TRAIL WORK WEEKEND PROJECT
2026 Lonestar Geyser Yellowstone Project
Join us for a 5-day backcountry project in the heart of Yellowstone National Park. We’ll be working on a section of trail alongside the Lonestar Geyser.
- DATES: August 23 – 28, 2026
- LOCATION: Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
- DIFFICULTY: Difficult
- OPENINGS: FULL – Join the Waitlist
ABOUT THIS PROJECT
Give back to the backcountry in Yellowstone
Curious what it takes to keep the CDT open? Join us in Yellowstone National Park for five days of backcountry trail maintenance near Lonestar Geyser, one of the most remarkable stretches of the Divide anywhere on the trail.
As part of the ongoing effort to address backlogged maintenance, we’ll be working in the Yellowstone backcountry to clear downed trees from the trail (logout) and repair the trail surface (treadwork). This is a rare chance to give back inside America’s first national park, on a section of trail most visitors never see.
Volunteers arrive Sunday, August 23, and head out Friday, August 28. Camping is backcountry, so you’ll pack in and stay out. CDTC provides experienced and trained leaders, all food, group kitchen gear, water, and safety equipment. No experience necessary; the work is moderate difficulty, and we’ll teach you everything you need on site.
This project is currently full. Join the waitlist here since spots regularly open up.
Project Area (approximate)
A note on difficulty
Difficulty is rated STRENUOUS.
We calculate this by considering miles traveled per day, elevation gain and loss, camping location, and the kind of work involved. This project involves a full five days of hands-on trail work at high elevation, with backcountry camping that requires a significant hike to reach the work site. This is our best guess. If you’re unsure whether this project’s a good fit, please reach out.
What's provided
Our staff will provide all of the following for you to use during the weekend project:
What you should pack
We recommend packing the full backcountry list (PDF here), including your camping setup.
Project Packing List
🎒 Backpacking (all participants)
- 🎒 Backpack, 50L or larger, capable of carrying five days of gear and food
- 🛡️ Pack rain cover or waterproof liner
- ⛺ Lightweight tent with rainfly and footprint
- 🛌 Sleeping pad
- 💤 Sleeping bag rated for cold mountain nights
- 🍽️ Lightweight camp dishware (bowl, cup, spork)
- 🔦 Headlamp with spare batteries
- 👟 Lightweight camp shoes
👕 Clothing
- 🧦 Hiking socks (bring several pairs)
- 👖 Long pants for the worksite, synthetic or sturdy material (NO SHORTS)
- 👕 Short and long sleeve shirts for layering (synthetic or wool, no cotton)
- 🧥 Insulating layer
- 🌧️ Rain jacket and rain pants
- 🧤 Warm gloves and warm hat (mountain weather shifts fast)
- 👒 Sun hat
- 🩲 Dedicated sleep layers, kept dry
⚒️ Work
- 🥾 Sturdy work boots (no sneakers or sandals)
- 🕶️ Sunglasses
- 🧴 Sunscreen and lip balm
- 💧 Minimum 3-liter water capacity
- 🚰 Personal water filter or treatment
🧴 Personal
- 🍱 Personal snacks for the trail
- 💊 Personal medication
- 🩸 Period products, if needed
- 🧼 Hand sanitizer and biodegradable soap
- 🦟 Insect repellent
- 🧻 Trowel, toilet paper, and Ziploc bags (pack it in, pack it out)
- ⛑️ Small personal first aid kit
- 🩹 Blister care and moleskin
🎒 Other (optional)
- 🔋 Battery pack and charging cord
- 🧭 Map and compass
- 🔪 Knife or multi-tool
- 📸 Camera or binoculars
- 🧣 Bandana
- 🥢 Trekking poles
🚫 Please leave at home
- 🐶 Fuzzy friends (please, no dogs)
- 🍃 Illegal substances
- 🪑 Camp chair, pillow, and other frontcountry comforts (weight matters)
Frequently asked questions
How Can I Join Project?
We use a volunteer management software called Neon One, when you follow a registration link from our website it will redirect you to Neon’s site to register. You will be able to create an account so you can log in in the future without having to resubmit your information.
How Can I Prepare for My Project?
It’s hard to anticipate everything you’ll need, depending on the weather, location, and personal preferences…but here’s a start!
What equipment is provided?
No tools necessary! We’ll have a range of tools and equipment for the project, and CDTC will also provide needed safety Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): hard hat (if needed, gloves, eye protection. You are welcome to bring your own gloves, eye projection, etc. if you prefer!
What does it cost to volunteer?
Totally free! You just need to get yourself to our worksite. Please keep in mind that while these events are free we would appreciate advance notice of you no longer being able to join a project, as we use registration numbers in several factors. Such as, how much food to buy and what, how much work we can expect to get done, etc.
Do you provide food? What about dietary restrictions?
- We provide food on all projects. For a Friday- Sunday project, we provide, Breakfast, lunch and dinner Friday and Saturday and provide Breakfast and lunch on Sunday.
- Our team is well versed in various dietary needs and restrictions. We can accommodate most diets but please think about risk factors or supplying your own food if you have a severe allergy.
Can I Bring My Pet?
We love our furry friends, but please leave them at home. If you have a service animal, please let us know when you register.
What’s a crew chef?
Crew chefs are volunteers whose job is to… chef! The crew chef feeds the trail crew a hearty Breakfast, lunch and dinner. CDTC Crew Chef Training is required to be a crew chef. CDTC can help provide ideas, recipes and a shopping list. Food is paid for by CDTC, as a reimbursement to the crew chef.
Are children allowed?
Kids, under the age of 18, are welcome to join with a parent, depending on the project work. Please reach out to [email protected] if you have further questions.
Prohibited Items
We’re happy to have you join a project, but please refrain from*:
- Possession or use of firearms, except with volunteer packers who’ve been
approved by the Forest Service - Consumption of alcoholic beverages in excess
- Possession or use of any illegal drugs, including Marijuana as it is illegal on
federal land on which all of our projects take place - Fighting, use of derogatory language, intimidating behavior, discrimination, sexual harassment, or violent or threatening behavior
*These actions could result in dismissal from the project.
Not sure if this project is right for you?
Corey Torivio, our New Mexico Regional Representative, can answer any question — big or small.