The Yolla Bolly–Middle Eel Wilderness has always demanded patience.
Its steep ridges, remote trailheads, and long approaches mean that years can pass between maintenance efforts. Winter storms reshape the landscape annually, while dense forests quietly reclaim the paths that connect one of California’s wildest mountain ranges. But in 2026, thanks to an extraordinary collaboration of volunteers, youth, professional trail crews, and agency partners, the Yolla Bolly is in the best shape it has been in for years.
Across four separate projects, Bigfoot Trail Alliance crews restored more than 21 miles of trail, removed 398 fallen trees, and contributed hundreds of hours of stewardship that will benefit hikers, horse packers, hunters, researchers, and future trail crews alike. And with additional work planned for this fall, the momentum continues.
Opening the Door: Little Doe Trailhead
Our first visit came early in the season as the Bigfoot Trail Alliance seasonal crew headed into the Little Doe Trailhead on the western edge of the wilderness.
This corner of the Yolla Bollys had seen little recent maintenance. Winter storms had left the trail buried beneath fallen timber, and progress was slow as crews worked through dense forest and rugged terrain.
By week’s end they had restored 3.5 miles of trail while removing an incredible 160 downed trees. Every mile reopened here creates access to one of the least-visited portions of the wilderness and lays the groundwork for future restoration deeper into the backcountry.
Building Community from Covelo
In June we returned from the southern side of the wilderness with two volunteer projects based out of Covelo.
The first trip, beautifully captured in Rees Hughes’ recent story celebrating longtime Forest Service employee Vaughn Hutchins, brought together volunteers from across California to restore trails while sharing stories from decades of wilderness stewardship.
The second trip may have been even more memorable.
Led by Bigfoot Trail Alliance board members Louis Hoiland and Steve Salzman, local youth joined community volunteers for a week of trail work, learning, and adventure. The young participants earned stipends for their work, but they also gained something far more lasting: confidence, new skills, friendships, and memories that will stay with them for a lifetime.
Together the two Covelo-based projects restored:
- 7 miles of trail
- 29 fallen trees removed
- 512 volunteer hours
Watching local youth become stewards of their own public lands reminds us why this work matters.
High School Interns Meet the Backcountry
In late June our seasonal crew returned once again—this time entering from Stuart’s Gap alongside two high school trail interns.
Working through one of the most heavily impacted sections of the wilderness, the crew restored travel from Stuart’s Gap to the Humboldt Trail junction while reopening both the Black Rock Lookout Trail and the spur leading to Black Rock Lake.
The numbers tell the story:
- 12 miles of trail restored
- 220 fallen trees removed
For the interns, this wasn’t simply trail work. It was an opportunity to learn professional crosscut skills, wilderness travel, teamwork, and leadership while contributing meaningful work on public lands.
A Wilderness on the Mend
The story doesn’t end with our crews.
Immediately following our work, the California Conservation Corps Backcountry Trails Program, working under the guidance of longtime packer Ken Graves, completed additional restoration beginning at Ides Cove and finishing work our volunteers had begun during previous seasons.
Together, these complementary efforts have transformed trail conditions across much of the wilderness.
The Yolla Bolly–Middle Eel Wilderness is in better shape than it has been in years.
That success belongs to an entire community: seasonal crew members, volunteers, youth participants, interns, packers, Forest Service staff, and everyone who believes these historic trails are worth caring for.
Our sincere thanks go to the Mendocino National Forest and Shasta-Trinity National Forest for supporting this work through partnership agreements and shared stewardship.
And we’re not finished yet.
If conditions allow, we hope to return this fall to continue restoring this remarkable landscape—one mile, one log, and one volunteer at a time.
2026 Yolla Bolly–Middle Eel Wilderness Summary
- 21 miles of trail restored
- 398 fallen trees removed
- 660 volunteer hours
- Four major stewardship projects
- Seasonal crew, volunteers, youth, interns, and community partners working together
Some wildernesses recover only through time. Others recover because people choose to care for them. In 2026, hundreds of hands helped ensure the trails of the Yolla Bollys remain open for everyone who seeks adventure, solitude, and connection in these extraordinary mountains.
Thank you for your work. I have a question about the Greensprings campground trailhead. The forest service website says that the road is closed into that trailhead. But it seems as though you were there earlier this spring? Is it possible is it possible to get in there? We’d really like to go for just a day hike and look at all your freshly cleaned up trails. Thank you.
Lee
Lee- Yes, the road is open and newly graded — though high clearance is recommended but not required. Have a great trip and let us know what you think!