Registration opens June 1. Take care of a Colorado favorite on this Friday project.
Dates: 07/23/2021
Time: 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM
Type of Work: Trail Restoration/Maintenance
Physical Difficulty: Moderate, Difficult
Minimum Age: 14
Region: Northern & Central Mountains
Nearest City: Georgetown, CO
County: Clear Creek
Camping: No
Groups Allowed: No
Payment Required: No
Project photo by Brian O'Malley
Read Before You Register! Need-to-Know Details:
We greatly appreciate you volunteering your time and energy to care for Colorado's outdoor places during COVID-19. To help provide a fun and safe experience for all, there are a few temporary changes to be prepared for:
Where You'll Be:
The Herman Gulch Trail, situated in the Arapaho National Forest and part of the iconic Continental Divide Trail, starts at 10,332 feet and climbs nearly 1,700 feet to the stunning Herman Lake. Close to Denver along I-70, this popular trail has it all: mountain and valley views, beautiful streams, cascades, and lush meadows filled with wildflowers.
What You'll Do:
On this project, you'll be led by Steve West, a highly-skilled volunteer who has completed more than 275 VOC projects since 1991. You'll spend the day at high altitude, hiking four miles to the worksite in order to perform restoration work with a small group of volunteers ages 14+. While no prior experience is needed, we recommend this project for those who enjoy a physical challenge as it requires hiking a significant distance and some tasks, such as building rock steps and drainage features, will be technical and/or difficult in nature.
Why It Matters:
This special area has long been a Colorado favorite, but a sharp rise in visitation in recent years has damaged the fragile ecosystem and wildlife habitat surrounding the trail. With limited resources to regularly maintain the trail, your efforts will be a significant help in improving the sustainability of the trail and protecting the beautiful environment for years to come.
About Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC)
Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) is the state's oldest, largest, and leading outdoor stewardship nonprofit organization. Founded in 1984 to motivate and enable people to become active stewards of Colorado's natural resources, VOC has engaged nearly 125,000 people in more than 1,000 volunteer projects for a donated labor value of $25 million. Through award-winning youth and volunteer programs, leadership training, capacity-building programs, and collaborative efforts with nonprofits and land management agencies, VOC is an invaluable resource in Colorado, especially as our outdoor stewardship needs are approaching near-crisis levels. For more information, visit www.voc.org or call 303-715-1010.