Where You'll Be:
The BLM’s Pronghorn trail system, totaling 9.5 miles of purpose-built single track trails, was constructed in the summer of 2016. The natural surface trails are rated intermediate to advanced for mountain bikers but are also frequented by hikers and equestrians.
For visitors, this trail has long, mostly gradual climbs and descents. The area has a mix of rock features, canyons, and big vistas of San Francisco Creek, the San Luis Valley and the Sangre de Cristo Mountain range. Designed as one large loop, the climbs and descents are longer than many in the area and also has some excellent lower watershed features. Mule deer, elk, falcons, hawks, and other bird species, desert flowers, grasses and reptiles inhabit the area.
Nearest town: Del Norte
The exact location will be shared with all registered volunteers 2 weeks before the project.
What You'll Do:
Join fellow volunteers for a weekend in the San Luis Valley, giving some love to one of the valley's favorite, local trail systems.
The work will include general maintenance tasks such as tread, corridor and drainage work. This trail is especially popular with mountain bikers, and some sections will also include handcrafting new mountain bike features! Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced trail builder, there’s a role for everyone. Expect about a one mile hike to reach the work site.
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:
Trails need maintenance once they are constructed to minimize soil erosion, to keep obstacles off them, and to keep them well defined so users can easily follow them. Even sustainably built trails need maintenance over time.
With limited resources from land management agencies, volunteers and local organizations are tasked with maintaining the local trail systems we love so dearly. This work will ensure the Pronghorn trail system continues to provide the intended user experience while keeping people, wildlife, and habitats safe.
What's to love about this project?
- There will be a fun mix trail maintenance and hands on feature building, including mountain bike specific work
- The chance to hike, run, or ride the trail system before or after the project - be sure to bring your hiking gear or mountain bike!
- A great way to celebrate National Trails Day by giving back to a hometown trail system people love
- After registering, you are encouraged to pledge your volunteer day on the National Trails Day website for a chance to win premium gear prize packs
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 considered moderate to difficult; please check our difficulty rating criteria here for more details.
Physical Considerations: 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 Access: 2WD accessible
Other Notes: Tent camping OK. Car and Van camping OK. Large vehicles or tow-behinds may be accommodated, please contact Katie (katie@voc.org) to confirm availability. This project is at 8200 ft. elevation. Portable toilets and potable water will be available at camp.
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 projects, you can view similar projects here.
