Location: Northern Virginia
Strenuous. ~6 mi daily hikes
Front Country: tent camping at a designated campground
Join us this May to support the essential, behind-the-scenes trail maintenance needed to sustain Shenandoah National Park’s 500 miles of trails.
Service Project Details
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Wilderness Volunteers will support the essential, behind-the-scenes trail maintenance needed to sustain Shenandoah National Park’s 500 miles of trails. Throughout the week, volunteers will hike wilderness trails while clearing drains, maintaining waterbars, and removing overgrown vegetation. Work will take place primarily in designated wilderness areas and will be completed using traditional hand tools such as McLeods, pick mattocks, and loppers.
Volunteers for this project must be able to hike around 6 miles daily and should plan for tent camping in a designated campground (Big Meadows Campground).
This project will begin on a Monday and end on a Sunday.
Project Leaders: Kevin Morrissey and Mark Young
Check out photo galleries from previous projects here.
Agency Website
Itinerary:
Monday, May 25th. The Volunteer group meets at midday at a time/place TBD. The group will go through check-in, introductions, orientation, and will help set up camp in preparation for the work week ahead.
Tuesday, May 26th. Work day
Wednesday, May 27th. Work day
Thursday, May 28th. Day off
Friday, May 29th. Work day
Saturday, May 30th. Work day
Sunday, May 31st. Break down camp, goodbyes, and depart.
Nearest Cities
Stanley, VA
Luray, VA
Nearest Airports
Regan National Airport (DCA) – ~130 miles away
Dulles International Airport (IAD) – ~113 miles away
Richmond International Airport (RIC) – ~117 miles away
Free Time Details
Within the National Park: drive or bike the iconic Skyline Drive, drive a part of the Blue Ridge Highway, hike the many trails in the park, visit historical buildings, etc.
Outside of the National Park: Washington DC and Richmond, VA are within a 2-hour drive. Visit Luray Caverns. Visit other National Park sites – Harpers Ferry NHP, Manassas National Battlefield, Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP, Appomattox Court House NHP, Assateague Island National Seashore, and Colonial NHP.
Accommodations
Front Country: tent camping at a designated campground (Big Meadows campground)
Difficulty
Strenuous. ~6 mi daily hikes
Task Details
Hiking, digging, lifting, hauling, bending, throwing, carrying, cutting, swinging, pushing, kneeling, crouching, sloped terrain, etc.
Equipment List
View Equipment List