As summer winds down, we’re celebrating the Bigfoot Trail Alliance’s 2026 seasonal crew and their remarkable work across the Klamath Mountains. From clearing fallen trees to reopening remote wilderness trails, their season has strengthened access, stewardship, and connection to some of the wildest public lands in our region.
Blue Creek Trail Restoration
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.
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.
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.
Bigfoot Trail Town Guide
The new Bigfoot Trail Town Guide brings together essential information for hikers traveling through Northern California’s Klamath Mountains and redwood coast. From resupply and lodging to local attractions and transportation, this free resource highlights the communities that help make a Bigfoot Trail journey possible.
Lower Wooley Creek Trail Work
Each year we reopen the lower Wooley Creek Trail, cutting through brush, logs, poison oak, and ticks. This season, our crew cleared nine miles to Fowler Cabin—restoring passage through a once-lost corridor. Beyond lies deeper wilderness, where the trail fades again and the work continues, mile by mile, with care and commitment.
2026 Trips Announced
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.
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.