A volunteer vacation with the Bigfoot Trail Alliance offers more than trail work—it’s a transformative journey through Northern California’s wilderness. Participants gain hands-on skills, forge lasting friendships, and discover a deep connection to nature. It’s an adventure that blends purpose, beauty, and community in some of the state’s most remote backcountry.
Lower Wooley Creek Trail Work
In April 2025, the Bigfoot Trail Alliance, Ascend Wilderness Experience, and Six Rivers National Forest partnered to restore 6.5 miles of the Wooley Creek Trail. Crews cleared ~75 downed logs, addressed major hazards, and reopened the route for hikers, showcasing the power of collaborative stewardship in remote wilderness.
2024 Volunteers of the Year
Hear how Sylas Kauffmann and Oliver Bullwinkle became the 2024 Volunteers of the Year for the Bigfoot Trail Alliance thanks to their outstanding trail work on the Bigfoot Trail and Pacific Crest Trail.
Hiking and Volunteering with Eva Piontkowski
For this episode we spoke with Eva Pointkowski who solo hiked around 200 miles of the Bigfoot Trail this summer. Eva grew up in the San Francisco area and nurtured her love of the outdoors in the Sierra Nevada. On a hike in the Marble Mountain Wilderness last year she learned of the Bigfoot Trail when she met one of our Trail Crews.
East Tule Creek Trail
Our collaborate work continues on the Tule Creek Trail. A group of 10 volunteers worked on the trail and found fun and success along the way.
2024 CCC Collaborative
In 2024, the CCC Collaborative focused on the Clear Creek and Kelsey Trail areas, clearing several miles of trails. Support from various organizations facilitated this significant trail maintenance and scouting effort.
Yolla Bolly – Middle Eel Wilderness 2024
A dedicated team of volunteers and leaders worked for over three weeks in the Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness, restoring the Bigfoot Trail and surrounding paths. Supported by the Shasta-Trinity and Mendocino national forests, and aided by horse packer Ken Graves, they made the trails walkable again since 2004.
Russian Wilderness 2024
Tanya and Calder Bullwinkle co-led their first trip with the Bigfoot Trail Alliance, shifting plans to the Pacific Crest Trail due to fires. A team of 13, joined by Shelby Wiester, cleared over 80 logs and maintained five miles of trail.
