Volunteer Opportunities

Partner Volunteer Trail Work Opportunities

Ongoing – The Bay Area Ridge Trail Council primarily relies on our agency and non-profit partners to coordinate and supervise volunteer trail work days. Below are some resources to get connected and get dirty 🙂

All Bay Area
VO-CAL

South Bay
Santa Clara County Parks
Santa Clara Open Space Authority
MidPeninsula Open Space District
Trail Center
Mountain Bikers of Santa Cruz

San Francisco – Marin
Sutro Stewards
SF Rec and Park
Golden Gate National Park Conservancy
SF Urban Riders

North Bay
Sonoma Regional Parks
Redwood Empire Mountain Bike Alliance
Napa Open Space District
Skyline Wilderness Park
Sonoma Trails Council

East Bay
East Bay Regional Park District

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Tune in to @blackpeoplewhohike LIVE at 4:15pm! #Repost • • • • • • ＬＩＶＥ James Edward Mills is a 2014 Fellow of the Mountain & Wilderness Writing Program of the Banff Centre in Alberta, Canada and the 2016 recipient of the Paul K. Petzoldt Award For Environmental Education. As a freelance journalist and an independent media producer in a career that spans more than 20 years he specializes in sharing stories about outdoor recreation, environmental conservation, acts of charitable giving and practices of sustainable living. He has worked in the outdoor industry since 1989 as a guide, outfitter, independent sales representative, writer, and photographer. He is the author of the new book “The Adventure Gap: Changing the Face of the Outdoors” and the co-writer/co-producer of the documentary film “An American Ascent” James is a contributor to several outdoor-focused print and online publications such as National Geographic Adventure, Rock & Ice, Alpinist, SUP, Elevation Outdoors, Women’s Adventure, the Clymb, Park Advocate, High Country News, Appalachia Journal, The Guardian, Outside Magazine and Land & People. James started the @joytripproject as a newsgathering and reporting organization that covers outdoor recreation, environmental conservation, acts of charitable giving and practices of sustainable living. In recognition for his work in sharing the important history and legacy of the Buffalo Soldiers and their efforts at the dawn of the National Park Service James was named a Yosemite National Park Centennial Ambassador in 2016 In 2020 James’s book The Adventure Gap was named by Outside Magazine as one of the 10 “Outdoor Books that Shaped the Last Decade”. James joins us tonight at 6:15pm cst/ 7:15pm est LIVE with our Host, @debbienjai to share her story. #OurStory Turn on post notifications so you don’t miss out! Go follow @joytripproject and talk soon! _____________________________________________ #blackjoy #blackhistorymonth #blm #blacklivesmatter #blackeverymonth #blackhikers #blackpeoplewhohike #wehiketoo #diversifyoutdoors #diversityinnature #blackinnature #blackidyblackblackblack #camping #campingwhileblack #blackcampfires #blackourstory

Happy Valentine's Day! There are lots of ways to show love for the Ridge Trail - become a member, sign up for our e-news to stay in the loop with us, or just go out and enjoy it! Links to get involved in our bio.❤️❤️ #bayarearidgetrail #trails #outdoors #nature #hiking #biking #equestrian #bayarea

@spoutfitter is the nation’s first Black-owned outdoor gear shop. Link in our bio to a wonderful short doc, where owners Jahmicah and Heather Dawes share their experience promoting better representation and inclusion for BIPOC, queer, and other underrepresented people in the outdoor industry. #Repost @pattiegonia • • • • • • America’s first Black owned gear shop is in danger of having to closing their doors. They are asking for our help. Please read below. “Hello, we are Jahmicah and Heather Dawes, the couple behind @spoutfitter, the first black-owned outdoor shop in the nation. Us, our two boys, and our Bassett Hound named Bill Murray, are doing our best to make the outdoors a safe space for all. We are located in Stephenville, TX (The Cowboy Capital of The World) so we stick out a little bit. We are trying to cultivate community and tell those that feel like they don’t have a place, “You belong here.” Lately, our store has suffered incredible losses due to the pandemic. Right now, we need $142,000 in order to recover for the loss of income. Some of our friends have come together to organize a GoFundMe to support us. Please visit the link in Pattie’s bio and if you have the means, we would appreciate your support more than you know. If at the end of all this, we are part of creating a society where our sons and any BIPOC, queer or underrepresented person can feel safe in the outdoors, we would be so thrilled, but we know there is TONS of work to be done. Thank you so much.” Community, let’s show up for @spoutfitter. Link in my bio to their GoFundMe. If you cannot donate, please like and comment a ❤️ on the post and share the post to help it beat the algorithm. Thank you so much. . video and photos by the incredible @jusinfocus @arcticklondike @wondercamp.co @theoutbound

Have you visited Patwino Worrtla Kodoi Dihi Open Space yet? It’s a future Ridge Trail location, and this Saturday 2/13 you can get a sneak-peek on a guided hike with @solanolandtrust! It will be 4-6 miles starting at 9am. Register at the link in our bio! Photo via Solano Land Trust

We love seeing pics of people out enjoying the Ridge Trail, like this great one from @vero_wandering! It’s a beautiful time to visit Alum Rock Park or any of the parks and open spaces the Ridge Trail passes through. Go find your local wild! 🌄⛅ #bayarearidgetrail #trails #outdoors #nature #hiking #biking #equestrian #bayarea

Did you get our first “Ridge Trail Escape” in your inbox? We’re sending out monthly activities, contests and outings to help you explore the Ridge Trail in fun new ways! February’s escape is a photo contest. 📷 You can still get in on the fun! Sign up at the link in our bio. #bayarearidgetrail #trails #outdoors #nature #hiking #biking #equestrian #bayarea #contest #photography #naturephotography

Join us on Super Bowl Sunday for the 5th Annual Ridge Trail Super Stroll in San Francisco! Volunteers are hiking 5 different routes - join & start with us, but hike at your own pace, with your own pod. Register and learn more at the link in our bio. Hope to see you there!

ICYMI: a new Ridge Trail section is open! Travel the Ridge Trail through El Corte de Madera Creek Preserve, near Woodside in San Mateo County. Get a sneak peek of the trail at the link in our bio!

Looking to escape your routine? Introducing “Ridge Trail Escapes” – a monthly email with a new activity, contest, or outing to get you out in nature exploring your local wild. Sign up and be automatically entered for our monthly raffle prize! Get inspired, get outside, and Escape to the Ridge Trail. Sign up at the link in our bio. Photo: Mission Peak, @patrickslenses #bayarearidgetrail #trails #nature #outdoors #hike #bike #equestrian #bayarea #explore #adventure #nearbynature

Tomorrow! Join in for a discussion with Dr. Carolyn Finney, author of Black Faces, White Spaces: Reimagining the Relationship of African Americans to the Great Outdoors - It’s the 1st book in @joytripproject ’s book club, focused on works by BIPOC authors about the inequalities of access to the outdoors. Link to event in bio.

We’re still enjoying all the photos you shared with us during the 2020 #RidgeTrailChallenge. 450+ people signed up and 75+ completed the challenge! 35 people also went the extra mile and made a donation to the Ridge Trail. Thank you for your support, and we can’t wait for the 2021 Challenge! Stay tuned 😉 #bayarearidgetrail #trails #hike #bike #equestrian #outdoors #nature #photography #challenge Photos: Crockett Hills, @planetmidori Vargas Plateau, @minichelle2 Redwood Regional, @bunjeeveture Sweeney Ridge, Curtis Kiest

Are you a past, current, or hopeful Ridge Trail circumnavigator, making your way around the entire Ridge Trail? To help you connect with others chasing the same goal, we’re hosting our first virtual Ridge Trail Circumnavigator Happy Hour, Wednesday February 10! Get tips, hear inspiring stories, and find new trail buddies! Register at the link in our bio. #bayarearidgetrail #trails #outdoors #nature #hike #bike #equestrian #recreation #bayarea

@ncrposd, home to one of our newest trails through Suscol Headwaters Preserve, is a wonderful partner of the Ridge Trail - and they need your support! Consider a donation to help keep the fantastic trail and open space work they do going strong (link in their bio) #bayarearidgetrail #trails #outdoors #openspace #nature #recreation #napa #bayarea #donate #support

Update on our 2021 annual events (Ridge to Bridge, Ridge Trail Challenge, and Ridge Trail Day): Expect some changes in format this year, with virtual and DIY options. We know you look forward to our events, and we want to continue to host them, safely. Stay up-to-date on our events and volunteer opportunities by signing up for our e-news at the link in our bio. Photo: Ridge to Bridge 2018, Joanna Salazar #bayarearidgetrail #trails #hike #bike #equestrian #outdoors #nature #volunteer #events

Americorps calls Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day “a day on, not a day off.” You can honor his legacy today by serving your community in a number of ways - one is to join us in a DIY Ridge Trail clean-up. Get involved at the link in our bio. #MLKDay #bayarearidgetrail #trails #hike #bike #equestrian #outdoors #nature #service #volunteer

Join us Monday, Jan 18 for a DIY Ridge Trail clean-up in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Learn how to get involved in this National Day of Service at the link in our bio. #MLKDay #bayarearidgetrail #trails #hike #bike #equestrian #outdoors #nature #service #volunteer

📣 Calling all Circumnavigators! We want to connect with you. Sign up to receive tools and resources, and ways to connect with others making their way around the entire Ridge Trail! Sign up at the link in our bio👋 #bayarearidgetrail #trails #hike #bike #equestrian #circumnavigation #outdoors #nature #bayarea

Sandrine (@madamesandrine) is the lucky winner of the Ridge Trail Challenge prize pack raffle! She says tackling the challenge with a friend was “one of the few highlights of 2020.” Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2020 #RidgeTrailChallenge - we look forward to seeing you for the next one later in 2021! Huge thanks to challenge sponsors @REI @columbia1938 and @gigcarshare for donating prizes and helping get us out on the trail in style Photos: @madamesandrine and @rebeccaw0w

Want to get out on the trail more in 2021? Set yourself up for success with monthly inspiration from the Ridge Trail, right to your inbox. 📩Sign up for our e-news at the link in our bio! Photo: Purisma Creek Redwoods #bayarearidgetrail #trails #hike #bike #equestrian #outdoors #nature #bayarea #adventure #2021 #explore

While we don’t currently have any volunteer trail projects on the calendar due to COVID, you can join our volunteer list and be the first to know when opportunities come up! Sign up at the link in our bio. There you’ll also find a list of our partner’s volunteer websites where you can find even more opportunities to get out on the trail and get your hands dirty! ⚒️ #bayarearidgetrail #trails #hike #bike #equestrian #bayarea #outdoors #nature #volunteer #trailwork

The Bay Area Ridge Trail Council is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit under EIN 94-3148503.

Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowable under the law.

©2021 Bay Area Ridge Trail Council All Rights Reserved.