Welcome back!

To all of our volunteers, whether this is your first season or you’ve been with us for years, welcome to the 2022 Trail Ambassador season! We are very fortunate to have such passionate and dedicated volunteers, and we are so excited to be back on the trails with you.

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By Cheryl Hill – TKO Trail Ambassador and author of Fire Lookouts of Oregon

You may know that you can volunteer with TKO to build and maintain trails, but did you know that you can also volunteer as a Trail Ambassador?

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Portland, Ore. – March 3, 2022 – This spring, Trailkeepers of Oregon, the US Forest Service, Oregon State Parks  and the Mt. Hood – Columbia River Gorge Regional Tourism Alliance are kicking off another season of the Trail Ambassador Program to equip visitors with the information they need for a safe, informed, and positive experience when hiking and visiting the region. The Trail Ambassador 2022 season will kick-off on Earth Day weekend, April 23rd, and Trailkeepers of Oregon is currently seeking volunteers.

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TKO and Forest Service staff scout and remove logs on the Clackamas River Trail during the winter.

Since cutting their saw teeth after the Eagle Creek Fire in 2017, TKO Volunteers have (unfortunately) gotten really good at using their skills to recover trails from wildfire. Mt Hood National Forest has engaged TKO to help in the rehabilitation of the Clackamas River Trail, a popular hiking destination within the Mt Hood National Forest. (more…)

TKO’s 11th anniversary at Old Vista Ridge. Photo by Tom Kloster

TKO is growing! We are currently seeking folks to join our fun and dynamic team through the three positions listed below. Studies show that women and people of color are less likely to apply for jobs unless they believe they meet every qualification listed in a job description. TKO values lived experience and we are dedicated to embracing diversity. If any of these roles sound exciting to you, please reach out, we want to hear from you!

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Help support hiking trails in Oregon by becoming a Trail Ambassador.

Portland, Ore. – March 18, 2021 – This spring, Trailkeepers of Oregon, the Mt. Hood and Columbia River Gorge Regional Tourism Alliance, the U.S. Forest Service, and Oregon State Parks are kicking off another season of the Trail Ambassador Program to equip Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and Mt. Hood visitors with information they need for a safe, informed, and positive experience when hiking in the region. The Trail Ambassador 2021 season will kick-off on April 24th and Trailkeepers of Oregon is currently seeking volunteers

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This fall was chaotic and dramatic. Historic winds, fires, civil unrest, and a deadly pandemic will define the fall of 2020 for most. For me, they all set the backdrop for a somewhat confusing, sometimes chaotic, but overall incredibly fulfilling internship with Trailkeepers of Oregon, the US Forest Service, and Northwest Youth Corps. For the months of September, October and November, I worked in the Columbia River Gorge, aiding in ongoing trail restoration efforts. (more…)

Dear Ambassadors,

Congratulations on the 2020 season! With challenges seemingly around every corner, it was certainly not an easy road, but we still accomplished some big things. I am so grateful for each and everyone of you who participated this year, either by signing up for a volunteer shift or by just staying in the loop by being on the email list.
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by Paul Gerald | TKO Board President

Spring wildflowers at Rowens Crest. Photo by Cheryl Hill.

For the first time in 20-plus years of living in Portland, I am missing the Gorge wildflower season. It is, in the proverbial sense, killing me. But I take comfort from two facts: It’s the right thing to do, and the flowers will probably be better off without us stepping on them for a season. (more…)

Fellow Trailkeepers, 

We hope this finds you healthy and at home! With the normal world flipped on its head, we wanted to let you know the options we’re offering for TKO Membership during this time.  (more…)