Where You’ll Be:
Strawberry Lake Trail, located in the Arapaho National Recreation Area, is a popular hike in Grand County. Its proximity to the Monarch Lake Trailhead, Indian Peaks Wilderness trails, and Lake Granby makes it a common alternative for visitors when nearby parking lots fill up. The trail leads to a fragile sub-alpine lake surrounded by a wetland fen ecosystem that supports rare plants, insects, and small mammals. It also connects to the larger, remote Strawberry Creek trail system. The campsite overlooks Lake Granby, which is just a brief 5-minute walk away and offers opportunities for fishing, kayaking, paddle boarding, and more. A port-a-john will be available, and the towns of Granby and Grand Lake are only a 10-minute drive in either direction.
This project is made possible with support from the Rendezvous Foundation, a charitable organization dedicated to strengthening the Grand County community.
What You’ll Do:
Volunteers will construct a turnpike, rock/timber steps, and drainage improvements to enhance the trail and protect the surrounding ecosystem. Tasks include debarking logs, collecting fill materials (rock and dirt), and constructing the steps and turnpike (turnpikes are used to elevate a trail above wet ground).
- Breakfast and lunch are provided on Saturday and Sunday, along with dinner on Saturday.
- Bring your own dinner for Friday night and enough snacks for the weekend.
- Free campsites are available on Friday and Saturday nights, and we recommend arriving 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:
Increased use of the Strawberry Lake Trail has caused significant erosion, creation of social trails, and damage to the fragile wetland ecosystem and watershed. This project will restore the trail, improve access, and protect the surrounding environment for future visitors.
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 rated moderate to difficult. Check our difficulty rating criteria here for more details.
Physical Considerations:
Volunteers will hike about 1.5 miles
Constructing an estimated 100 feet of turnpike structures
Building two 10-foot planked bridge spans
Clearing up to 50 existing water drainage dips
If time allows, constructing 10 to 15 rock or timber check steps
Access Factors:
Vehicle Access: 2WD accessible – no vehicle restrictions.
