Where You’ll Be:
Tucked in the mountains west of Colorado Springs near Divide, Mueller State Park features beautiful views of forested ridges, historical cabins, and abundant wildlife including moose, bear, elk, and mule deer. While many of the park's trails trace back to the days of farming and cattle drives, they need restoration to enhance the overall hiking experience. As a volunteer, you'll be treated to free campsites, delicious meals prepared by our volunteer Crew Chefs, and the chance to explore this beautiful state park!
Nearest Town: Divide, CO 80814
The specific location will be shared with all registered volunteers 2 weeks before the project.
What You’ll Do:
Before the VOC project weekend, park staff will use machinery to establish the initial alignment of the new Preachers Hollow Trail. Volunteers will then step in to do the hands-on finishing work.
Tasks may include:
- cutting back slope,
- shaping and finishing the trail tread,
- placing natural materials to improve durability,
- and restoring sections of the old trail that will be closed.
This work will help bring the trail up to standards for hikers, mountain bikers, and horseback riders. The existing trail has steep grades, poor drainage, and more than 60 steps, which makes it difficult to maintain and inaccessible for some users. Volunteers will help improve drainage and trail layout so the new alignment sheds water properly and requires less maintenance over time. The result will be a safer, more sustainable loop near the Visitor Center that better supports a wide range of users.
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:
Realigning the trail will create a safer, more accessible route for all users. Horses will be able to travel the trail without risk from stairs, mountain bikers will be able to ride the full loop instead of dismounting, and hikers will benefit from a smoother, more intuitive trail experience. Improved drainage and a more sustainable layout will also reduce erosion, protect native vegetation, and lower long-term maintenance needs, helping the park provide a safer and more durable trail system for years to come.
Eligibility Requirements:
Ages 14+
For overnight projects, all youth under 18 must be accompanied by an adult aged 21 or older.
Project Difficulty:
This project is considered moderate; 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: The park and campsite are 2WD accessible.
Other Notes: the worksite will be about a 1 mile to 1.5 mile hike from the Visitor’s Center or the campsite. There are bathrooms located at both the campsite and the Visitor’s Center.
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 construction, you can view similar projects here.
