Where you'll be:
Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, spanning an impressive 176,000 acres, is a rugged, breathtaking landscape that holds the highest known density of archaeological sites in the United States, with 6,000 ancient sites, including cliff dwellings, villages, and captivating rock art.
What you'll do:
Join a small, dedicated group of 12 volunteers, per the national monument's visitor-use stipulations. Your efforts will focus on crucial seasonal maintenance closure tasks, such as social trail closure and restoration, drain cleaning, brushing, light tread work, and sign maintenance. Please keep in mind that temperatures can drop quite low in the evenings, so be prepared for potentially cold nights while camping
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.
Why it's important:
The Sand Canyon area within the monument is rich in cultural significance, hosting a high concentration of cultural sites. Designated as a Special Recreation Management Area, this area restricts public off-trail travel to preserve the integrity of its unique environment. By participating in closing social trails that lead to sensitive, non-public cultural sites, volunteers play a vital role in protecting and preserving the current character of these locations. This ensures that these sites can evolve naturally without the disruption of modern human interaction, safeguarding their cultural and historical significance for future generations.
Eligibility Requirements:
Ages 16+
Youth under 18 must be accompanied by an adult aged 21 or older on overnight projects.
Project Difficulty:
This project is considered moderate. Check our difficulty rating criteria here for more details.
General physical considerations for participating in 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.
Accessibility Factors:
Vehicle Accessibility: This trail system is accessible by County Road G and County Road N (~7mi and 12mi from HWY 491, respectively). Some sections of these county roads are unpaved but maintained. No vehicle restrictions.
Other notes: Expect limited or no cell phone reception. For more information: https://www.blm.gov/sites/blm.gov/files/SC Newspaper 2018.pdf
