VOLUNTEER TRAINING · TRAIL SKILLS CLINIC
2026 Colorado Trail Skills Clinic & Adopter Training
A hands-on Trail Skills 101 clinic and introduction to CDTC’s Trail Adopter Program in Colorado’s Rabbit Ears Range. Come for one day, two, or all three. No experience required.
- DATES: July 10 – 12, 2026
- LOCATION: Willow Creek Pass, near Granby, CO
- DIFFICULTY: Easy
- OPTIONS: Come for 1, 2, or 3 days
ABOUT THIS PROJECT
Learn trail work, your way
Want to learn how trail work actually gets done? Join us for a weekend Trail Skills 101 clinic at Willow Creek Pass, where you’ll get hands-on experience with the fundamentals of trail maintenance, no prior experience required.
Whether you’re a brand-new adopter or a seasoned trail worker, there’s something here for you, and you can choose the commitment that fits your schedule: come for one day, two, or all three. Over the weekend we’ll cover signage, trail anatomy, trail corridor, annual maintenance, and logout and bucking of small-diameter trees (six inches or less), then put those skills to work clearing corridor and improving drainage at this important access point to the CDT in the Rabbit Ears Range.
We’ll also introduce CDTC’s Trail Adopter Program for anyone interested in stewarding their own section of the Continental Divide Trail here in Colorado. Whether you’re just curious about trail work or ready to explore a deeper commitment, this is a great place to start.
Project Area (approximate)
Volunteer roles needed
🍳 Crew Chef (2)
Plan and cook three meals a day for the crew in a backcountry camp. CDTC provides all kitchen gear, food, and a chef stipend. Backcountry cooking experience is a plus.
A note on difficulty
Difficulty is rated Easy.
We calculate this by considering miles traveled per day, elevation gain and loss, camping location, and the kind of work involved. This is a beginner-friendly clinic, and you’re welcome to choose the day option that best fits your comfort and experience level. This is our best guess. If you’re unsure whether the clinic’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
Attending for a single day? You won’t need the overnight camping gear, just the clothing, work, and personal items below. Staying two or three days? Pack the full frontcountry list (PDF here), including your camping setup.
Project Packing List
🏕️ Camping (2- and 3-day participants)
- ⛺ Tent with rainfly and ground cloth/footprint
- 🛌 Sleeping pad
- 💤 Sleeping bag rated for cold mountain nights
- 🪶 Pillow
- 🍽️ Camping dishware (plate or bowl, cup, utensils)
- 🔦 Headlamp
- 🪑 Camp chair
- 👟 Camp shoes
👕 Clothing
- 🧦 Hiking socks
- 👖 Long pants for the worksite, synthetic/jean/sturdy material (NO SHORTS) — more than one pair recommended for multi-day
- 👕 Short and long sleeve shirts for layering
- 🧥 Insulating layer
- 🌧️ Rain jacket and rain pants
- 🧤 Warm gloves and warm hat (mountain weather shifts fast)
- 👒 Sun hat
⚒️ Work
- 🥾 Sturdy work boots (no sneakers or sandals)
- 🎒 Daypack large enough for water, food, raincoat, layers, and tools
- 🕶️ Sunglasses
- 🧴 Sunscreen and lip balm
- 💧 Minimum 3-liter water capacity
🧴 Personal
- 🍱 Personal snacks
- 💊 Personal medication
- 🩸 Period products, if needed
- 🧼 Hand sanitizer and soap
- 🦟 Insect repellent
- 🧻 Trowel, toilet paper, and Ziploc bags (pack it in, pack it out)
- ⛑️ Small personal first aid kit
🎒 Other (optional)
- 🔋 Battery pack and charging cord
- 🧭 Map and compass
- 🔪 Knife or multi-tool
- 📸 Camera or binoculars
- 🧣 Bandana
- 📖 Book
🚫 Please leave at home
- 🐶 Fuzzy friends (please, no dogs)
- 🍃 Illegal substances
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?
Jordan Williams, our Colorado Regional Representative, can answer any question — big or small.