Volunteer Trail Construction and Maintenance Workdays

Engaging Diverse Groups in Environmental Stewardship

The backbone of our volunteer programs, volunteer workdays allow the TRTA to develop and implement dozens of projects every year to construct new trail connections, mitigate environmental damage, train members of our community and improve the experience of recreating on trails in our community.

Each summer, trained volunteer crew leaders and volunteers work alongside our staff to build and maintain the Tahoe Rim Trail system.

The Tahoe Rim Trail Association works in partnership with the US Forest Service and the Nevada Division of State Parks as the primary stewards of the Tahoe Rim Trail. From the first conception of a trail following the ridgeline around Lake Tahoe, construction, maintenance and management of the trail has been driven by volunteers. The trail would not exist without the sustained efforts of thousands of individual volunteers over past four decades. Volunteers allow our trail and our organization to thrive in a way that would not be possible in any other way. On average, the TRT volunteer community annually contributes efforts with an in-kind value of over $400,000.

Every summer, dedicated Tahoe Rim Trail Association volunteers hit the trail to cut new tread, clear away down trees, rebuild bridges, and fix erosion damage on trails all around the lake. Hundreds of individuals, groups and families from diverse backgrounds and of all ages donate their time and energy to keep alive the dream of the most beautiful trail system in the Sierra. Join us, and see why the Tahoe Rim Trail is truly a trail like no other.

Expanding Recreation Opportunities

Outdoor recreation in the Tahoe Basin has become the driving force behind the estimated 24 million people who visit the area each year. To meet the growing demand for recreation opportunities, new trails and new trail connections are continually being implemented all around the lake. Aside from the Tahoe Rim Trail itself, the TRTA has been responsible for the creation of numerous connecting trails including the Van Sickle Connector, the Rim to Reno Trail and the Daggett Loop. In addition, we work alongside partner organizations such as Friends of Incline Trails to construct trails that don’t connect directly to the TRT. The TRTA has built more miles of trail in the Tahoe region than any other trail organization.

Public support of our volunteer programs is the only way for the TRTA to continue constructing new trail and expanding recreation opportunities around Lake Tahoe. If you enjoy hiking, biking or riding on trails in the Tahoe Rim Trail System, please consider supporting the organization that makes it possible.

Mitigating Environmental Damage

The TRT is a heavily used trail with over 400,000 estimated annual users. It is also subject to the stresses of an alpine environment that include extreme temperatures, heavy snowfall, flooding rains, fires, and drought. These factors can all contribute to erosion, tread failures or blockages, resource damage and other issues. Ensuring that the trail meets standards and that its users have as little negative impact as possible on the surrounding environment are primary areas of focus for the TRTA.

Supporting our volunteer trail building and maintenance work days helps to ensure that future hikers, bikers and equestrians can enjoy the trail safely and without damaging or marring the precious ecosystems within the Tahoe Basin.

Training Trail Stewards

To help volunteers in our communities develop skills and be successful in their trail work, TRTA sponsors or provides numerous skills training opportunities every year. Hundreds of volunteers representing dozens of local organizations and agencies take part in our training courses, most of which are offered free of charge or at highly subsidized rates. Courses include topics such as CPR, First Aid, Wilderness First Aid, Chainsaw Certification, Crosscut Saw Certification, Trail Layout and Design, Griphoist  and Rigging, Rock Cutting and Shaping, Hazard Tree Identification and Mitigation, and our regionally acclaimed Crew Leader Training. Beyond the scheduled training events, each workday is an opportunity for volunteers to learn from skilled volunteer Crew Leaders and staff who have been digging trails for decades.

Your support for the TRTA is vital for the continuation and improvement of our training programs. Please consider contributing to the education of volunteers in our community.

Improving the Trail Experience

Volunteer trail building and maintenance work days are the best way for the TRTA to improve the experience of hiking, biking or riding on the Tahoe Rim Trail. Whether we are installing drainage control features to prevent mud holes or constructing a bridge over a deep stream, the work accomplished by our volunteers in the field ensures that everyone on the trail now and in the future can enjoy a world-class recreation experience.  Please take a moment to learn more about what we do and consider joining us in supporting the trail.