Bigfoot Trail Alliance summer volunteer trail trips are now open for sign-ups. Join us in the Klamath Mountains to give back to the trails and wild places that inspire us. No experience necessary, and scholarships are available. Come work alongside a great crew and experience the healing power of community and place.
Welcoming New Voices to the Bigfoot Trail Alliance Board
The Bigfoot Trail Alliance welcomes four new board members who bring experience in conservation, community leadership, public service, and organizational stewardship. Their diverse backgrounds will strengthen our work across engagement, programs, and fundraising as we continue caring for the trail and the landscapes it connects across Northwest California.
Edges for the Quiet Work Ahead: Crosscut Saw Training
Preparing for trail season begins at the sharpening bench. Jacob Shinners worked with a Forest Service specialist to tune crosscut saws while reflecting on the enduring value of primitive tools and the judgment required to keep wilderness trails open, quiet, safe, and deeply human.
Third Annual Wilderness & Primitive Trails Summit Brings Regional Stewards Together From Across Northwest California
On January 8, 2026, regional trail organizations, land managers, and nonprofit partners gathered for the Third Annual Wilderness & Primitive Trails Summit, convened by the Bigfoot Trail Alliance. The event strengthened collaboration, aligned priorities, and built shared capacity to care for northwest California’s most remote and ecologically vital trail systems.
Fire on the Bigfoot Trail: Reading the Landscape Through Flame and Forest
Along the spine of the Klamath Mountains, the Bigfoot Trail winds for 360 miles from the oak woodlands of the Mendocino National Forest to the fog-washed forests near Crescent City. It crosses six national forests, a national park, and a state park. It passes through one of the most botanically rich temperate regions on Earth, […]
2025 Annual Report
Founded in 2016, and for every year since, we have experienced growth in all of our program areas. 2025 was no different and we are excited to share some of the highlights in our 2025 annual report including our Workforce Training Network within our Youth Stewardship Project, National Forest Trail Work, and our Volunteer of the Year.
A New Era for the Bigfoot Trail Alliance
Fifteen years after imagining the Bigfoot Trail into being, Michael Kauffmann has become the Alliance’s first Executive Director. With new board leadership and expanding programs in stewardship, education, and youth engagement, the BFTA enters a transformative era—committed to protecting the Klamath Mountains and building a community of lifelong caretakers.
The First Female Hotshot Firefighters, Culture in the 1980s, and the Bigfoot Trail with Mary “Fireweed” Kwart
Thank you to The Trek on Backpacker Radio for featuring Bigfoot Trail Alliance board member Mary “Fireweed” Kwart. As one of the first female hotshot firefighters and a passionate Bigfoot Trail advocate, Mary shares powerful stories of resilience, trail stewardship, and the importance of protecting biodiversity through long-distance hiking and conservation.