Trail Ambassadors are gearing up for a big year on Oregon’s trails

Every spring, Trailkeepers of Oregon Trail Ambassadors head out onto some of Oregon’s most well-loved trails to welcome visitors and share important information about the trail, hiking safety, Leave No Trace, local flora and fauna, and more. We’ve added more locations to our repertoire for this season and we need your help to meet the growing demand on our trails!

The Trail Ambassador program is critical to TKO’s mission of advocating for Oregon’s trails and improving the Oregon hiking experience through outreach and education. Having a welcoming Ambassador on the trails able to answer questions and offer resources makes a big difference in an individual’s experience and supports the long-term health of the trail and environment. 

TKO Trailhead Ambassador sets up at Tom McCall Preserve.

Your volunteer experience as a Trail Ambassador is as unique as you; with two Ambassador styles, trails across Oregon, and flexible shifts, you’re certain to find options that suit your personality and schedule! Folks looking for a more accessible, front-country experience, should check out our Trailhead Ambassador events, where volunteers greet and offer information to visitors just beginning their adventure via a table at the trailhead. Those interested in a more active, back-country experience, may be drawn to Wilderness Ambassador events instead. These volunteers hike onto Wilderness trails and engage with folks already on their journey while gathering trail and environmental data for our partners at the U.S. Forest Service. 

TKO Wilderness Ambassadors set out on the Timberline Trail.

So, where do Trail Ambassadors volunteer? All over the state! Through partnerships with Travel Oregon, Oregon State Parks, Friends of the Columbia Gorge, The Nature Conservancy, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Mt. Hood and Columbia River Gorge Tourism Alliance, TKO is able to station Ambassadors at a wide variety of trails. Trailhead Ambassadors can volunteer across the entire coast, throughout PDX and the Gorge, and in the Mount Hood National Forest. Wilderness Ambassadors take to Wilderness trails in the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness, the Mount Hood Wilderness, and the Drift Creek Wilderness. 

Trail Ambassadors will be hitting the trails beginning on April 20th, and we’d love for you to join us! Learn more about the Trail Ambassador program and get started on your journey by checking out our Trail Ambassador webpage here. If you have any questions or would like help creating your ideal volunteer experience, reach out to TKO Engagement Coordinator, Loren, at loren.payne@trailkeepersoforegon.org. We hope to see you on the trails soon!