Where You’ll Be:
State Forest State Park spans 71,000 acres of rugged Colorado wilderness, featuring dense forests, jagged peaks, and pristine alpine lakes. The American Lakes Trail, where you’ll be working, has grown in popularity due to its high-alpine scenery and access to three stunning lakes. It’s a sought-after destination for backpackers and serves as a gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park via Thunder Pass. In winter, part of the trail is groomed for snowmobiling.
What You’ll Do:
Volunteers will help complete a long-term trail reroute on the American Lakes Trail by constructing new trail to replace an eroded section located on an old logging road. This hands-on work will improve trail sustainability and protect the surrounding landscape. VOC originally built much of this reroute trail in the early 2000s, and volunteers have recently returned over the past four seasons to address ongoing erosion issues. Since 2023, crews have completed maintenance and nearly 600 feet of new reroute, with 260 feet left before this section can open to the public. Join us to help finish this important reroute.
Enjoy breakfast and lunch on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, with dinner on Friday and Saturday. Bring your own dinner on Thursday night, and enough snacks for the weekend.
As part of this three-day project, you will backpack 3.5 miles to base camp, where volunteers are encouraged to arrive before 8 pm on Thursday. Free campsites are available on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.
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:
Because the State Forest State Park is a popular destination in the summer and winter months, attracting hundreds of visitors each week during peak periods, many of these visitors use the trail system and camp or stay in nearby campgrounds or privately owned cabins. Many of these visitors will use the American Lakes Trail and will appreciate a much safer, more sustainable trail.
The trail reroute will improve the recreational experience for equestrians and mountain bikers by providing a safer, more comfortable route, free of a steep section with deep erosion channels and loose rock.
Eligibility Requirements:
Ages 18+
Project Difficulty:
This project is considered difficult. 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.
Volunteers will hike 3.5 miles to base camp on the first day and must commit to all three days of the project.
Access Factors:
Vehicle Accessibility: 2WD Accessible
Other notes: Volunteers will be required to attend all three days of the project. There is no cell service at the site.
If you enjoy projects that include components of rock work, you can view similar projects here.
