SHTA July and August Volunteer Opportunities
June 29, 2023
Trail maintenance season is off to a great start! Volunteer crews have constructed a rock staircase at Britton Peak and a stone step crossing at Wilson Creek. Crews have been at work weekly in and around Duluth. We have cleared most of the downed trees off of the Trail, started weed whipping, and started building new boardwalk on the Brewer Park Loop. Thank you to everyone who’s come out to volunteer, and who contributed to our spring Clear the Path fundraiser!
But we’ve just begun! In the next month or so, we need more than 200 volunteers to complete several vital projects. Why volunteer?
- Give back to the Trail you love
- Meet people who share your passions
- Learn a new skill
- Find out what it takes to maintain a 300-mile hiking trail
- Have fun!
- And so much more!
Duluth Area Trail Maintenance, ongoing weekly
Join our southern area contractor, Larry, as he leads trail maintenance events in the Duluth vicinity. Depending on the day, you might find Larry leading groups of volunteers lopping, weed whipping, or building trail structures like stairs or boardwalks. Check out the list on the registration page for dates and details about what project will happen at any given event.
Introduction to Trail Work, Saturday, July 8
Come out to learn what it takes to maintain the SHT. An experienced crew lead will give you pro tips on how to keep brush and water off the trail. No experience necessary! All tools and training will be provided by SHTA. Expect about a 1-mile hike from the trailhead to the project. Nearest town: Two Harbors. Register here.
Springdale Creek Stone Step Crossing, July 12-14
Join SHTA staff as we remove the old, unsafe bridge and replace it with solid stone steps across Springdale Creek. We will also be repairing tread between the trailhead and the creek. No experience necessary. Nearest town: Tofte. Camping and dinners provided.
Please register separately for each day you wish to attend:
July 12
July 13
July 14
Mystery Mountain Rehabilitation, July 25-31
Join SHTA staff and professional trail builder Tim Malzhan as we renew this worn and muddy section of trail. This project began last year, and now we’ll wrap it up.
Activities will include hardening the trail surface, building rock and wooden structures, building drainage features, and reshaping tread with hand tools. No experience necessary! Nearest town: Lutsen. Camping and dinners provided.
Please register separately for each day you wish to attend:
July 25
July 26
July 27
July 28
July 29
July 30
July 31
Corridor Clearing and Blazing, Aug 5-6
Have you been whacked in the face or tripped up by low-hanging branches while hiking the SHT? Here’s your chance to clear the trail corridor of woody brush using hand tools and to mark the trail you’ve cleared with fresh blazes. No experience necessary. Nearest town: Silver Bay. Camping and dinners provided.
Please register separately for each day you wish to attend:
August 5
August 6
Encampment Crossing and Reroute, Aug 11-16
Help SHTA build a safe and sustainable crossing of the Encampment River. Work will be led by professional stone builder Willie Bittner and will include building a stone step crossing and rerouting a part of the trail that is falling away. No experience necessary. Nearest town: Two Harbors. Camping and dinners provided.
Please register separately for each day you wish to attend:
August 11
August 12
August 13
August 14
August 15
August 16
Intercept Survey volunteers are still needed!
The Superior Hiking Trail Association is planning to conduct a trail user intercept survey as part of our 2023 master planning process. An intercept survey volunteer will be stationed at specific trailheads for specific times and approach people with a short questionnaire so that we may better understand the demographics of our Trail users. Gregarious outgoing people wanted!
Commitment time (estimate one or two days) and dates not yet determined. Training will be in the next few weeks. Email [email protected] if you are interested in helping with this unique and one-time opportunity.