Where You’ll Be:
The Gilsonite Trail is located in Grand County within the burn scar of the 2020 East Troublesome Fire. The project site is remote, about 50 minutes from downtown Granby. After the fire, many trail structures were damaged or destroyed, and flooding left sections of the trail swampy, muddy, and difficult to access.
Nearest Town: Granby, CO 80446
Exact location information will be shared with registered volunteers two weeks out from the project.
What You’ll Do:
Volunteers will be able to experience and help revitalize a trail post-fire. The Gilsonite Trail is a heavily used multi-use trail that provides an enjoyable experience for hikers, mountain bikers, and motorized users, keeping them off Stillwater Pass Road.
In partnership with Headwaters Trails Alliance, volunteers will assist with a range of trail restoration tasks, including bridge and boardwalk replacement, turnpike construction, drainage work, and short reroutes. This work will help reopen sections of the trail that have been frequently closed since the 2020 fire. Some volunteers may also help move materials such as timber and rebar into the work area.
Adjacent to a fragile wetland and meadow, the work completed on this project will also keep users on the trail to prevent further trail widening, braiding, and wetland damage.
Volunteers may need to assist with getting materials into the site (timber, rebar).
VOC provides breakfast and lunch on Saturday and Sunday, and 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:
This section of the trail runs alongside a fragile wetland and meadow. In its current condition, users often travel around muddy sections, which has led to trail widening and damage to the surrounding wetland. Replacing bridges, boardwalks, and turnpikes will help keep users on the designated trail and protect the nearby environment.
The Gilsonite Trail is also an important connector within the Stillwater Pass trail system. At nearly five miles long, it links the northern and southern portions of the system and provides a safer, more enjoyable single-track option than the nearby road. Volunteer work on this project will help restore a key connection in the trail system.
Eligibility Requirements:
Ages 18+
Project Difficulty:
This project is considered moderate to difficult; please check our difficulty rating criteria here for more details.
Volunteers should expect some or all of the following physical activities: moderate lifting and tool use; digging, shoveling, and moving soil and rocks; repetitive bending, lifting, and walking; hiking to access the worksite while carrying tools or materials; and swinging hand tools.
The hike from the campsite to the worksite is 1.3 miles. A shuttle option will also be available. From the shuttle drop-off, the hike to the worksite is approximately 0.25 miles.
Access Factors:
Vehicle Access: 2WD vehicles can easily access the campsite. Volunteers will carpool/shuttle to the project site from the campsite. High clearance vehicles can access the road from the campsite to the project site.
Other Notes: Restroom facilities are available at the campsite. The project site is a 20-minute drive from the campsite.
Want to learn more about the trail maintenance techniques you will use on this project? Join us for a Trail Skills training in Granby on the Friday before the project. Learn more and register here.
