Dust off your camping gear because the dates and locations for our 2025 trail building and maintenance trips have been set and we invite you to join us!
This year, we have an array of volunteer opportunities, with 6 trail building trips on the High Rock Trail (HRT), including our third annual women’s trip, a bridge building trip over North Racehorse Creek, and two “weekend trips”. We are introducing a new “weekend trip” model this year to appeal to volunteers who can’t afford an entire week in the mountains, to help us continue building new single-track trail on the slopes below Mt. Erris.
In addition to the HRT projects, we have planned a trip to the upper Blaeberry to restore sections of the Ensign Creek Trail that were destroyed in wildfire last summer; a campground-building trip to Cache Creek; a maintenance trip on the Maligne Pass Trail in Jasper National Park; two backcountry walking trips in remote Section G south of Kakwa Lake; and a backcountry maintenance trip up to Palliser Pass in Height of the Rockies Provincial Park.
Last year’s endeavors were made possible by the support of the Government of Alberta, Columbia Basin Trust, the Alberta Equestrian Federation, BC Parks, Athletic Brewing, and the generous individual and corporate donors from our Trail Supporter Campaign. A sincere thank you to all who make our initiatives possible! We look forward to another productive year.
Please bear in mind that unforeseen circumstances may sometimes lead to changes in trip dates and locations. Rest assured; we will promptly notify volunteers of any such adjustments.
Check out the map below for the 2025 Trail Building & Maintenance Trip Schedule:
Trip #1 June 22-27 – Blaeberry Burn Self-Supported Trip (maximum 8 volunteers): Volunteers must be able to hike up to 5 km per day carrying daypacks and tools. Volunteers bring their own food and camping gear.
Trip #2 June 22-27 – West Castle River Self-Supported Trip (maximum 8 volunteers): Volunteers must be able to hike up to 5 km per day carrying daypacks and tools. Volunteers bring their own food and camping gear.
Trip #3 July 4-6 – HRT Erris A Weekend Base Camp Trip (maximum 10 volunteers): Volunteers must be able to hike up to 5 km per day carrying daypacks and tools. Volunteers bring their own food and camping gear.
Trip #4 July 4-10 – HRT Erris B Base Camp Trip (maximum 20 volunteers): Volunteers must be able to hike up to 5 km per day carrying daypacks and tools. Volunteers bring their own food and camping gear. We require at least one volunteer with chainsaw training certification. If you’re interested in getting trained and certified to use a chainsaw, let us know!
Trip #5 July 9-13 – HRT North Racehorse Creek Self-Supported Bridge Building Trip (maximum 6 volunteers): Volunteers must be comfortable backcountry camping and capable of hiking 5 km per day. Volunteers bring their own food and camping gear.
Trip #6 July 18-20 – HRT Erris C Weekend Base Camp Trip (maximum 10 volunteers): Volunteers must be able to hike up to 5 km per day carrying daypacks and tools. Volunteers bring their own food and camping gear.
Trip #7 July 16-22 – HRT Erris D Base Camp Trip (maximum 20 volunteers): Volunteers must be able to hike up to 5 km per day carrying daypacks and tools. Volunteers bring their own food and camping gear.
Trip #8 July 22-27 – Palliser River Backcountry Walking Trip (maximum 8 volunteers): Volunteers must be able to hike up to 20 km carrying their own food and camping gear, and up to 10 km carrying power and hand tools, and be comfortable with backcountry camping. We require at least three volunteers with brush saw or chainsaw experience. If you’re interested in getting trained and certified to use a chainsaw or brush saw, let us know!
Trip #9 July 29-30 – Cache Creek Campground Self-Supported Trip (maximum 4 volunteers): Volunteers must be able to hike 5 km per day with packs, carrying tools, fuel and personal protective equipment (PPE). Volunteers bring their own food and camping gear. We require at least one volunteer with chainsaw training certification. If you’re interested in getting trained and certified to use a chainsaw, let us know!
Trip #10 August 1-5 – Maligne Pass Trail, Jasper Backcountry Walking Trip (maximum 10 volunteers): Volunteers must be able to hike 20 km in a day carrying their own camping gear and hand tools. The Maligne River must be forded, normally knee-deep but it may be more than 3’ deep if the water is high. Volunteers must supply their own food and camping gear.
Trip #11 August 8-13 – HRT Erris E Women’s Trip Self-Supported Trip (maximum 10 volunteers): This trail maintenance trip is part of our ongoing effort to create an inclusive and welcoming space for women to participate in trail work. It is open to all who identify as women, and to non-binary and gender non-conforming people who are comfortable in a space that centers the experiences of women in the outdoors. Volunteers must be able to hike 10 km to base camp and up to 5 km per day carrying daypacks and tools. Volunteers bring their own food and camping gear.
Trip #12 August 17-24 – Sheep Creek to Casket Creek Backcountry Walking Trip (maximum 6 volunteers): Access to this remote section of trail will be via helicopter. Volunteers must be able to hike 10 km per day clearing shrubs and downed trees, while carrying a heavy pack with their own food, gear plus power tools, fuel and PPE, as they move along the trail. Volunteers must bring all their own camping gear, food and supplies, be familiar with how to set up and maintain a clean/safe unsupported campsite and help with group camp duties. All volunteers must have brush saw experience.
Trip #13 August 23-30 – Kakwa to Cecilia Backcountry Walking Trip (maximum 8 volunteers): Access to this remote section of trail will be via helicopter. Volunteers must be able to hike 10 km per day carrying backpacks with personal gear plus tools (hand tools, power tools, safety gear, etc.). Volunteers must bring all their own camping gear, food and supplies, be familiar with how to set up and maintain a clean/safe unsupported campsite and help with group camp duties. We require at least three volunteers with brusher experience, and one with chainsaw certification. If you’re interested in getting trained and certified to use a chainsaw or brush saw, let us know!
Additional Information:
- 6-20 people per trip.
- Base camp facilities* include kitchen and dining shelters, a fire pit, and a latrine. (*Not available on Backcountry Walking Trips.)
- Volunteers are responsible for bringing and cooking their own food.
- While trail building experience is not mandatory, volunteers should have experience backcountry camping and hiking. Backpacking experience is required for all backcountry walking trips.
- Trips are free for GDTA Members.
- Carpooling assistance will be coordinated by the GDTA for those interested.
- The GDTA will provide all trail maintenance tools, tool training, and safety orientation for all trips.
- For more information on what to expect while you’re volunteering on a GDTA trail crew, including descriptions of our different Trip Models, check out the GDTA Volunteer Guide.
How to Join:
To register online, please click on the links provided in the Trip Schedule above. You can sign into your members account and register for the trip directly through the website.
Alternatively, you can email us at [email protected], indicating the trail building and maintenance trip (or trips) you are interested in. If you have experience, certifications, or skills such as operating chainsaws, brush saws, OHVs, or first aid certification, please include that information in your email
We look forward to your enthusiastic participation and another successful year on the trails!