Friends of Scotchman Peaks trail work events

There’s still time to volunteer with the Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness this summer.

"Our local trails are wild and rugged. There are endless opportunities to find solitude out in our wild backyard," said Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness Communications Specialist Cameron Rusmusson. "Many of our local trails are maintained by passionate volunteers who contribute their time and sweat to keep our favorite hiking trails – like the Scotchman Peak Trail, Ross Creek Cedars and the Star Peak Lookout Trail – open for everyone to enjoy.

As summer begins to wind down and many of the tourists start to head home, this is a perfect time to get out and enjoy all that northern Idaho has to offer and be reminded of the beauty that surrounds us. 

Signing up to volunteer on a trail work day will connect you to the land in a deeper way and you might make some new hiking buddies while you’re at it!

Some upcoming trail work opportunities include:

- East Fork Peak Trail, Sept. 7 and 14

- Morris Creek Trail, September 28 (National Public Lands Day!)

If carrying tools isn’t your jam, our Scotchman Peak Trail Ambassador program still has availability on weekends through early October. Early fall is a great time to get out on Scotchman Peak when the weather starts to cool down.

Scotchman Peak Trail Ambassadors hit the trails to make sure hikers know they need to keep their distance from wildlife, especially the native mountain goat herd that lives in the area. 

Goats are naturally curious and love salt, so they become habituated to humans when they are allowed to lick sweaty backpacks or eat human food. Over time, this behavior can create dangerous situations for the goats, pets and humans. 

Injuries or accidents between goats and humans or dogs can lead to trails being shut down or the removal of goats and we want to avoid both of these! 

The group is always looking for volunteers to help us bring this program to life – it’s a great reason to get out for a hike while performing an important conservation service.

To learn more about the volunteer opportunites that abound, visit us at scotchmanpeaks.org/you-can-help/volunteer/.