
Join us on a Trail Project
Hikers, Mountain Bikers, and Equine all welcome!
Crosscutting Video
Video Credit Ann Hedlund
Volunteers
Gila Back Country Horsemen have been clearing trails for over 20 years, thanks to many dedicated volunteers.
Join us!













Volunteer Opportunities
We offer a variety of volunteer opportunities that make the Gila a better place. Check out the options below and see what fits you best.
Trail Volunteer
- Volunteer for day or multi day trail projects.
- Front Country or Back Country.
- Brushing, Logging, Crosscut, Chainsaw, Trail Marking, Drainage
- Training provided
Equine Packer
- Help pack in gear, tools, food and more for the trail volunteers.
- No need to participate in the trail projects if you do not want to. Packers allow us to work more remotely.
Cook
- Cook from the comfort of your home
- Good homemade food is highly valued after a day of trail work.
- Our meals are cooked by volunteers, vacuum sealed and packed out to the trail project.
Provide Trail & Water Info
- Reporting updated conditions. Fill out a quick form: Trail/Water Report, or Gila Wilderness Water Report, or email us.
- This information is shared with other trail users and used to plan trail projects
Resources
Trail Maintenance Resources
Forest Service Trail Construction and Maintenance Handbook – Forest service trail standards and trail building resource
Forest Service Chainsaw and Crosscut Saw Training Course, Student’s Guidebook – great resource even if you don’t want to be certified in either
Saws That Sing: A Guide To Using Crosscut Saws – Crosscut manual covering many aspects: from sharpening to ax use to scene size up
NMVFO Trail Maintenance Presentation: This is a slideshow of trail maintenance skills.
FAQ: Trail Project Volunteers
Do I need prior experience in trail work to join a trail project?
No, we will train you at the beginning of the trail project regarding trail techniques, trail standard, and how to safely perform these tasks.
What type of physical endurance is needed on the trail projects?
That depends on the trail project. Each trail project description lists the elevation of the project, the total miles you will need to hike/ride, along with what type of trail work is required for the trail project. You should have recent experience in hiking more than the total miles for the trail project since the mileage for the trail project will be coupled with trail work. If you have not hiked that distance in a while, you may want to try hiking that distance before signing up for the trail project.
What are the overnight trail project like?
View our photo story to understand our trail projects
I want to help on a trail project, but none of the project dates work in my schedule. What should I do?
Email us and we will work with you individually