On National Public Lands Day, now also known as Washington Public Lands Day, we gather together around what we love most – our public lands. Join the Greenway Trust and partners on September 28th, 2019 for a day of stewardship and celebration.
Celebrate a Summer of Stewardship in the Middle Fork Valley
In the Greenway landscape, we are lucky to have nearly one million acres of publicly conserved land to explore and recreate within. From Seattle, there is close access to this in the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River Valley. The Middle Fork is 98% publicly-owned and managed by the United States Forest Service, the Washington Department of Natural Resources, and King County with collaborative support from partner nonprofits, businesses, and community members.
On this National Public Lands Day, the largest single-day volunteer effort on public lands, we put away our maps and we take out our work gloves to do what the Greenway Trust loves most – stewardship. We kicked off this summer of stewardship on National Trails Day. Now, nearly an entire season later, we come together once again in the Middle Fork of the Snoqualmie River Valley to celebrate the amazing work accomplished and the people and groups that made it happen.
Choose a Volunteer Stewardship Project
Join a volunteer stewardship event with the Greenway Trust and partners, and stick around afterwards for the Cheers for Volunteers celebration hosted by REI Co-op at the Middle Fork Campground with food, drinks, and raffle prizes. All volunteer events are 9am – 1pm. All events will begin at the Middle Fork Trailhead. Please arrive a few minutes early to sign in and enjoy coffee donated by our partners. (Registration required.)
Cheers for Volunteers Afterparty with REI
Post-volunteering, enjoy food, beer, games, and more as volunteers join the Greenway and partners for a celebration hosted by REI Co-op! Celebration will be at the Middle Fork Campground from 1:30 to 3:00 pm.
Volunteer Opportunities
Nature Trails Maintenance
The Nature Trails are part of a loop trail system through second growth forest, complete with moss blanketed forest floors and access to the Taylor River. This makes it an awe inspiring place to explore with family and friends while camping at the Middle Fork Campground. Volunteers will support the Greenway Trust by moving gravel to complete the graveled trail, which provides a hardened trail surface and discourages social trail use throughout the area.
Camp Brown Day-Use Area Restoration and Picnic Table Construction — FULL
In collaboration with the United States Forest Service, the Greenway Trust has almost completed construction of the newest day-use area in the Middle Fork Valley. Camp Brown Day-Use Area is nestled between Douglas Firs and Western Hemlocks along the Wild & Scenic River, the Middle Fork River, and will soon be home to 14 picnic areas for everyone to enjoy. Volunteers will participate in habitat restoration efforts to restore areas damaged by construction of the recreation area as well as construct the first of the many picnic tables to be implemented there.
Volunteers will meet at the Middle Fork Trailhead and be shuttled to their project site for this project.
Restoration at the new Oxbow Loop Trail
Another new addition to the Middle Fork Valley recreation suite is the Oxbow Loop Trail. This trail is a 1.5 mile graveled loop trail which takes explorers on a journey through forests and along the river to an oxbow lake, originally formed from a section of the Middle Fork River. The construction of this trail and new trailhead was done in partnership with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources and is a great family friendly option for getting out to explore the Middle Fork. To ensure this forest stays healthy, volunteers will be working on trail side restoration projects to maintain invasive weeds and enhance the ecological integrity of this area.
Volunteers will meet at the Middle Fork Trailhead and be shuttled to their project site for this project.
Restoration at Granite Creek Trailhead and Middle Fork Natural Area — FULL
The Granite Creek trail offers a quiet getaway from the popular hikes along I-90. Better yet, the trailhead is one of the few that still has open spots on a sunny summer Saturday. Hikers will wander switchbacks through second growth forest among the massive stumps of once-towering old growth with occasional views of the Middle Fork Valley. On the other side of the Middle Fork Road, you will find the Middle Fork Natural Area, which offers secluded access to the Middle Fork River. The Greenway Trust, Department of Natural Resources, King County Parks and Recreation and volunteers are working hard to maintain this area and keep invasive weeds under control before traveling further up the valley. Volunteers will continue this work, as well as plant a few native trees and shrubs, near the trailhead and within the Middle Fork Natural Area.
Volunteers will meet at the Middle Fork Trailhead and be shuttled to their project site for this project.
Garfield Ledges Trail Build — FULL
Help us complete the Garfield Ledges Trail, the newest scenic vista trail in the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Valley. When finished, the trail will wind gently through mature second growth forest on the western slope of the Middle Fork Valley’s most iconic peak, Mount Garfield. Volunteers will help complete block steps by moving fill materials, and define trail surfaces to prevent future erosion.
Partner Organization Volunteer Projects
Washington Trails Association CCC Road NPLD Project
Join WTA in celebrating Public Lands! Volunteers will be doing routine maintenance on the CCC trail and meeting up with Mountains to Sound Greenway and REI for “Cheers for Volunteers” for an after event celebration.
Volunteers will meet WTA leads at the Middle Fork Trailhead and be shuttled to their project site for this project and join “Cheers for Volunteers” following the work party.
Washington Trails Association Pratt River Trail NPLD Project
Join WTA in celebrating Public Lands! Volunteers will be doing routine maintenance on the Pratt River Trail and meeting up with Mountains to Sound Greenway and REI for “Cheers for Volunteers” for an after event celebration. Volunteers will be working on important tread reconstruction and establishing better clearing limits. This will consist of moving soil and rock, and cutting vegetation and logs on the side of the trail.
Volunteers will meet WTA leads at the Middle Fork Trailhead and hike to their project site for this project and join “Cheers for Volunteers” following the work party.
Middle Fork Trailhead Clean Up with Clean Up Washington
Join Clean Up Washington in making strides towards a litter-free trailhead. With a natural resource as valuable as the Middle Fork, we want to do everything possible to keep the area beautiful, and to teach Leave No Trace principles to prevent issues like this in the future.
Volunteers will meet Clean Up Washington leads at the Middle Fork Trailhead and hike to their project site for this project and join “Cheers for Volunteers” following the work party.