Opportunities From: Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado

Where You'll Be:

William Frederick Hayden Park sits atop Green Mountain, a prominent open space in the heart of Lakewood and one of the most well-loved urban parks on the west side of the Denver metro area. Originally donated by the Hayden family in 1972, the park now spans more than 2,400 acres, making it Lakewood’s second largest park.

Its extensive network of multi-use trails draws more than 250,000 visitors each year, offering an easy escape from the city for hikers, trail runners, mountain bikers, and families. From the 6,800-foot summit, visitors enjoy wide views of both downtown Denver to the east and the Front Range to the west, while the park also provides important habitat for wildlife including mule deer, elk, and great horned owls.

The specific location will be shared with all registered volunteers 2 weeks before the project. 

What You'll Do:

After a major trail reroute in 2018, some hikers have been cutting switchbacks along the middle section of the Rooney Valley Trail to avoid bike traffic and take a more direct route. We will be responding to these recreating patterns by helping to build rock steps that create a designated pedestrian bypass.

This allows hikers a more direct route while keeping the longer, gently graded switchbacks intact for wheeled trail users. Volunteers will assist with the construction of rock steps.

Please bring your own lunch for the day.

Why it Matters: 

The existing social trail follows a steep slope and is not sustainable. Continued use degrades wildlife habitat and spreads noxious weeds that threaten the native shortgrass prairie. Building this bypass helps protect sensitive habitat, reduces erosion, and supports the long-term goal of making every trail in William Frederick Hayden Park both sustainable and enjoyable.

Eligibility Requirements:

Ages 16+

Project Difficulty:

This project is considered moderate to difficult. Please check our difficulty rating criteria here for more details. 

General physical considerations for participating on this project (Some or all may apply): moderate lifting and tool use; digging, shoveling, moving soil and rocks; repetitive bending, lifting, and walking; may require hiking to access work site while carrying tools; you can expect to bend over, pick objects up, move rocks, carry tools, swing heavy tools, dig, and stretch.

Access Factors:

Vehicle Access: 2WD accessible

Other Notes: The hike from the parking lot to the project site is about 2 miles uphill. The work area is heavily sun-exposed.

If you enjoy projects that include components of rock work, you can view similar projects here.

Where You’ll Be: 

Mt. Sneffels, located in Ouray, CO, is accessible through Yankee Boy Basin. This basin is home to fields of wildflowers and wildlife and leads up to one of the most beautiful fourteeners in the state. Nestled in the San Juan Mountains, Mt. Sneffels receives about 5,000-7,000 visitors annually, which is relatively low but has some of the worst conditions of the five major ranges, according to a recent report card procured by Colorado Fourteeners Initiative. 

Nearest town: Ouray, CO 81432

The specific location will be shared with all registered volunteers 2 weeks before the project.

What You’ll Do: 

At Mt. Sneffels, several large tundra beds are being undercut due to foot traffic. As soil erodes from beneath plant life, this delicate vegetation dies.

In partnership with Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, volunteers will help construct retaining structures and delineate the trail to ensure the continued health of this important alpine environment. Improvements such as installing tundra support walls and rock check steps will stabilize the footpath, allowing hikers to stay on the route and preventing widening of the existing trail. 

Enjoy breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday, with dinner on Saturday. Bring your own dinner on Friday night, and enough snacks for the weekend.  

Free campsites are available on Friday and Saturday nights, and volunteers are encouraged to arrive at base camp before 8 pm on Friday. 

Support This Project as a Crew Chef Helper! 

We provide full meals on our overnight projects to ensure volunteers are well-fed and ready for a day of volunteering, and we could use your help to make it happen! 

View this document to learn more about how to support and sign up. 

Why It Matters: 

Colorado’s 54 fourteeners (peaks over 14,000 feet in elevation) see over 300,000 hikers and climbers each year – all of whom are traveling through the alpine tundra ecosystem. This ecosystem thrives in an environment of high winds, short growing seasons, and cold winters, but is very easily damaged by foot traffic and erosion. Construction and maintenance of hiking trails on fourteeners prevent impacts to the sensitive plants and wildlife, and restoration projects repair areas that have already been damaged. 

Eligibility Requirements: 

Ages 18+ 

Project Difficulty: 

This project is considered difficult; please check our difficulty rating criteria here for more details. 

General physical considerations for participating in this project (Some or all may apply): long hike to worksite with significant elevation gain; carrying project tools and materials to worksite; digging, shoveling, moving soil and rocks; repetitive bending, lifting, and walking; working at elevation; working and hiking on steep or uneven terrain.  

You can expect to bend, squat, lift heavy objects, dig, reach, stretch, lean, rotate, and engage many muscle groups, all at a high elevation. This project is not for the faint of heart!    

The hike from the campsite to the worksite is up to 2 miles. Volunteers may be hauling project materials up the trail to the worksite (logs for structures). 

Access Factors:  

Vehicle Access: Moderate vehicle clearance and AWD is require to get to the camping location. 

Other Notes: This is a remote project. There is no cell service at the campsite or worksite.

Join us in reducing our carbon footprint by carpooling! Click here to sign up for the carpool (please do this after registering for the project).

If you enjoy trail maintenance, you can view similar projects here. 

If you enjoy projects that include components of rock work, you can view similar projects here.

Where You’ll Be: 

Button Rock Preserve is a 3,000-acre nature preserve outside of Lyons that protects the primary drinking water source for more than 110,000 Boulder County residents. The area supports passive recreation like hiking, rock climbing, and fishing along North St. Vrain Creek, Longmont Reservoir, and Ralph Price Reservoir. Volunteers will work in a scenic, high-use recreation area while helping care for an important community resource.

Nearest town: Lyons

The specific location will be shared with all registered volunteers 2 weeks before the project.

What You’ll Do: 

Volunteers will support trail restoration work along the South Cove Trail at Button Rock Preserve.

The focus is on approximately 720 feet of trail that is severely undercut and collapsing into the reservoir, creating safety, access, and water quality concerns. Tasks may include defining trail tread, improving drainage for water to flow off the trail, building small reroutes, and assisting with retaining wall construction to stabilize eroding sections. This is a technical trail project in steep terrain and requires focused, hands-on work.

Why It Matters: 

South Cove Trail’s condition directly affects visitor safety, water quality, and access within a high-use recreation area. Restoring this trail segment will reduce erosion into the reservoir, improve safety for hikers, and support long-term stewardship and infrastructure resilience at Button Rock Preserve. 

Enjoy breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday, with dinner on Saturday. Bring your own dinner on Friday night, and enough snacks for the weekend.

Free campsites are available on Friday and Saturday nights, and volunteers are encouraged to arrive at base camp before 8 pm on Friday.

Support This Project as a Crew Chef Helper!

We provide full meals on our overnight projects to ensure volunteers are well-fed and ready for a day of volunteering, and we could use your help to make it happen!

View this document to learn more about how to support and sign up.

Eligibility Requirements: 

- Ages: 16+  

For overnight projects, all youth under 18 must be accompanied by an adult aged 21 or older.

Project Difficulty: 

This project is considered Difficult; please check our difficulty rating criteria here for more details. 

Physical Considerations:  

This work may include kneeling, bending, and working close to the ground for extended periods; exposure to sun and outdoor elements; exposure to insects such as bees and wasps; carrying and placing heavy materials like rocks and logs; digging and shoveling; and working near water with potentially muddy or slippery footing. Volunteers should be prepared for a 6.5 to 7-hour workday that requires physical stamina, with breaks encouraged as needed.

Access Factors:  

Vehicle Access: No vehicle restrictions – 2WD accessible  

Other Notes: Cell service may be spotty in this area.

Join us in reducing our carbon footprint by carpooling! Click here to sign up for the carpool (please do this after registering for the project).

If you enjoy projects that include components of rock work, you can view similar projects here.