Where you'll be:
Join your fellow volunteers at Top of the Pines, a 175-acre nature preserve conveniently situated near Ouray, Ridgway, and Telluride. Set in a beautiful ponderosa pine forest, the property offers sweeping views of the San Juan Mountains and nearby peaks. Volunteers will camp in a developed campground next to a meadow with a seasonal pond.
Nearest town: Ridgway, CO 81432
The specific location will be shared with all registered volunteers 2 weeks before the project.
What you'll do:
Help restore a historic trail that has become overgrown and difficult to follow due to increased use and time. Building on work started by VOC volunteers in 2024, you’ll continue clearing and improving the trail to make it safer, more visible, and accessible for visitors.
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's important:
This trail will connect to a biking trail constructed by Top of the Pines three years ago, expanding recreational opportunities on this public open space. Along the way, visitors will enjoy stunning views of the Sneffels Range, and future environmental education signs will highlight local ecology, forest health, landforms, and geology—helping visitors better understand and care for this special place.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Ages 16+
Youth under 18 must be accompanied by an adult 21 or older on overnight projects.
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): hiking to access work site while carrying tools, repetitive bending, lifting, digging, shoveling, moving soil and rocks. You’ll be working around a 6.5-7-hour day which requires some physical stamina, but you’ll always be encouraged to take breaks as needed.
Accessibility Factors:
Vehicle Accessibility: The final ~5 miles to the campground are on a maintained dirt road. High clearance is not required, and the road is accessible for 2WD vehicles. Please note that the road is very dark at night; we strongly encourage arriving before dark to make navigation easier.
Other Notes: The worksite begins about ¼ mile away from the camping area, an easy walk on a lightly used 2-track road. Indoor bathrooms with showers and flush toilets are available.
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).
