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*DEPOSIT REQUIRED* Registration now open. Restore a popular trail and reconnect with nature on this wilderness adventure.
Dates: 08/09/2021 - 08/13/2021
Time: 08:00 AM - 04:00 PM
Type of Work: Trail Restoration/Maintenance
Physical Difficulty: Difficult
Minimum Age: 16
Region: Greater Denver Area
Nearest City: Deckers, CO
County: Douglas
Camping: Yes
Groups Allowed: No
Payment Required: Yes
Payment Amount: 80.00
Payment Description:
This project requires an $80 deposit to register. This deposit will be refunded in full upon completion of the project, or upon cancellation more than two weeks prior to the project. Deposits will not be refunded if you cancel less than two weeks before the project.
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:
- You must attend all days to participate in this project.
- You may only register yourself. Every volunteer must sign our digital COVID-specific forms ahead of time to be able to attend.
- You must bring work gloves. Please click here for our full packing list of required and recommended items.
- If you are fully vaccinated, you may work without a mask. If you are not yet fully vaccinated or if you prefer to wear a mask for any reason, please continue to wear a mask on VOC projects. We will have spare masks available if needed.
- Cancellation & Waitlists: Due to this year's limited number of projects and volunteer spots, we expect projects to fill quickly with waitlists. If you need to cancel, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. as soon as possible so we can free your spot for another volunteer and have a full workforce. If you are waitlisted for multiple projects, please call us at 303-715-1010 ext. 116 and we can help you find an open project, if available.
Where You'll Be:
About an hour's drive from either Castle Rock or Colorado Springs, the Lost Creek Wilderness is one of the most accessible wilderness areas from these ever-growing urban centers. With more than 119,000 acres, however, the Wilderness has kept its remote feel and offers a variety of landscapes and stunning views of unique red rock formations. The area's Goose Creek Trail is one of its most popular, boasting summer wildflowers as well as prime backcountry camping and fishing opportunities.
What You'll Do:
On this five-day project, you'll be led by Steve West, one of our most-skilled volunteers who has participated on more than 275 VOC projects since 1991. The first and fifth day will be used to hike in or out of basecamp at the Shaft House Junction (~4 miles each way, carrying your own gear) while you'll spend the middle three days performing critical trail maintenance tasks including re-establishing the trail tread, correcting steep grades, building erosion control barriers, and reinforcing existing drainage structures. With a group of 15 people or fewer, this project is perfect for those who enjoy intimate, backcountry experiences and want to improve their trail stewardship skills. Meals will be provided!
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the 15-person limit in Wilderness areas and the duration of this project, even one late cancellation can be detrimental to our volunteer recruitment and outdoor stewardship efforts. As such, a deposit of $80 is required to register. This deposit will be refunded in full upon completion of the project, or upon cancellation more than two weeks prior to the project. Deposits will not be refunded if you cancel less than two weeks before the project. If the deposit causes an undue financial hardship, please contact Kendall Cox at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or at 303-715-1010 ext. 116.
Why It Matters:
The Goose Creek Trail has severely deteriorated from heavy precipitation and increased visitation in recent years and muddy, eroded trails often lead to hikers seeking off-trail routes, which damages the natural environment. By completing these important maintenance tasks, volunteers will help bring the Goose Creek Trail to a more sustainable state, enabling it to better handle heavy traffic in the upcoming hiking season and protect the surrounding wilderness.
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 126,000 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.
