More than 10 miles of the Blue Creek Trail are open again thanks to a summer of collaboration between the Bigfoot Trail Alliance, Siskiyou Mountain Club, Six Rivers National Forest, seasonal crews, and volunteers. Together, crews removed hundreds of logs, cleared vegetation, repaired tread, and reconnected this remarkable trail.
Connecting Youth, Careers, and the Klamath Mountains
Since 2020, support from the S.H. Cowell Foundation has helped youth stewardship grow into the Klamath Mountains Workforce Training Network. Today, regional partners connect young people with hands-on conservation experiences, professional mentors, friendships, and pathways into natural-resource careers. Applications for the 2026–2027 cohort are open through September 25.
Walking the Bigfoot Trail for the Trees
Zach Shein set out on the Bigfoot Trail with one great motivation: trees. Along the way, he encountered rare conifers, rugged terrain, burn scars, brush, poison oak, and unexpected setbacks. Through curiosity, resilience, and a deep love of forests, Zach kept moving and completed an unforgettable Klamath Mountains journey.
Deep into the Siskiyous: Donate to help restore a Forgotten Trail
The CCC Collaborative brings exceptional California Conservation Corps graduates together for one final backcountry mission: restoring 22 miles of the historic Kelsey National Recreation Trail, part of the Bigfoot Trail. Your support helps train future conservation leaders while reopening remote wilderness trails and strengthening stewardship across the Klamath Mountains.
Bigfoot Trail Alliance Partners with American Hiking Society to Restore the Siskiyou Wilderness
The Bigfoot Trail Alliance welcomed its first American Hiking Society Volunteer Vacations crew in June 2026. Volunteers from seven states restored 3.2 miles of trail, removed 30 fallen trees, and contributed 819 volunteer hours in the Siskiyou Wilderness. This inaugural partnership marks the beginning of a shared commitment to stewardship and public lands.
2026 Trail Work in the Yolla Bolly–Middle Eel Wilderness
Throughout 2026, Bigfoot Trail Alliance crews, volunteers, youth, and partners revitalized the Yolla Bolly–Middle Eel Wilderness by restoring 21 miles of trail and removing 398 fallen trees. Supported by the Mendocino and Shasta-Trinity National Forests, these collaborative efforts have left the wilderness in its best condition in years, with more work ahead.
Families Steward the Bigfoot Trail in the Russian Wilderness
Fourteen volunteers, including seven youth, spent a week restoring the Bigfoot Trail in the Russian Wilderness. Supported by the Klamath National Forest, the crew cleared 44 trees, rebuilt tread, and improved nearly eight miles of trail while fostering stewardship, teamwork, and meaningful connections between families and California’s wild public lands.
Connecting the Dots of Life: Returning to the Yolla Bollys
A Bigfoot Trail Alliance volunteer crew spent a week restoring remote trails in the southern Yolla Bollys while sharing camp with former Mendocino National Forest employee Vaughn Hutchins. His return to the mountains he helped steward decades ago became a powerful reminder that trails connect landscapes, memories, and generations.