Join Us On The Trail!
The Continental Divide Trail Coalition is a volunteer-based organization and there are always opportunities for individuals, families, groups, and organizations to participate. Each year, we organize volunteer trail maintenance projects that range in length from 1-5 days
Tight on time, but still want to help out on the trail? Find a 1-day volunteer opportunity near you!
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Neglected Mine Trail Maintenance Project
May 23-26, Jacks Peak Trailhead, New Mexico (near Silver City)
Join us Memorial Day weekend to continue the community-supported re-route in the Burro Mountains, we’ll bring the burgers! A continuation of our reroute in the Burro mountains. Volunteers will be car camping at Jacks Peak Trailhead or are welcome to commute from Silver City each day.
- Arrive: May 22nd
- Work Days: May 23rd – 25th
- Camping: Frontcountry – Jacks Peak Trailhead
- Elevation: 6,000ft – 7,500ft
- Daily Hiking Distance: Up to 5 miles a day
- Vehicle: 2WD (ex. Toyota Prius)
- Food: Food is provided.
*FULL* San Pedro Parks Wilderness Project with New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors (Waitlist Only)
June 6-9, San Pedro Parks Wilderness- Santa Fe Natl. Forest, New Mexico (near Cuba)
Itching to get into the wilderness? Join us for this wilderness logout and tread project in the Santa Fe National Forest. This early-season project will be fun and challenging. We will focus on tread work and logout. Come flex your crosscut muscles with us in the San Pedro Parks Wilderness!
- Arrive: June 6, 2024
- Work Days: June 07th – 09th
- Camping: Frontcountry
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Elevation: 10,000ft
Learn more or apply Waitlist Only
Now recruiting volunteer crew chefs! Contact us for more information.
North Martinez Canyon Project
September 12-15, North Martinez Canyon, New Mexico (near Chama)
Join the Continental Divide Trail Coalition, our Forest Service Partners, and dedicated volunteers on the North end of Martinez Canyon. This 3-day project will have volunteers addressing basic tread maintenance, corridor clearing, signage, and drainage on the CDT, all of which will improve accessibility and enjoyment of the CDT for the public.
- Arrive: September 12th
- Work Days: September 13th – 15th
Now recruiting volunteer crew chefs! Contact us for more information.
Private Project with Environmental Learning for Kids
June 27-30, Herman Gulch Trailhead, Colorado (near Georgetown)
The CDTC along with Environmental Learning for Kids will be taking out 6-10 under-represented youth participants to camp, build their confidence through trail work and learn about the vast opportunities in land management. You can learn more about ELK’s mission on their website. This is a private event, if you would like to support this project through a food or gear donation please contact us.
Now recruiting for pack in support! Want to give back to this awesome project? We will be needing some help to pack in materials and supplies on Thursday, June 27th. Join CDTC staff on a 2.5-3 mile pack in. Sign up here.
*FULL* Devils Thumb with Headwaters Trail Alliance (Waitlist Only)
July 11-14, Devils Thumb Trailhead, Colorado (near Fraser)
Fires thwarted our project last year; this year we will return for more good fun with Headwaters Trail Alliance. With the gorgeous Indian Peaks Wilderness as our backdrop, this project is a great time every year. Not only is this section of trail utilized by day hikers, equestrians, and thru-hikers, but it is also open to bikes.
- Arrive: July 11th
- Work Days: July 12th – 14th
- Camping: Frontcountry
- Difficulty: Moderate- Difficult
- Elevation: 10,300 feet
- Daily Hiking Distance: Up to 4 miles
- Vehicle: 4WD high-clearance (ex. Jeep Wrangler)
- Food: Meals will be provided. Now recruiting volunteer crew chefs! Contact us for more information.
Learn more or apply (Waitlist only)
*FULL* San Juans with Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (Waitlist only)
July 22-26, Archuleta Lakes Area, Colorado (near South Fork)
The Continental Divide Trail Coalition is so excited to be working with Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado and other local community partners on this project. This backcountry effort will be focused on cross-cut work, corridor clearing, and general trail maintenance of this remote section CDT over 5 days. Come have fun with us in the Weminuche Wilderness!
- Arrive: July 22, 2024
- Work Days: July 23rd – 26th
- Camping: Backcountry
- Difficulty: Difficult
- Elevation: 10,000ft
Sign Up through Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (Will need to create account – Waitlist only)
Now recruiting volunteer crew chefs! Contact us for more information.
*FULL* Yellowstone National Park (Waitlist Only)
August 25-31, Lonestar Trailhead, Wyoming (near West Yellowstone, MT)
Join us in Yellowstone for continued work on a lengthy turnpike near Lonestar Geyser in Yellowstone’s famed Geyer district. Volunteers will have their base camp at a private backcountry group site. We will have the opportunity to have a day off in the middle of work to explore other areas of the CDT near the Lone Star Geyser basin.
- Arrive: August 25
- Work Days: August 26th – 30th (day off August 28th)
- Camping: Backcountry
- Difficulty: Moderate- Difficult
- Elevation: 8,000 feet
- Distance to Basecamp: 2.5 miles
- Daily Hiking Distance: Up to 6 miles
- Vehicle: 2WD
- Food: Breakfast, sack lunch, and dinner will be prepared by CDTC. Now recruiting volunteer crew chefs! Contact us for more information.
Learn more or apply (Waitlist Only)
9th Annual Pete Sorini Logout Day
June 8, CDNST Highland Trailhead, Montana (near Butte)
Join us for our 9th annual community stewardship event in the Butte Highlands! We will focus on logging out on the CDT and have a group BBQ afterward.
*FULL* Anaconda/Pintlers Project with Wild Montana (Waitlist Only)
August 7-11, CDT in Big Hole Valley, Mussigbrod Campground, Montana (near Wisdom)
Join CDTC and Wild Montana to maintain a portal trail and increase access to and from the CDT in the Big Hole Valley.
- Arrive: August 8, 2024
- Work Days: August 09th – 11th
- Camping: Frontcountry
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Elevation: 5,800-6,400 feet
- Daily Hiking Distance: Up to 2 miles a day
- Vehicle: 2WD (ex. Toyota Prius)
- Food: Wild Montana will provide all meals and cooking equipment. However, please bring your own mess kit (plate, bowl, cup, and cutlery). Please arrive Thursday evening having already eaten or prepared to make your own supper. We will provide meals starting with breakfast on Friday and ending with lunch fixings on Sunday. Dinner is not provided on Sunday evening. Volunteers are expected to help with food preparation and clean-up on a rotating basis, but your crew leader will handle primary kitchen responsibilities.
Register through Wild Montana. (Waitlist Only)
Big Hole Pass Workday
August 17, Big Hole Pass, Idaho (near Salmon)
Join us at Big Hole Pass for a fun day of increasing water access and making this access point to the CDT even better.
Lunch provided during the project, snacks and cold drink generously provided by Salmon Valley Stewardship afterwards.
*FULL* Yellowstone National Park (Waitlist Only)
August 25-31, Lonestar Trailhead, Wyoming (near West Yellowstone, MT)
Join us in Yellowstone for continued work on a lengthy turnpike near Lonestar Geyser in Yellowstone’s famed Geyer district. Volunteers will have their base camp at a private backcountry group site. We will have the opportunity to have a day off in the middle of work to explore other areas of the CDT near the Lone Star Geyser basin.
- Arrive: August 25
- Work Days: August 26th – 30th
- Camping: Backcountry
- Difficulty: Moderate- Difficult
- Elevation: 8,000 feet
- Distance to Basecamp: 2.5 miles
- Daily Hiking Distance: Up to 6 miles
- Vehicle: 2WD
- Food: Breakfast, sack lunch, and dinner will be prepared by CDTC. Now recruiting volunteer crew chefs! Contact us for more information.
Learn more or register (Waitlist Only)
Adopt a Section of the CDT!
CDTC Adopter Trainings are a crucial and required part of becoming a CDTC Adopter. After deciding on a segment of trail you wish to maintain, check to see if CDTC is holding a training near you and sign up! Plan on spending two days learning the basics of trail maintenance and other skills necessary for a CDTC Adopter. Training covers the following topics and typically includes an in-class and field-based lesson.
More about adopting a section of trail and available sections.
New Mexico Adopter Training
April 27, Jacks Peak Trailhead, New Mexico (near Silver City)
The Coalition is looking forward to having their trail maintenance event in Silver City, NM, a wonderful Gateway Community. We will be learning trail maintenance such as tread specifications, installing drains, and other basic maintenance techniques that will allow volunteers to adopt their own section of the CDT in the area.
- Work Days: April 27th – 27th
- Camping: N/A
- Elevation: 6,000 feet
- Vehicle: 2WD (ex. Toyota Prius)
- Food: Volunteers are required to provide their own water, meals and snacks for the duration of the project.
Colorado Adopter Training with Friends of the Dillon Ranger District
June 22, Gold Hill Trailhead, Colorado (near Breckenridge)
The Continental Divide Trail Coalition is looking forward to this Adopter Training in partnership with White River National Forest and the Friends of the Dillon Ranger District! Interested volunteers will get the opportunity to learn from seasoned trail professionals. We will be conducting our training largely within the Camp Hale-Continental Divide National Monument, where the Colorado Trail and CDT are co-located.
- Work Days: June 22nd – 22nd
- Camping: N/A
- Elevation: 10,000 ft
- Daily Hiking Distance: Up to 3 miles
- Vehicle: 2WD (ex. Toyota Prius)
- Food: It is recommended for volunteers to bring their own water and food or the duration of the project, but additional meals/snack options are currently TBD.
Montana Adopter Training
August 12, Project will be held on the Helena Ranger District
The Continental Divide Trail Coalition is looking forward to their first Adopter Training on the Helena Ranger District of the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. Interested volunteers will get the opportunity to learn from seasoned trail professionals. Upon completion volunteers will be able to adopt their own section of the CDT. We welcome current adopters and all interested in learning about trail maintenance to attend.
- Work Days: August 12th
- Camping: Dispersed camping on the National Forest if needed.
- Elevation: 7,000 ft
- Daily Hiking Distance: Up to 3 miles
- Vehicle: 2WD (ex. Toyota Prius)
- Food: Lunch provided during the project. Snacks and drinks provided afterwards by CDTC.
1-Day Volunteer Events
Join us on the trail in a community near you!
New Mexico Volunteer Events
Work with us to restore the CDT route! This project will work to close a livestock trail and reroute hikers back to the official trail.
Trail maintenance work will be done from 10am – 1pm with a BBQ at 1pm – 2pm. Following lunch/BBQ, the group will gather for a short community hike and story-sharing.
learn more & register
Join us on the trail near Chama to clear trail debris on the CDT.
Trail maintenance work will be done from 10am – 1pm with a BBQ at 1pm – 2pm. Following lunch/BBQ, the group will gather for a short community hike and story-sharing.
learn more & register
Have a hand in clearing the trail and trailhead to the CDT.
This project will focus on clearing the trail of debris and picking up trash at the trailhead. Work will be done from 10am – 1pm with a BBQ at 1pm – 2pm. Following lunch/BBQ, the group will gather for a short community hike and story-sharing.
learn more & registerColorado Volunteer Events
This is a single day, tail maintenance project with the goal of clearing the trail of any deadfall prior to a weeklong volunteer backcountry trip on July 22-26, where additional trail work will take place. On July 22nd, the backcountry volunteer group will be packed in to a basecamp about 4 miles up the trail, and with our help we can eliminate any obstacles for the packers to reach that destination, which will be critical to success of that project. Register below!
learn more & registerMontana/ Idaho/ Wyoming Volunteer Events
Work with us to restore the CDT route! This project will work to close a livestock trail and reroute hikers back to the official trail.
Trail maintenance work will be done from 10am – 1pm with a BBQ at 1pm – 2pm. Following lunch/BBQ, the group will gather for a short community hike and story-sharing.
learn more & register
Have a hand in clearing the trail and trailhead to the CDT.
This project will focus on clearing the trail of debris and picking up trash at the trailhead. Work will be done from 10am – 1pm with a BBQ at 1pm – 2pm. Following lunch/BBQ, the group will gather for a short community hike and story-sharing.
learn more & register
