The mountains provide joy and freedom while creating a landscape for us to unplug and savor the moments we most relish. Opportunities to give back to those very same mountains abound this summer with a number of stewardship and volunteer events around the Wasatch.
The following events and organizations are offering community days to better the trails, plant some trees, pick up trash and show our mountains a little love.
ALTA SUMMER STEWARDSHIP PROGRAMMING
Escape to the beauty of Alta's wildflower-covered meadows while participating in one of the ski area's many summer stewardship events hosted by the Alta Environmental Center. The ski area partners with a number of community organizations and local non-profits to help repair the alpine ecosystems that were once decimated by intensive mining activities in the late 1800s and early 1900s. Family friendly events focus around education, giving back, habitat restoration, tree planting and responsible stewardship. Click here for Alta's summer event calendar and registration information.
Alta Community Volunteer Days
2026 Community Days | 2:30–4:30PM
July 1
August 5
September 2
Alta hosts monthly volunteer days throughout the summer, allowing folks to contribute to various restoration activities around the ski area that include planting native vegetation, weed pulling and replanting seedlings to maintain forest health. The Alta Environmental Center provides lunch after each event and it's a great opportunity to connect with local community members.
Alta Tree Planting Day
Saturday, September 12 | 8AM–1PM
Help the forest remain resilient in the face of climate change with a massive effort to plant up to 1,000 Engelmann spruce saplings across the ski area. Volunteers will hike to various locations around Alta and learn from experts where best to plant seedlings based on aspect, elevation, soil type and more. Lunch is provided. Details, registration, and times can be found here.
STEWARDSHIP WITH THE COTTONWOOD CANYONS FOUNDATION
The Cottonwood Canyons Foundation (CCF) is a local non-profit dedicated to the restoration, beautification and protection of our beloved Little and Big Cottonwood Canyons. Each summer, the foundation hires a professional Trail Crew that collaborates with the US Forest Service and a handful of other local organizations and volunteers. The Trail Crew dedicates its summer to building, improving and maintaining trails and pathways in the forest and wilderness areas throughout Millcreek Canyon, Big Cottonwood Canyon, Little Cottonwood Canyon and along the Wasatch Front.
Why help out?
It may be shocking to learn, but more people visit our foothills and canyons than the total number of people who visit Yellowstone National Park each year! There is an imperative need to maintain resilient trails and promote sustainable, responsible use. CCF hosts frequent stewardship events and volunteer days from May through October. A number of our local ski resorts also partner with CCF to benefit from their expertise and volunteer network. Join a passionate volunteer network of over 1,700 like-minded nature fans make connections in the outdoors, meet new folks and keep our canyons and trails in tip-top shape. Register with CCF online and participate in one of the following projects:
Trail Crew
Invasive Weed Removal
Native Seed Collection
Plant Restoration Work
Summer Naturalist Guiding
Wildflower Festival Guiding
Trail Stewardship
PLANT STEWARDSHIP WITH THE COTTONWOOD CANYONS FOUNDATION
The Cottonwood Canyons Foundation (CCF) is hosting plant stewardship days in Millcreek and Big and Little Cottonwood Canyons throughout the summer. Volunteers will learn about and remove invasive plant species, collect native seeds for cultivation and assist with revegetation efforts by planting native wildflowers and plants. You must register with CCF to participate. Click here.
CCF's Plant Stewardship days happen multiple times per week so there are ample opportunities to give back. The volunteer season begins in late April and runs through the month of September.
CLEANUPS IN UTAH'S RIVERS & WATERWAYS
Help restore Northern Utah's vital riparian corridors and reservoirs by removing garbage with Fish For Garbage.
Studies conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency indicate that nearly half of America's rivers and streams and more than one-third of our lakes are polluted and unfit for swimming, fishing and drinking. Garbage that ends up in our waterways has the potential to carry pollution downstream while certain types of garbage and harmful chemicals can persist in nature far longer than our lifetimes. For this reason, trash collection in these sensitive ecosystems has an outsized impact and is critical to maintaining the health of our environment.
Join the passionate volunteers and organizers of Fish For Garbage this summer for one or multiple events across Utah. Meet fellow outdoor enthusiasts, enjoy nature and win some prizes while collectively removing thousands of pounds of trash from our waterways. Community cleanup events begin in April and run through September.
STEWARDSHIP SATURDAYS IN PARK CITY
The Summit Land Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to saving the open spaces of Park City and the Wasatch Back. Through land conservation, monitoring and investing in the community's open spaces the organization hopes to protect, nourish and beautify the landscapes that make Park City special. Stewardship Saturdays with the Land Conservancy recruit community volunteers to pitch in with habitat restoration projects, large-scale cleanups and invasive weed removal. Volunteers are welcome to join once or contribute their time and effort on an ongoing basis. Click here for info.
LEND A HAND FOR THE TRAILS
In Park City, the Mountain Trails Foundation has served as a vital force in advocating for and maintaining public trail use since 1993. With over 400 miles of non-motorized trails, Park City has become a multi-season destination for those who love the outdoors. The Mountain Trails Foundation relies on community donations and grants to provide year-round, free trail access for many user groups. Their mission is vital to the vibrant mountain lifestyle that residents and visitors to Park City so enjoy. Donating or volunteering with Mountain Trails is a fantastic way to give back to the trail network. Click here to learn more about the opportunities listed below.
June 30, 2026 - Loose Moose & Silver Queen Trail Work
Two new sections of directional, downhill flow trails will be completed at Park City Mountain. Mountain Trails needs volunteer help to remove debris from the trail, smooth dirt, compact features and remove vegetation to prepare for the new trail. Work will take place in the cooler, evening hours from 5-8PM and provide an awesome opportunity for enthusiastic trail users to meet, mingle and give back.
July 28, 2026 - Bonanza Parking Lot – Anchor Trees Hiking Trail
Pitch in on this multi-year project to construct a hiking trail in Deer Valley's high alpine terrain. Volunteers will be using traditional hand tools to cut a bench and establish a trail along the mountainside. This is a more physically demanding project that also requires a challenging hike to the worksite.
August 16, 2026 - Ontario Mine Trailhead – Huntsman Hiking Trail
This project's goal is to finalize a connector trail for hikers that parallels Marsac near the Ontario Mine Trailhead. The efforts will be dedicated to completing the finish work on the rough-cut trail that was initialized last summer. Volunteers should expect to come and smooth, rake and compact tread or cut out roots impacting foot travel. There is also need for help with masonry to construct a stone staircase.
ADDITIONAL ORGS & OPPORTUNITIES
There is something for just about anyone's interests if you'd like to give back this summer. Here are a few more local organizations that welcome volunteer participation.
- Foothills Stewardship Program with SLC Government
- Save Our Canyons
- Trail Maintenance with Trails Utah
- Volunteer at Red Butte Garden & Arboretum
- Volunteer at Wasatch Mountain State Park
