Trail Maintenance

Hundreds of miles of recreation trails on the Willamette National Forest are maintained by volunteer trail crews each year. As the nonprofit partner of the Willamette National Forest, Cascade Volunteers convenes program of work meetings for all WNF trail groups, acts as a FS liaison for volunteers, runs 2 annual trail skills colleges with the PCTA, and maintains a volunteer database that is used by forest volunteer groups.

Each trail crew working on the Willamette has a different personality. Keep reading to find one that’s right for you!

To volunteer with a forest trail crew, first fill out a volunteer application. This tells us your interests and helps us connect you with the right group. You will then be sent a Willamette National Forest Individual Volunteer Agreement, which covers your volunteer work with any of the crews or organizations below.

Signing Up to Volunteer

Click here to fill out our volunteer application. A volunteer coordinator will then be in touch to discuss your interests, get you the appropriate paperwork, and connect you to a trail crew that fits.

Program Dates

Trail Crews are active on the forest year-round, but summer is the busiest season. For crews that operate in higher elevations, program dates may be impacted by late snow melt, early snow fall, or wildfires.

Required Training and Certifications

No certifications are required to volunteer, and boots on the ground training is common. Volunteers are welcome to attend one of our Trail Skills Colleges held each spring for further training. We do recommend that all trail volunteers have current CPR and First Aid. We also recommend that all forest volunteers bring the 10 Essentials with them whenever they head out into the field: https://www.nps.gov/articles/10essentials.htm.

Tools and Supplies

Many volunteers bring their own tools, but crew leaders often bring extras to loan. Required Personal Protective Equipment includes a hardhat, eye protection, ear protection, work gloves, and a face mask/shield. Cascade Volunteers is currently organizing a forest-wide trail tool library. We're hoping to launch this is spring 2021!

Cascade Volunteers trail crews include…

Scorpion Trail Crews (Eugene, OR): The Scorpions are one of the oldest and most celebrated groups on the Willamette! The Scorpions operate several crews year-round in both wilderness and non-wilderness areas.

Salamander Trail Crew (Salem, OR): The Salamander crew is active year-round and focuses primarily on trails in Detroit and Sweet Home districts of the Willamette National Forest.

Camas Crew (Springfield, OR): The Camas Crew is a wilderness trail crew focused on clearing and maintaining trails in Oregon’s High Cascades during the summer months.

Huckleberry Crew (Albany, OR): The Huckleberry Crew participates in opportunities throughout the forest. The crew is active year-round, typically on weekends. This new crew was created to address the growing need for weekend and beginner-friendly trail maintenance days, so it’s a great option for new volunteers or those who need a lighter work day.

Our Greater Willamette National Forest Trail Community:

Alpine Trail Crew Association (Oakridge, OR)

Back Country Horsemen: Emerald Empire Chapter (Eugene, OR)

Back Country Horsemen: High Country Wilderness Packers (Eugene, OR)

Back Country Horsemen: West Cascades (Salem, OR)

Central Oregon Trail Alliance (Bend, OR)

Disciples of Dirt (Eugene, OR)

Friends of the Central Cascades Wilderness (Bend, OR)

Oregon Equestrian Trails

Pacific Crest Trails Association (PNW Regional)

Sisters Trails Alliance (Sisters, OR)

SWATS: Sawyers with Attitude to Spare (Bend, OR)