The American Hiking Society celebrates National Trails Day every year by organizing thousands of events around the country such as trail maintenance, hiking, biking, and trail running. There are numerous National Trails Day events here in Utah that outdoor lovers can take part in all over the state. This year, National Trails Day is Saturday, June 2nd.
Although there are several events in Utah to participate in, trail maintenance is one of the most important ways to volunteer. Below is a list of some Utah trails that are in need of some TLC. So grab a shovel, lace up those work boots, and give back to the outdoors this weekend!
KANAB:
Loop Hike: Tom’s Canyon to Squaw Trail – Experience the natural history and geology of the Vermilion Cliffs on a moderate to strenuous 4.5 mile interpretive hike with geologist, Charlie Neumann, offering beautiful views of the Kaibab Plateau, White Cliffs and Pink Cliffs of Bryce. The trail rises 800 feet along steep switchbacks above Kanab City. Wear proper footwear and bring at least 3 quarts of water, sun protection, plus your favorite food and snacks for lunch on the trail. Group size limited to 12 persons. Friendly, leashed dogs are permitted. Register in advance at 435-644-8884 or email charlie@kanab.net.
Kanab Trails Network Work Day – Come on out to help build the Kanab Trails Network. With the recent completion of the tread for the K Hill Trail, Kanab now has a robust network of town-to-BLM trails accessible from neighborhoods throughout Kanab. This work day citizens will put the finishing touches on the K Hill Trail by installing trail markers, updating trailhead signs, and installing benches on the trail.
Hackberry Canyon – Yellow Rock Hike – Join photographer and former BLM Park Ranger Marty Feely for a moderate 5-mile hike over varied terrain. Expect cold, ankle-deep water in Hackberry Canyon, a very steep climb (and descent) of the Cockscomb ridge, and another climb up the sandstone dome of Yellow Rock. Cottonwood Road may be impassable if there has been recent rain. In that case an alternate hike will be found. Bring lunch, snacks, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses and plenty of water. Advance registration required. Limit 12 people.
Intrepretive Hike to the Mansard Petroglyph Site – Join a BLM Archeologist on an interpretive hike to the Mansard petroglyph site in the Vermilion Cliffs. This hike will involve a strenuous five-mile round trip, ascending and descending more than 1000 feet to an outcrop of Navajo sandstone above the Vermilion Estates neighborhood. Along the way, we will stop to enjoy spectacular views of the Vermilion Cliffs and Kaibab Plateau. A picnic lunch and discussion of rock art will take place at the petroglyph site. The route to this site covers steep, uneven terrain, and requires some scrambling to negotiate a seven-foot sandstone ledge. Be prepared with appropriate footwear, your sunscreen, camera, lunch, and plenty of water. Group size limit is 12, so please sign up in advance with BLM KFO by calling (425)644-1282.
LAYTON:
Superhero’s of the Trail – This is our 2nd annual Trails Day event. Last year on National Trails Day we held a ribbon cutting commemorating the opening of a new trail that crosses through 6 cities in 2 counties in Northern Utah. The trail was built on an old rail bed owned by Utah Transit Authority. We will be having activities for children and families such as trail games and Geocaching. We will be holding biking and hiking safety intructions. We will be holding drawings for prizes and will have food and drinks available for those attending. In addition, we will invite pet owners to bring their pets out to the trail for a day of fun and exercise. Our goal is to bring trail awareness to the citizens of our community and help them become aware of the benefits of walking/running/biking. We will be educating them on the broad range of recreational experiences available to them through our trails system and alternative meands of commuting.
LOA:
Fishlake Trail Improvement Day – On June 2nd we will be hosting our National Trails Day. Our project will be working on “The No Name Trail” doing tred work and putting some culverts and gravel in. We would like to invite anyone interested in helping with this project to come. You will need to bring your own drinks and snacks. Bring gloves and wear appropriate clothes such as long sleaves and long pants and boots. We will have a small cookout when the project is complete.
LOGAN:
National Trails Day/Adopt-A-Trail Kick-off – The District will provide training and hands-on experience to individuals and groups that have signed up for the Adopt-A-Trail Program. District trail crews will be on-sight to provide valuable skills and techniques to adoptees as well as the public to ensure our National Trail System is maintained in such a way that will make hiking and biking safe and enjoyable for all. Environmental education activities will be available for children. Gloves, hats, long pants and hiking boots are recommended. Bring lots of water to stay hydrated.
OGDEN:
National Trails Day 2012 – Free Event, open to the public. Bird Walk, Kayak River Floats, Live Music Memorial Plaque Dedication, Bike Demos, Dirt Jump Demo, Dog Walk, Trail Maintenance Project.
Mt. Ogden/Ogden Valley Weeds Days – Volunteers will be pulling noxious weeds in Weber County. Bring water. Volunteers are instructed to wear long sleeved shirts, pants and shoes for hiking. Also a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen is recommended. June 1 and 2 will be located in the Ogden Valley area. June 5 will take place in Ogden from Ogden Canyon to the Beus Trailhead. Please register if possible. If unable to register, contact Lisa Thompson, (801) 690-4287 or you may register the days of the events. No tools necessary. Bring water. Volunteers are instructed to wear long sleeved shirts, pants and shoes for hiking. Also a hat, sunglasses and sunscreen is recommended. June 1 and 2 will be located in the Ogden Valley area.
PANGUITCH:
Red Canyon Bike Trail National Recreation Trail Designation – The Red Canyon Bicycle Trail (No. 33016) on the Powell Ranger District, Dixie National Forest, recently was designated as a National Recreation Trail. The Trail is an 8.6 mile paved non-motorized trail that parallels Utah Highway 12 (Scenic Byway) (5.5 miles through the Red Canyon area with an additional 3.1 miles traveling east). The Forest is hosting an event to celebrate the trails designation as a National Recreation Trail on Saturday, June 2, 2012 – National Trails Day. Please join the District for a bicycle ride starting from the Coyote Hollow parking area on the east side of Red Canyon, ending at the Thunder Mountain Trailhead on the west side of Red Canyon, both the starting and ending points are located just to the south of Utah Highway 12. Two separate rides are planned, the first, a leisurely 5.5 mile (one way) ride down the paved bicycle trail, the second, a more arduous mountain bike ride on the Coyote Hollow Road (No. 113) and Thunder Mountain Trail (No. 33098). Participants should meet at 10:00 AM at the Coyote Hollow parking area; bring a bicycle, helmet, water, food, and any other necessary personal items. Some individuals may want to plan for shuttling bicycles from the Thunder Mountain Trailhead to the Coyote Hollow parking area to avoid a return trip up the Bicycle Trail. The mountain bike ride consists of a 15.0-mile loop utilizing the Coyote Hollow Road (No. 113), Thunder Mountain Trail (No. 33098), and Red Canyon Bicycle Trail (No. 33016). For more information, please contact Joe Rechsteiner, Natural Resources Specialist (Recreation), at the U.S. Forest Service office in Panguitch, Utah or by calling 435-676-9300.
PARK CITY:
Tubbs Romp to Stomp – About the Romp to Stomp Snowshoe Series Since its inception in 2003, the Tubbs Romp to Stomp out Breast Cancer Snowshoe Series® has engaged nearly 23,000 people in the sport of snowshoeing and raised more than 1.8 MILLION DOLLARS for Susan G. Komen for the Cure® and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation! Modeled after the highly successful Race for the Cure®, the Tubbs Romp to Stomp out Breast Cancer consists of a 3k or 5k snowshoe walk or a 3k snowshoe race. The event series has grown every year and now is the largest snowshoe series in the world.
SALT LAKE CITY:
BST Construction -Mount Olympus – The Bonneville Shoreline Trail Committee is supporting Salt Lake County and the US Forest Service in building the BST on Mount Olympus. We will have volunteer construction on National Trails Day, June 2 from 8am to 1pm (location details upon registration). Volunteers will be doing trail work, involving removing roots and rocks and clearing vegetation from the trail alignment. Volunteers should bring sturdy boots or shoes, work gloves, long pants, sun protection, and a water bottle. The Bonneville Shoreline Trail Committee has partnered with Salt Lake County, the US Forest Service, the Cottonwood Canyons Foundation and REI in the expansion of this trail network. Register to volunteer at www.bonnevilleshorelinetrail.org
SANDY:
Brandon Canyon Trail Build – Trail building and family activities. Light breakfast and lunch provided for registered participants.
VERNAL:
Dry Fork Flume Trail Clean-up – We will meet as a gorup in the Massey Meadows area (vault toilet present). There will be a quick overview of the days project and safety discussion. Then we will disperse up and down the Flume Trail (on both BLM and Forest Service land) and perform trail maintenance.
Can you provide me with a contact name and number to talk about a trail project. We have a group coming as part of EDCU – they are site selectors that will bring companies to Utah as part of due diligence to relocate their business. They want to do a service project in the area – I think working on the trail system would be great for them to experience Utah.
Hi Peggy. I don’t have a contact or number specifically, because there are so many organizations participating on trail work that day. REI is always a safe bet here in Salt Lake. You can find a list of organized events at http://www.americanhiking.org/ntd
Hope this helps!