseback riding and hiking trail winds for five miles through BLM-managed public lands and state land to Bald Ridge in the Shoshone National Forest. The elevation ranges from 4,880'-8,400'. Spectacular views of the Clarks Fork of the…

Whittlesey Creek National Wildlife Refuge is located in northern Wisconsin on the shore of Lake Superior. The refuge was established in 1999 in an effort to restore coaster brook trout, a native trout that spawns in Whittlesey Creek and spends its adult life in Lake Superior. The Coaster Classroom Trail will be a new trail…

Monongahela National Forest provides visitors with scenic vistas, country roads, flowing streams and abundant plant and animal life. It was established in 1920 and encompasses one of the most ecologically diverse areas in the United States. Elevations range from just under 1,000 feet to 4,863 feet above sea level. Monongahela National Forest is a working…

Help protect the Appalachian Trail (A.T.) and enjoy the rugged beauty of Maine's 100-Mile Wilderness! On this project, we will monitor and maintain the boundaries of the land protected for the Trail. This public land is the backbone of the largest natural corridor that remains east of the Mississippi River, creating a haven and migration…

Located in the heart of the Colorado Plateau, the Moab Field Office encompasses 1.8 million acres of stunningly scenic canyon country. Carved by the Colorado and Green Rivers, Moab’s public lands include a vast variety of arches, natural bridges, mesas, and spires.  The Moab Field Office is a mecca for recreation, including off-highway vehicles, mountain…

Created in 1892 as one of the first Forever Wild Forest Preserves in the nation, the Adirondack Park is a unique wilderness area. At 6 million acres, it is the largest publicly protected area in the contiguous United States. The state of New York owns approximately 2.6 million acres, while the remaining 3.4 million acres…

Hungry Mother, one of the original six Virginia State Parks, has long been a favorite. It's known for beautiful woodlands and a placid 108-acre lake in the heart of the mountains. The park has a sandy beach with a bathhouse, boat rentals (canoe, kayak, paddle boats and paddleboards), a boat launch and a universally accessible…

Come help us build new trail to improve some of the most memorable hikes in Arizona! The Arizona National Scenic Trail is a continuous, 800+ mile diverse and scenic trail across Arizona from Mexico to Utah. Along the way it takes hikers, bikers and equestrians through a diverse landscape of deserts, mountains canyons and communities…

Volunteers will be working to complete the Ozark Trail, the Missouri Ozarks’ long distance hiking trail on the Mark Twain National Forest, Eleven Point Ranger District. 1.7 miles of trail will be constructed using a combination of trail dozer and hand crew. The trail dozer will be operated by an experience US Forest Service equipment…

Under President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal Program approximately 48,000 acres of land were purchased in the area of the park. This purchase provided jobs for many people. Programs such as the Civilian Conservation Corps and Works Progress Administration established many of the buildings still being used today and laid the foundation for what is…

Go beyond Virgin Islands National Park's stunning white-sand beaches. Hike to historic plantation sites to learn about a challenging past when sugar and enslaved labor dominated life on the island. Visit the Indigenous Taino's ancient petroglyphs. Snorkel coral reefs to discover hidden marine life. Two-thirds of the island of St. John is national park, making…

Join Savannah National Wildlife Refuge for a chance to be immersed in nature while working to restore access and reopen the refuge's Laurel Hill Wildlife Drive after an extensive renovation project! The Savannah National Wildlife Refuge, established April 6, 1927, consists of 31,551 acres of freshwater marshes, tidal rivers and creeks, and bottomland hardwoods. About…

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…

Join this project to support trail access at Camp Nelson National Monument, a location steeped in African American and Civil War history. Initially established as a Federal army supply depot and hospital, Camp Nelson was one of the largest recruitment and training centers for African American soldiers during the Civil War, and served as a…

Join this rare opportunity to work in one of the most remote and unique portions of the Arizona National Scenic Trail! The Arizona National Scenic Trail is a continuous, 800+ mile diverse and scenic trail across Arizona from Mexico to Utah. Along the way it takes hikers, bikers and equestrians through a diverse landscape of…

Created in 1892 as one of the first Forever Wild Forest Preserves in the nation, the Adirondack Park is a unique wilderness area, and volunteers are needed to help maintain it! At 6 million acres, it is the largest publicly protected area in the contiguous United States. The state of New York owns approximately 2.6…

Get your hiking boots and canoe paddles ready for this backcountry adventure into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness! Join the North Country Trail Association and help conduct much needed maintenance on a remote 5-mile stretch of the Kekekabic / North Country Trail. The million-acre Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness (BWCAW) is a stunningly beautiful…

Join this project to help Shenandoah National Park ensure it's most popular trails are safe and user-friendly for over 100,000 visitors annually! Just 75 miles from the bustle of Washington, D.C., Shenandoah National Park is a land bursting with cascading waterfalls, spectacular vistas, fields of wildflowers, and quiet wooded hollows. With over 200,000 acres of…

Calling all bridge builders! Join us at the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area to restore historic bridges among a peaceful area with wildlife, wildflowers, and starry night skies. The Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area is 125,000 acres, and boasts miles of scenic gorges and sandstone bluffs, and is rich…

Join one of the most popular Volunteer Vacations to help this friendly island community maintain local trails! In your free time, enjoy stunning ocean vistas, where you might have a chance to see a pod of orca whales, humpbacks, or a plethora of other marine life and sea birds. Also, check out our second Volunteer…

Join this project and continue the work that American Hiking Society Volunteers have contributed over several years in the heart of this beautiful park! Letchworth State Park, renowned as the "Grand Canyon of the East," is one of the most scenically magnificent areas in the eastern U.S. The Genesee River roars through the gorge over…

Join this project to conduct trail work with some of the best views possible, including glaciers, mountain vistas, and the turquoise Kenai River. Not to mention the chance to see some of the refuge's wildlife, including moose, caribou, brown and black bear, mountain goats, Dall sheep, lynx, wolves, coyotes, furbearers, and thousands of shorebirds and…

USE CODE: 2023USFSEldoradoVV for a special registration fee of $200 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…

Join this popular trip and head into the upper Imnaha River drainage in the Eagle Cap Wilderness! Volunteers will depart from the Indian Crossing Trailhead and backpack into a feature of the Imnaha River known as Blue Hole. Pack stock will carry all food and group gear, giving us time for a 2-mile hike into…

Join one of the most popular Volunteer Vacations with an all women crew to help this friendly island community maintain local trails! This project is open to anyone who feels that an all- women's trip is the right space for them. In your free time, enjoy stunning ocean vistas, where you might have a chance…

This remote backcountry project will take place on the beautiful Lost Lake Trail just north of Seward, Alaska! The project consists of rebuilding a step and run structure and additional trail maintenance as time allows. Most of the trail work will take place within half mile of our designated campsite on the Lost Lake trail.…

Join this project to work near Mount Rogers and Whitetop Mountain, Virginia’s two highest mountains in Grayson Highlands which offers scenic views of alpine-like peaks more than 5,000 feet high. Facilities include a visitor center, campgrounds, and hiking trails leading to waterfalls and overlooks. The park provides year-round access to the Appalachian Trail and the…