Volunteer Vacations with the American Hiking Society

Proudly sponsored by REI

For over 25 years the American Hiking Society has sent hundreds of volunteers per year into America's most special places to revitalize trails. Thousands of vacationers have raked, shoveled, trimmed and chopped hundreds of trail miles that, without these crews, would be unsafe for foot travel. Into its third decade, American Hiking Society's Volunteer Vacations sends over 100 trail volunteer teams into America's National Parks, National Forests and rangelands each year. Participants restore deteriorating trails and build new ones while enjoying unique one- or two-week vacations.

On a typical Volunteer Vacation day, you'll enjoy a hearty breakfast and head out to the trail around 8 a.m. You'll work between six and eight hours, and then return to camp in time for a hike, a refreshing swim or to relax around the campfire. You can expect to perform a fair share of camp chores, including cooking, washing dishes and maintaining tools. Some projects require backpacking into a remote camp with primitive camping; others offer improved or drive-in camping, a bunkhouse, or cabin accommodations. All of them provide spectacular settings, group camaraderie and a chance to give back to the trails you love.

The cost for a Volunteer Vacation is $245 for American Hiking Society members, $275 for non-members.

To learn more about Volunteer Vacations and to book a trip, visit the American Hiking Society.