Adult Stewardship Trips

Ascend offers a variety of stewardship trips for adults in the Trinity Alps Wilderness. These trips are coordinated in collaboration with Forest Service Wilderness Trails staff to target areas most in need of rehabilitation and maintenance. Ascend provides all food, gear, transportation, guidance, and in some cases pack mule support; while Adult participants receive training on use of hand tools as they perform important stewardship tasks rebuilding trail, exploring the Wilderness Area, and connecting with like-minded individuals.

In 2024 Ascend Wilderness Experience is responding to community feedback by adding more opportunities for adults and families to join us in improving our wilderness together – Apply now!

Choose From:

Canyon Creek Stewardship Backpacking Trip – This year, participants will help maintain the most popular Trinity Alps Trail, Canyon Creek, under the guidance of one Ascend Guide and one Forest Service Wilderness Trails Crew Leader to perform much-needed work on this alpine trails. Gain knowledge in the safe use of equipment and get connected with yourself and the world around you on this unique all-adult stewardship experience! This beautiful trip includes waterfalls, lakes, granite peaks, and wildflower-filled meadows. Early registration is encouraged, as this is one of our most popular trips!

  • Canyon Creek Weekend Warrior (June 15-16)
  • Canyon Creek 5-day Backpacking Trip (June 17-21)
  • Canyon Creek 7-day Backpacking Trip (June 15-21)

2-day Stewardship – (May 18-19) Spend two days in this scenic and seldom visited area of the western Trinity Alps near the North Fork of the Trinity River at Waldorff Crossing. This trail is the best access for pack mules to pick up specialists doing fish count dives down the North Fork of the Trinity River and needs our help to maintain access after being damaged by wildfire. Learn about maintaining trail corridor and use hand tools and heritage crosscut saws to log out fallen trees impeding access during this 2-day camping and day hiking adventure.

Fall 7-day Adult Stewardship Backpacking Trip – (Sept. 29-Oct. 5) In partnership with Big Foot Trail Alliance, the Fall 7-day Adult Stewardship Trip is tailored to suit the needs of those who want to maximize their time spent outdoors but have packed summer schedules. Enjoy the breeze of the crisp autumn air while also helping restore trails that are in need of some TLC at Packers Peak and Rush Creek Lakes Trails,

Fall Weekend Stewardships (September/October) Designed for the working adult, this camping trip is an opportunity for adults to have a steppingstone before committing to a longer backpacking experience. Spend two days with trained Ascend Wilderness Guides hiking into areas in need of maintenance from a campground basecamp close to Coffee Creek, CA. Participants will safely access areas that have been neglected or damaged by fire and perform tasks such as replacing signage, logouts, brushing and clearing trail corridors. Discover the Trinity Alps with like-minded peers and give back to your local wilderness area on this accessible 2-day adventure!

All Ages Stewardship Hikes These hikes are designed to accommodate every experience level. Although each one includes a stewardship activity, we specifically design them to accommodate families, anyone new to hiking, people both young and old, anyone wanting to hike with others, etc. We encourage teens to join this trip, however, any participating youth under 15 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Stewardship is a key element of this experience and we expect that all participants, including youth, will actively participate in the project and maintain a positive attitude in a group setting throughout the trip.  We provide all safety gear, transportation, food, trained guides, and gear if needed. Even if you’re unsure about your physical capabilities, this is a good opportunity to learn or simply give back to our local trails.

  • July 20 – Day hike to Lake Eleanor. This family friendly day hike will visit lake Eleanor in the Trinity Center area. Because this hike is less than a ½ mile, it’s an excellent beginner hike, especially for very young participants, families, or those just beginning to wet their hiking whistle. This group will help “brush” part of the trail as the stewardship activity for the day which simply means to clip away bushes from the trail with loppers. There will be an opportunity to picnic by the lake and enjoy the scenery.
  • July 27 – Day hike from Weaver Bally to East Weaver Lake. This family friendly hike is 2 miles round trip, and minimal elevation change. The stewardship activity during this day hike is to “re-bench” parts of the trail. Trail Benching is a maintenance technique used to increase trail accessibility, maintain the structure of a trail and minimize erosion. The process involves cutting “tread” into the hillside to define the trail shape.
  • August 3 & 4 – Boulder Lakes overnight backpacking trip. This itinerary is designed for beginners to overnight backpacking. Big and Little Boulder lakes are a 2 mile hike with lily pad-lined shores, good fishing, shady campsites, granite cliffs, and numerous opportunities for day hikes. This group will help “brush” part of the trail, but will also have ample time to enjoy the wilderness qualities of the destination.

Join Us!