Where You’ll Be:
Spend a long weekend camped in the backcountry of the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness in the San Luis Valley.
This 220,803-acre wilderness was designated by Congress in 1993 and is managed entirely within Colorado by the Forest Service and National Park Service. It borders the Great Sand Dunes Wilderness to the west.
Unlike most of Colorado’s mountain ranges, the Sangres were uplifted suddenly in massive blocks, creating steep, dramatic terrain. Four fourteeners rise from the heart of the wilderness, including Crestone Needle at 14,197 feet, often considered one of the state’s most challenging peaks. Three more fourteeners stand just south of the boundary. Snowmelt feeds creeks and alpine lakes throughout the area, supporting forests of oak, aspen, and spruce. The long, narrow wilderness is Colorado’s third largest, with nearly 180 miles of trails that often end at alpine lakes set against virtually unclimbable walls.
Nearest town: Crestone, CO 81131
The specific location will be shared with all registered volunteers 2 weeks before the project.
What You’ll Do:
Help restore the Willow Creek Watershed by building beaver dam analogs (BDAs) and post-assisted log structures (PALs). These structures mimic natural beaver dams to improve water quality, stabilize stream systems, and restore wetland and riparian habitat.
Volunteers will collect and use on-site materials such as dead and downed willow and aspen to construct the structures. Wooden posts will be driven into the streambed using sledgehammers to anchor the dams, but all other materials will be sourced directly from the site.
Backcountry Project Requirements:
Carry a 50+ lb backpacking pack, including all equipment necessary for camping in the backcountry. Communal items such tools, water filters and stoves will be packed in via horses but personal items must be carried by each volunteer.
Hike 2 miles into the basecamp, with a 1200ft elevation gain.
Be comfortable using a communal backcountry restroom, such as a latrine.
Be comfortable camping in bear country and following leave no trace (LNT) ethics.
Food and Camping:
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.
Why It Matters:
The Willow Creek Watershed is facing challenges like erosion, habitat loss, and declining water quality. Native wetland and riparian plants are struggling to reestablish, and the water table is dropping rapidly.
Beaver dam analogs (BDAs) and post-assisted log structures (PALs) offer simple, cost-effective solutions to these problems. By mimicking the function of natural beaver dams, these structures slow down water, reduce erosion, raise water tables, and create habitats for wildlife.
They also increase the probability of successful beaver translocation by creating an immediate deep-water habitat that reduces the risk of predation. Your work will play a critical role in restoring this watershed and supporting a range of common restoration goals.
Eligibility Requirements:
Ages 18+
- Due to a 15-person limit in designated Wilderness areas, an $80 deposit is required to register
- Deposits are fully refunded upon project completion or cancellation more than two weeks before the project
- Deposits are not refunded for cancellations within two weeks of the project
Project Difficulty:
This project is considered difficult; please check our difficulty rating criteria here for more details.
Access Factors:
Vehicle Access: No vehicle restrictions – 2WD accessible to the trailhead.
Other Notes: This is a backcountry project, requiring a hike to the project basecamp and work. Experience backpacking in the wilderness recommended, see volunteer requirements in the description above. The project site is at 9,800 feet, so prepare to be camping and working at higher elevation.
Want to learn more about how beaver dam analogs are built and learn techniques you will use on this project? Join us for a Beaver Dam Analog Training on May 9. Learn more and register here.
