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KTA Trail Care Program
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What is Trail Care?
One of the most important and rewarding aspects of involvement with KTA is volunteering to help maintain PA's extensive system of hiking trails. Each year, on designated weekends between March and November, dedicated trail care volunteers gather, and, armed with blaze paint, limb loppers, pulaskis and brushcutters, they clear and upgrade hiking trail corridors and treadways.
Traditionally, our efforts have been focused on the longer State Forest Hiking Trails that do not have a maintaining club (for example, the Black Forest and Chuck Keiper Trails). We have also assisted trail clubs on special projects, and with general maintenance due to a lack of section overseers, as well as State Parks and Conservancies. We coordinate with the land manager (state forest), or a Volunteer Event Leader who scouts the trail, to determine where work is needed. The trails generally rotate in and out, but there are some we visit most every year.
Besides the benefit to the trails, Trail Care offers fellowship, camaraderie, the chance to visit new-to-you parks and trails, new skills, cool swag, stress reflief, and instant gratification!
Traditionally, our efforts have been focused on the longer State Forest Hiking Trails that do not have a maintaining club (for example, the Black Forest and Chuck Keiper Trails). We have also assisted trail clubs on special projects, and with general maintenance due to a lack of section overseers, as well as State Parks and Conservancies. We coordinate with the land manager (state forest), or a Volunteer Event Leader who scouts the trail, to determine where work is needed. The trails generally rotate in and out, but there are some we visit most every year.
Besides the benefit to the trails, Trail Care offers fellowship, camaraderie, the chance to visit new-to-you parks and trails, new skills, cool swag, stress reflief, and instant gratification!
New Weekday Trail Care Opportunities! For those of you closer to KTA headquarters, we're coordinating with Central Pennsylvania Conservancy again this year to offer Trail Care days during the week. From May through August, you can join us at LeTort Spring Garden Preserve, near Carlisle, to help spruce up their trails, and work on a couple brand new trails. The dates are 6/18, 7/23, 8/20, and 9/17. More information and sign up, click here.
2024 Trail Care Schedule
ABOVE: Map showing Trail Care Events (blue number in circle) and PA State Forest designated hiking trails and other major trails. The trail color on the map = blaze color. The area shaded in blue is the PA Wilds Conservation Landscape.
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#1 - April 25-28: Trail Care (PA Wilds)
QUEHANNA TRAIL / CONNECTORS Moshannon State Forest Leader: Jenn Ulmer Camp: Parker Dam State Park cabins 13 & 14, tent site 109 more info/sign up: link #2 - May 2-5: Trail Care MID STATE TRAIL - STATE COLLEGE REGION Rothrock State Forest Leaders: Jason Davis / Kevin Busko Camp: Rimmey Cabin @ Seven Mountains Scout Camp (off US322 near Spring Mills) more info/sign up: link #3 - May 8-12: Trail Care (PA Wilds) (work Thurs.-Sun.) CHUCK KEIPER TRAIL Sproul State Forest Leader: Al Germann Camp: The Lodge @ Hyner Run State Park more info/sign up: link #4 - May 16-19: Trail Care (PA Wilds) MID STATE TRAIL - WOOLRICH REGION Tiadaghton State Forest Leader: Tony Robbins Camp: Ravensburg State Park sites 1-5 more info/sign up: link #5 - May 31 - June 1: TRAIL LOVE: MICHAUX EDITION Michaux State Forest Trails Camp: Pine Grove Furnace State Park Organized Group Tenting Area More info/sign up: link |
#6 - June 6-9: Trail Care
MID STATE TRAIL - EVERETT REGION Buchanan State Forest Leader: Chad North Camp: Tenley Park, Everett more info/sign up: link #7 - June 13-16: Trail Care (PA Wilds) MID STATE TRAIL - TIOGA REGION Tioga State Forest Leader: Pete Fleszar Camp: Hills Creek State Park Organized Group Tenting Area more info/sign up: link June 22: A.T. Trail Care KTA's A.T. Section Leader: Jim Foster more info/sign up: link #8 - June 27-30: Trail Care OIL CREEK STATE PARK Leader: David Hallman Camp: Wildcat Hollow Organized Group Tenting Area more info/sign up: link #9 - July 18-21: Trail Care (PA Wilds) WEST RIM TRAIL Tioga State Forest Leader: Wanda Shirk Camp: Twin Streams Campground more info/sign up: link #10 - Aug. 8-11: Trail Care (PA Wilds) BEAVER MEADOWS TRAIL SYSTEM Allegheny National Forest Leader: Steve Black Camp: Loleta Recreation Area more info/sign up: link |
#11 - Aug. 15-18: Trail Care
THUNDER SWAMP TRAIL SYSTEM Delaware State Forest Leader: Shira Blady & Brian MacNamara Camp: Resica Falls BSA Camp more info/sign up: link #12 - Aug. 21-24: Trail Care (PA Wilds) (work Thurs.-Fri.) HILLS CREEK STATE PARK Leader: Ben Stone Camp: Hills Creek Organized Group Tenting Area more info/sign up: link #13 - Sept. 12-15: Trail Care (PA Wilds) ELK STATE FOREST TRAIILS Leader: Ed Lawrence Camp: Sinnemahoning State Park sites 2, 30, 31, and 32 more info/sign up: link #14 - Sept. 26-29: Trail Care (PA Wilds) CHUCK KEIPER TRAIL / SPROUL TRAILS Sproul State Forest Leader: Al Germann Camp: Panther Run Cabin!! more info/sign up: link #15 - Oct. 10-13: Trail Care (PA Wilds) GOLDEN EAGLE TRAIL Tiadaghton State Forest Leader: Jenn Ulmer Camp: Jersey Mills Ranger Station more info/sign up: link Nov. 2: A.T. Trail Care KTA's A.T. Section Leader: Jim Foster more info/sign up: link |
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Download a handy printable schedule for your fridge or to share with your friends here:
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"Many hands make light work"
SHOW THE TRAILS YOU LOVE SOME LOVE!
SHOW THE TRAILS YOU LOVE SOME LOVE!
Volunteer Options
Trail Care Weekends: Unless otherwise noted, camping sites for Trail Care Weekends will typically be available on Thursday evenings for participants who want to roll-in and get set up. Two full days of trail work on Friday and Saturday are followed by evenings of campfire sociability and possibly dinner out at a local restaurant (Dutch treat). After a morning of additional trail work, the weekend concludes around noon on Sunday. Volunteers who cannot work the trail on Friday are still very welcome to come in Friday night for work on Saturday and/or Sunday. Participants provide their own camping gear and food, unless otherwise stated in the event listing.
Code Orange events are a one day event usually scheduled to work in a State Park. Camping may be available and food is sometimes provided.
If you can't attend an entire event, you can join the group for whatever portion is convenient. No experience or special skills are required. Tools, work gloves, and PPE will be provided, as well as "on the trail" training!
Code Orange events are a one day event usually scheduled to work in a State Park. Camping may be available and food is sometimes provided.
If you can't attend an entire event, you can join the group for whatever portion is convenient. No experience or special skills are required. Tools, work gloves, and PPE will be provided, as well as "on the trail" training!
How to sign up
A new online volunteer portal is now available! Please sign up via each Trail Care Event's web page -- links are provided in each event's listing above. If you sign up, we expect that you will keep your commitment to volunteer. If you have to cancel for any reason, please give as much notice as possible. If you do not want to sign up online, please contact Jenn Ulmer.
Keystone Trails Association provides a place to camp, tools, work gloves, safety equipment, and instruction by the crew leader. Sometimes, food may be provided; check each event. Volunteers are accepted for one day, a weekend, all week, or the entire season. There are tasks for everyone!
Questions?
Please see much more information on the FAQs page.
More questions?
Jenn Ulmer
Manager of Trail Maintenance & Training
[email protected]
570-854-8316
Keystone Trails Association provides a place to camp, tools, work gloves, safety equipment, and instruction by the crew leader. Sometimes, food may be provided; check each event. Volunteers are accepted for one day, a weekend, all week, or the entire season. There are tasks for everyone!
Questions?
Please see much more information on the FAQs page.
More questions?
Jenn Ulmer
Manager of Trail Maintenance & Training
[email protected]
570-854-8316
