Wilderness trails in the Mt Hood National Forest see millions of visitors each year.
Opportunities to serve Oregon’s trails with Trailkeepers of Oregon are as diverse as our volunteers’ interests. This year, TKO launched a new Wilderness Ambassador volunteer program in collaboration with the US Forest Service to further our mission of stewardship and advocacy for Oregon’s trails.
Want to add trail volunteer to your many talents, but curious to know what you’re getting yourself into before you sign up? You’ve come to the right place! Read on for some helpful info on what to expect during your first trail party, as well as some tips from fellow first-time Trailkeepers.
To the south of the jutting Cascade Headland and nestled against the Salmon River, Camp Westwind makes up part of the 102,110 acre Cascade Head Biosphere Reserve. Originally dedicated in 1976 by the United Nations (UNESCO), such reserves serve to attain quality education for all, mobilize knowledge for sustainable development, and build an inclusive knowledge society.
The rainy spring has led to a slower start to the outdoor season, but our Trail Ambassadors have been getting out and representing at trails through it all! Thank you to all our volunteers who helped make a difference on the coast, throughout the Columbia River Gorge, and on Mount Hood this month. We couldn’t do it without you!
In an effort to continually improve the TKO volunteer experience, we have added to and updated a few aspects of the Trail Ambassador program, and we are excited to share them with you!
Rainy day views on the Wilson River Trail
The Wilson River Trail goes for 24 miles through the Coast Range, sometimes following its namesake river, and sometimes diverging into the mountains. There has been talk for years about an extension to the trail, but the Oregon Department of Forestry doesn’t have much of a budget for things like new trails. This is where TKO has been able to step in and help. →
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.