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, […]
Restoring the Forks of Blue Trail: Perseverance in the Rain
Nine volunteers from the Bigfoot Trail Crew and College of the Redwoods braved a rainy weekend on the Forks of Blue Trail, contributing 192 hours to clear 15 downed logs and heavy brush along a half-mile stretch. Their work restored access, improved safety, and advanced stewardship on Six Rivers National Forest’s Orleans District.
2025 CCC Collaborative
In October 2025, a crew of recent CCC Backcountry Trails Program graduates joined the Bigfoot Trail Alliance to restore two rugged miles of the Ides Cove Loop Trail in the Yolla Bolly Wilderness—reviving long-lost tread, removing 102 fallen logs, and continuing a legacy of stewardship, resilience, and connection to wild places.
Restoring Wild Pathways: September Trailwork Update
The Bigfoot Trail Alliance crew restored 4.6 miles of trail this month, clearing 98 logs and repairing damaged tread on the Gunbarrel and South Kelsey Trails. Three crew members contributed over 200 hours, supported by BFTA funds. Every mile reopened reconnects people with the wild heart of the Klamath Mountains.
Reestablishing the Hazel Trail: A Partnership Rooted in History and Culture
The Bigfoot Trail Alliance joined the Hoopa Valley TANF Program, elders, and youth to restore a historic hazel trail in the Klamath Mountains. Long used for basketry, hazel connects culture and ecology. Reviving the trail renewed access, strengthened traditions, and deepened relationships across generations.
Ken Graves and the Heart of Backcountry Trail Work
In this episode, Ken Graves shares reflections from a lifetime in the saddle, the evolving challenges of maintaining wilderness trails, and why he’s committed to mentoring the next generation of packers. It’s a heartfelt look at the labor, love, and legacy behind trail stewardship.