Join the BMLT Blues Crew for a 3- day trail work party on Buck Creek Trail #3073.
Buck Creek is a beautiful, densely forested trail that follows the babbling Buck Creek all the way to its origins. The trail connects with Lake Creek trail and the popular Umatilla Rim Trail. This is a three-day project, and volunteers will be staying at Forks Campground.
There are a couple of areas where the trail has a lot of weather and erosion exposure and we will need to make a new cut, hinge, and tread to ensure safe footing for hikers and stock alike. The majority of the work will be brushing to improve and restore trail access. In the first 4 miles of the trail there are major sections where the growth on one or both sides of the trail block the trail or even push the hiker off trail. We will brush or cut back those areas so the trail is accessible. Currently, the trail is unpassable for stock or people riding horseback, so our goal will be to cut a corridor wide enough to handle all trail users.
Be a part of this exciting volunteer opportunity, especially when public lands need it most! If you can make all three days, GREAT! If you can only do one or two days, please indicate that when you sign up. We'll have fun, work hard and make a difference. No experience is necessary.
Check out more information about the trail
Questions? Get in touch with Craig Piefer at craig@bmlt.org.
Trip Details:
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🌲 Brush and widen several areas
🌲 Remove any fallen trees
🌲 Rebuild tread where the trail has washed out
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Tolerance for hard work and backcountry conditions.
No specific trail work experience is necessary—bring a great attitude for working with a team!
BMLT Blues Crew leaders and USFS partners will provide training and tools as needed
Expect to be physically active at your own pace for up to 5 hours
Be able to hike 3 miles round trip on rocky terrain and climb 450ft in 1.5
Recommended for ages 13 and older
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Please arrive at USFS Ranger District Office parking lot at 1415 W Rose Street, Walla Walla at 8:00 am on Wednesday, June 25th and Return on June 27th by 5 pm. If you’re willing to drive, please arrive with a full gas tank. Please be prepared to share gas costs with your volunteer driver on the return trip (bring cash.)
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Wednesday
08:00 am: Arrive at USFS Ranger District Office for check-in
08:05 am: Depart for Forks Campground
09:15 am: Arrive at Forks Campground and claim camping spots
10:00 am: Unload tools, stretch, safety talk and begin work
12:00 pm: Break for lunch
12:30 pm: Back at it
03:00 pm: Head back to camp to finish setting up camp
05:30 pm: Dinner, hangout around the campfire.
Thursday
07:00 am: Wake up eat breakfast
08:00 am: Stretching and safety talk
08:15 am: Head up trail brushing along the way
11:30 pm: Break for lunch
12:15 pm: Back at it
3:00 pm: Head back to camp
5:30 pm: Dinner, hangout around the campfire.
Friday
7:00 am: Wake up eat breakfast
8:00 am: Stretching and safety talk
8:15 am: Head up trail brushing along the way
11:15 pm: Head down trail for lunch at camp
12:00 pm: Lunch
1:30 pm: Load tools, pack up camp and head home
4:00ish pm: Arrive at USFS Ranger District Office
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What to wear:
✅ Boots – no sneakers or sandals during work hours
✅ Long pants and long-sleeved shirt
✅ Rain gear
✅ Work gloves and eye protection (glasses, sunglasses)
✅ Ticks can be present: bring DEET for self, Permethrin for clothes
*** BMLT Blues Crew Supplied: Safety gear, first aid kit, hard hat, tools
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✅ Lightback day backpack
✅ Water bottle - suggest 64 ounces of water
✅ Warm clothing for wet/cold weather
✅ Snacks
✅ Personal care items such as toilet paper
✅ Blues Crew practices Leave No Trace™ principles, please bring what you need to comply.
✅ Everything you will need for car camping at a campground with pit toilets.
✅ 2 Breakfasts
✅ 2 Lunches (Lunch will be provided Friday)
✅ 2 dinners
✅ Blues Crew will bring a couple coolers of drinks and several boxes of granola/protein bars
Blues Crew practices Leave No Trace™ principles -- please bring what you need to comply.
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⚠️ Please pack your own meals, snacks and water.
⚠️ Pets are not to accompany volunteers due to work safety concerns.
⚠️ Please fill out the liability waiver and email to craig@bmlt.org or print and bring with you to the work party!⚠️ Please stay home if you are feeling unwell.
⚠️ BMLT Blues Crew practices Leave No Trace™ principles.⚠️ Is this your first volunteer trail work party? Check out this short video on ‘What to Expect and How to Stay Safe’
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For more information, contact us at craig@bmlt.org or blues-crew@bmlt.org or 509-525-3136.
Presented in partnership with Umatilla National Forest.
