JOIN A 2023 VOLUNTEER TRAIL CREW
Important: Please review this information carefully before signing up for a crew. General questions regarding crews or volunteering can be sent via email to ctf@coloradotrail.org or by phone at 303-384-3729.
Overview: Volunteer Trail Crews vary in length from one to eight days. We provide training, tools, hardhats, meals (except for vehicle-supported hike-in and backpack crews), group camp equipment, and leadership. Volunteers are responsible for their own transportation to the crew location and for their personal equipment, including tent or camper, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, dishes and eating utensils, work clothes, and other personal items, as applicable. Crews typically involve a hike to the project site but basecamp crews may require a drive and a hike each day if the campsite is not within reasonable hiking distance of the project site. Week-long (7 or 8 day) crews typically include a day off mid-week. Contact the Crew Leader for crew specifics.
Crew Sponsorship: If you are interested in being a donor to support one of the trail crews below, send an email to Executive Director, Tisha McCombs, at tisha@coloradotrail.org to get further details and pick which crew you would like to support. On average, each trail crew costs approximately $2,000 for supplies, food for volunteers, construction materials, and other associated costs. In the past, CTF charged a fee from participating volunteers to help cover a small portion of these fees; however, we have changed this policy starting in 2023 to no longer require participants to pay to help off-set these costs. Instead, each trail crew will be sponsored by a donor looking for a specific project to fund to support CTF’s ongoing efforts to keep the Colorado Trail the most well-maintained long-distance trail in America!
Participants: Participants must be at least 18 years of age (or have already completed a previous trail crew with a guardian) and in good physical condition. No previous trail building experience is required.
Registration: Crews are filled on a first-come, first-served basis upon receipt of your fully completed registration materials and deposit. A month before the crew start date, travel instructions and participant roster will be emailed to you to assist with planning, carpooling, etc. *Registering online is highly encouraged. Those with no access to a computer or smartphone can call our office at 303-384-3729 any weekday before 10am to register.
Deposit: Trail crews will no longer require a crew fee. Instead, we require a $50 refundable deposit to hold your spot on the trail crew, which will be refunded upon successful completion of the crew. If you register and then decide not to attend the trail crew, your deposit will be forfeited. Please be sure you are committed to attending before registering so that we can ensure trail crews are fully attended in order to complete the trail project.
Subject to Change: Due to the uncertainty around planning due to weather and other uncontrollable circumstances, there is potential for changes on these crews. If a schedule change is made by CTF, all crew members will have the option for a refund.
Thank you! We need your help in caring for The Colorado Trail, all 567 miles, and truly appreciate your involvement.
