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 (see map below) 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 relief, and instant gratification!
Traditionally, our efforts have been focused on the longer State Forest Hiking Trails (see map below) 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 relief, and instant gratification!
Graphic from DCNR
2025 Wednesday Trail Cares:
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New 2025 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. On Wednesdays from May through September, you can join us at one of their preserves in Juniata County, to help spruce up their trails, and work on a couple brand new trails. More information and sign up coming soon.
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2025 Trail Care Program 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- Fri. May 2: CODE ORANGE (PA Wilds)
CHUCK KEIPER TRAIL Sproul State Forest Leader: Al Germann Camp 5/1-3: KTA Panther Run Cabin More information & sign up HERE! #2- May 8-11: Trail Care WHITE MTN RIDGE / REEDS GAP SPUR Bald Eagle State Forest Leader: Ed Lawrence Camp: Reeds Gap SP sites 1-6 More information & sign up HERE! #3- May 15-18: Trail Care (PA Wilds) DONUT HOLE TRAIL Sproul State Forest Leader: Al Germann Camp: Hyner Run SP sites 6-10 More information & sign up HERE! #4- May 29-June 1: Trail Care (PA Wilds) BLACK FOREST TRAIL Tiadaghton State Forest Leader: Jenn Ulmer Camp: Pump Station Fire Tower Cabin More information & sign up HERE! #5- Sat. June. 7: CODE ORANGE KTA's A.T. SECTION ***National Trails Day*** (swag!) Leader: Jim Foster Meet: Lehigh Gap East Parking lot More information & sign up HERE! #6- June 12-15: Trail Care MID STATE TRAIL - EVERETT REGION Buchanan State Forest Leader: Tony Barr Camp: Tenley Park, Everett More information & sign up HERE! #7- June 19-22: Trail Care WOODBOURNE FOREST PRESERVE Susquehanna County Leader: TBD Camp: Friendship Lodge/Camp Archbald more info/sign up: coming soon! |
#8- June 26-29: Trail Care (PA Wilds)
MID STATE TRAIL - TIOGA REGION Tioga State Forest Leader: Pete Fleszar Camp: Hills Creek State Park Group Tenting more info/sign up: coming soon! #9- July 10-13: Trail Care (PA Wilds) ALLEGHENY FRONT TRAIL Moshannon State Forest Leader: Victoria Buckwash Camp: TBD more info/sign up: coming soon! #10- July 17-20: Trail Care (PA Wilds) WEST RIM TRAIL Tioga State Forest Leader: Wanda Shirk Camp: Twin Streams Campground more info/sign up: coming soon! #11- Fri. July 25: CODE ORANGE (PA Wilds) CHUCK KEIPER TRAIL Sproul State Forest Leader: Al Germann Camp 7/24-26: KTA Panther Run Cabin more info/sign up: coming soon! #12- Aug. 7-10: Trail Care PINCHOT STATE FOREST TRAILS Leader: Shira B./Brian M. Camp: Tobyhanna SP? more info/sign up: coming soon! #13- Aug. 21-24: Trail Care (PA Wilds) BUCKTAIL PATH / ELK SF TRAILS Leader: Camp: Sinnemahoning SP sites 16-19 more info/sign up: coming soon! #14- Fri. 8/29: CODE ORANGE (PA Wilds) CHUCK KEIPER TRAIL Sproul State Forest Leader: Al Germann Camp 8/28-30: KTA Panther Run Cabin more info/sign up: coming soon! |
#15- Sept. 4-7: Trail Care (PA Wilds)
GOLDEN EAGLE TRAIL Tiadaghton State Forest Leader: Jenn Ulmer Camp: Jersey Mills Ranger Station more info/sign up: coming soon! #16- Sept. 11-14: Trail Care (PA Wilds) CHUCK KEIPER TRAIL Sproul State Forest Leader: Al Germann Camp: KTA Panther Run Cabin more info/sign up: coming soon! #17- Sat. Sept. 27: TRAIL LOVE: ANF EDITION (PA Wilds) Allegheny National Forest Trails Camp 9/26-28: Loleta Recreation Area more info/sign up: coming soon! #18- Sat. Oct 4: CODE ORANGE GIFFORD PINCHOT STATE PARK / MASON-DIXON TRAIL Leader: Park staff Camp 10/3-5: GPSP OGTA more info/sign up: coming soon! #19- Oct. 9-12: Trail Care (PA Wilds) CHUCK KEIPER TRAIL/ SPROUL STATE FOREST TRAILS Sproul State Forest Leader: Al Germann Camp: KTA Panther Run Cabin more info/sign up: coming soon! *********NEW DATE*********** #20- Sat. Nov. 1: CODE ORANGE KTA's A.T. SECTION Leader: Jim Foster Meet: Lehigh Gap East Parking lot more info/sign up: coming soon! |
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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 likely some meals provided in 2025. 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!
Age Requirements:
Minimum: 14 years old and up (all minors must be accompanied by a guardian) unless otherwise noted. For safety purposes, minors will never be allowed to work alone or with just one other volunteer, unless it is their guardian.
Maximum: no maximum age! If you can hike a couple miles over rough terrain, we can find a task suitable for you!
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!
Age Requirements:
Minimum: 14 years old and up (all minors must be accompanied by a guardian) unless otherwise noted. For safety purposes, minors will never be allowed to work alone or with just one other volunteer, unless it is their guardian.
Maximum: no maximum age! If you can hike a couple miles over rough terrain, we can find a task suitable for you!
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
NEW EVENT FOR 2024: Trail Love: Michaux Edition
With assistance from many partners, KTA initiated a new format for a Trail Care Event in 2024. The inaugural Trail Love Weekend was held in the Michaux State Forest to coincide with National Trails Day on June 1, 2024. After an optional campout the night before, more than 50 enthusiastic volunteers converged that memorable Saturday, working at multiple sites on four local trail systems. Projects included new trail construction, stair building, trail trimming (brushing), campsite restoration, sign installation, water diversion structures, and more. Of the volunteers who responded to the question, 15 indicated zero experience with trail maintenance prior to Trail Love, and feedback was exceedingly positive. Hearty meals, dignitary remarks, complimentary tie-dye T-shirts, and post-fieldwork musical entertainment were part of the mix.
KTA's Trail Love partnership encompassed a robust network of organizations, including South Mountain Partnership, Friends of Michaux, Friends of Pine Grove, Friends of Kings Gap, Central Pennsylvania Conservancy, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry, Bureau of State Parks, and the Appalachian Trail Museum. A South Mountain Partnership Mini-Grant was awarded to the Keystone Trails Association for the planning and development of the Trail Love event.
KTA's Trail Love partnership encompassed a robust network of organizations, including South Mountain Partnership, Friends of Michaux, Friends of Pine Grove, Friends of Kings Gap, Central Pennsylvania Conservancy, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Bureau of Forestry, Bureau of State Parks, and the Appalachian Trail Museum. A South Mountain Partnership Mini-Grant was awarded to the Keystone Trails Association for the planning and development of the Trail Love event.
Photos from Trail Love: Top left: steps construction on Koppenhaver Trail in Pine Grove Furnace State Park (Jenn Ulmer photo); Top middle: Crews choosing tools at Hearth Tender Trail trail digging (photo from volunteer photographer Brandon Raubenstine); Top right: Signs installed on Buck Ridge Trail near Kings Gap (photo Haley Feaster), Bottom: group photo (photo from Brandon).
