Where you'll be:
This project takes place in the Mount Evans Wilderness, located within Arapaho and Pike National Forests about 30 miles west of Denver. The wilderness spans more than 74,000 acres and is known for its high-elevation meadows, wide-open views, and wildlife such as bighorn sheep.
What you'll do:
This weekday project is a great opportunity for volunteers ages 12 and up to spend time outdoors while supporting meadow restoration. Volunteers will hike approximately 1.4 miles on the Captain Mountain Trail to reach the work site. Working in a group of about 20 people, volunteers will remove mature thistle blossoms, while staff follow up with a targeted chemical treatment that will be applied to the plants. If time allows, the group will also help identify musk thistle rosettes and Canada thistle to support ongoing management efforts.
Why it's important:
Maintaining healthy native flora is essential for the local ecosystem, and, left unchecked, the invasive thistles will take over the area and out-compete native plants to create a monoculture.
Eligibility Requirements:
Ages 12+
Youth under 16 must be accompanied by an adult 21 or older.
Project Difficulty:
This project is considered easy to moderate in nature. Please check our difficulty rating criteria here for more details.
Physical Considerations: Pulling or cutting vegetation; working on uneven, sloped, or rough terrain; bending and stooping for long periods; carrying and hauling vegetation.
Access Factors:
Vehicle Accessibility: The last ~4 miles of the road (on Upper Bear Creek Rd) are not paved but accessible to all vehicles. All volunteers will meet at the lower parking lot and carpool (~2 mi) to the project site.
Other Notes: Restrooms available only at the main parking lot.
If you enjoy noxious weed removal projects, you can view similar projects here.
