We need your help to care for our incredible system of Washington trails!
Washington trails and trailheads are maintained by public land management agencies, partners (like us at the Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust), and with the help of volunteers. From cutting back brush, to repairing the trail’s surface, hauling gear, spreading gravel, and more — there’s a task for everyone!
If you love hiking and other outdoor activities, volunteer trail events are the perfect way to give back to the places that give so much joy to us all.
Trail volunteer opportunities occur throughout the Mountains to Sound Greenway National Heritage Area, with a focus on projects in the Issaquah Alps, Middle Fork Snoqualmie Valley, and the Teanaway Community Forest. These events are great for individuals and small groups (all participants must be 14 years or older). Volunteers meet their event leads at the trailhead and hike to the project site together. This involves up to a two-mile hike to the project, and potentially a further hike as the project continues, carrying tools and personal items. Please see each individual event for more details about what to expect.
Types of activities volunteers may participate in at a trail volunteer event:
Brushing
Using loppers and hand saws to clear the trail corridor of vegetation and removing obstacles (like fallen logs and loose rock) to keep the trail accessible and visible to trail users.
Clearing Drains
Whether you have noticed them or not, Washington trails have a lot of drainage structures to prevent water from collecting on the walkable surface of the trail. With hand tools, volunteers dig and clear drainage ditches and swales.
Rock Work
Volunteers will collect, organize, and orient existing rocks in the project area to create elevated trail surfaces, drains, and switchbacks.
Gear Hauls
For large projects with many materials, volunteers will help haul gear, involving many trips to and from the trailhead, to bring materials to a project site. This could include lumber, hardware, or materials for trail crews as needed.
Trailhead Improvements
Salvaging native plants for revegetation, repairing picnic tables, trash pickup, and other trailhead improvement projects.
Graveling Trails
Volunteers transport gravel using buckets or wheelbarrows to add to the surface area of a trail. The gravel will make the trail surface more durable and help reduce muddy or slippery trail sections.
