2026 Volunteer Trips
Experience the Burn’s Wild spaces with expert leaders, learn more about its history and landscape, and give back to the land we love. Check out our upcoming trips, complete with dates, locations, difficulty levels, and itineraries. Trips fill up fast, so register now to save your spot!
Find your gear list here.
Looking for a self-guided recreational experience? Plan your visit to the Great Burn!
World Cleanup Day
Join us for our second annual celebration of World Cleanup Day. This year, we’ll be hitting the trail at Colgate Licks, a National Recreation Trail along Highway 12. The group will get the chance to learn more about the history of Colgate Licks, as well as the Big Burn. Volunteers will help with light brushing of the trail and trash cleanup. We will also naturalize any pools at the mineral lick site. This is a beginner and family-friendly event, we look forward to seeing you there!
Trailhead: Colgate Licks, Lochsa-Powell Ranger District, Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest
Closest Town: Powell, ID
*All volunteer trips are subject to change due to ever-changing fire activity.
Difficulty
Hiking
Easy. Colgate Licks Interpretive Trail is slightly over a mile in length and has no steep climbs or descents.
Work
Easy. This project should only last a few hours. Work will involve light brushing of the trail, naturalizing pools in the salt licks, and learning about the history of the Great Burn ecosystem.
Itinerary
Meet at the trailhead at 0930MT. After a safety briefing, our morning will include a history of Colgate Licks and the Great Burn ecosystem and a nice walk on the interpretative trail. Work will include some light brushing and naturalizing any pools at the mineral lick. The day is expected to conclude in early afternoon.
Great Burn Conservation Alliance trips are free. Each volunteer will be required to make a 100% refundable deposit to secure a trip spot. The cost of the deposit is $10, which will be returned if you cancel at least 3 weeks before your scheduled trip or once you attend the trip. A lot of planning goes into these trips and we need to make sure you’re committed! If you are unable to make a deposit, please reach out to volunteer@greatburn.org.
Bonanza Lakes Restoration Inventory w/ Here Montana
This trip is open to BIPOC community members only. GBCA is excited to offer this trip in partnership with Here Montana. Bonanza Lakes are special, lesser traveled lakes in the Sheep Mountain-Stateline Roadless Area. Join us on this trip for the opportunity to learn about GBCA’s stewardship programs and do your part in giving back to this special place! We will start at Cascade Pass along the Stateline Trail and work our way to Bonanza Lakes. Along the way, we will handpull pick up any litter, inventory weed populations, and maintain backcountry campsites around the lakes. Volunteers will have the opportunity to engage in afternoon activities such as learning about the history of the area, practicing LNT principles, and engaging in outdoor leadership. If you are interested in fishing at Bonanza Lakes, be sure to have your MT license!
Trailhead: Cascade Pass #738, Superior Ranger District, Lolo National Forest
Closest Town: Superior, MT
**All volunteer trips are subject to change due to ever-changing fire activity.
DIFFICULTY
Hiking
Easy. The hike into Bonanza Lakes has a minimal amount of elevation gain and loss. The trail is in good condition.
Work
Easy. Work will include inventorying and hand pulling weeds and cleaning up campsites. Cleaning up on the hike in will allow for frequent breaks.
ITINERARY
Day 1 | We will meet at the Cascade Pass trailhead at 0900MT. After a trailhead briefing, we will work our way up the trail while cleaning up any litter and inventorying noxious weed populations. At the lake, we will set up camp and clean up campsites. There will be plenty of time in the afternoon for swimming and fishing. 2.5 miles, 350ft elevation gain, 450ft elevation loss.
Day 2 | After breakfast, we will pack up camp and finish up any work that needs to be done. We will be back to the trailhead between mid morning and lunchtime. 2.5 miles, 450ft elevation gain, 350ft elevation loss.
Great Burn Conservation Alliance trips are free. Each volunteer will be required to make a 100% refundable deposit to secure a trip spot. The cost of the deposit is $50, which will be returned if you cancel at least 3 weeks before your scheduled trip or once you attend the trip. A lot of planning goes into these trips and we need to make sure you’re committed! If you are unable to make a deposit, please reach out to volunteer@greatburn.org.
MEET YOUR TRAIL LEADERS
a gear list for your trip
This checklist is meant to be a general guide, not comprehensive list. Everyone packs differently, and you know yourself best! If you run cold, throw a beanie or a pair of gloves in your pack. If you sweat a lot, you might want to change your socks more frequently than the person next to you. If you’re going out for 1 night vs 5, you’ll need more things!
GBCA will provide:
Breakfast, dinner, and cooking equipment.
Group water filter, as well as dishwashing equipment.
The trip leader will also carry bear spray, InReach, and a first aid kit with them at all times.
Before leaving the trailhead, trip leaders will assess trip participant gear and leave redundant gear at the trail head. Items like water filters, sunscreen, trowels, bug spray, and camp stoves can be shared.
Clothing
Avoid cotton clothes as they hold onto moisture. Cotton is a great breathable material when it’s dry, but once it’s wet it’s going to stay that way. If possible, bring quick drying, synthetic layers to wear during the work day.
Wool is also a good alternative to cotton, as it retains heat even when wet. Packing warm clothes in July or August might sound crazy, but the weather in the mountains can be unpredictable and nights are often chilly.
Toiletries
It’s important to bring supplies that will make you comfortable when using the bathroom outside…but it’s even more important to mitigate the impact our waste has! Having a well made toilet kit helps us do that. If you bring toilet paper or wet wipes out with you, bring a small Ziplock bag to pack out used material.
Periods in the backcountry can be daunting, but with a little prior planning they’re easy to manage! Here’s a great guide from our friends at Leave No Trace on how to manage periods when camping: LNT Period Guide.
If you are missing any of the suggested gear, reach out and see if we have any extras! Gear rentals are also available at the University of Montana Campus Recreation Department, REI, and The Trail Head downtown location.
MORE WAYS TO GET INVOLVED
BECOME A FRIEND OF THE BURN
Make any recurring donation, and opt in to receive action alerts, volunteer information, newsletters, and other opportunities to get engaged to become a Friend of the Burn. You’ll join hundreds of others who are showing support for permanent protection of this special place, so that it can stay Wild and available for generations to come.
ADVOCATE FOR THE BURN
Great Burn advocates play an essential role in helping shape awareness and public perception around our Mission Area. Advocates submit comments and speak up to land management agencies regarding plans, projects, or permanent protection decisions in the Great Burn and Mallard Larkins landscapes.
VOLUNTEER FAQS
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
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Volunteers under the age of 18 MUST be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Use your best judgment when choosing a trip, keeping in mind the project’s difficulty rating and the length of travel.
National forests must revise their plans every 15 years, but that doesn’t always happen. The Lolo National Forest plan hasn’t been updated since 1986, meaning forest plans can have a significant impact for decades.
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All Great Burn volunteer trips are free, with a refundable $50 deposit. The GBCA will return your deposit at the start of your trip or if you cancel your reservation at least three weeks before the start date. To keep trips accessible, financial assistance is available. Email us at volunteer@greatburn.org.
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Dogs are allowed in some areas across the Burn, but we don’t currently allow dogs on volunteer trips.
TRIP DETAILS
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Volunteers are required to provide their own backpacking gear, snacks, and lunch items. Our recommended packing list can help guide your choices. Trip leaders will assess all volunteer gear and leave redundant gear at the trailhead. Items like water filters, sunscreen, trowels, bug spray, and camp stoves can be shared.
GBCA trip leaders will provide or carry:
Breakfast, dinner, and cooking equipment — tell us about your dietary restrictions when you sign up so that we can accommodate them
A group water filter and dishwashing equipment
Additional bear spray
An InReach communication device
A First-Aid kit
Hand tools, eye protection, and gloves, depending on the project
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A lot of time and effort go into planning our volunteer stewardship trips, so please make sure you plan on attending! However, we understand that life happens, and sometimes, you may not be able to make it.
In that case, your deposit will be fully refunded up to three weeks before your scheduled trip. Otherwise, your deposit will be counted as a donation to GBCA. All trips are subject to cancellation due to changing weather and wildfire conditions.
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Yes! You should receive two emails after you register: a confirmation message and a message from our volunteer coordinator with more information on your specific trip in the days following your registration. GBCA trip leaders will contact participants one to two weeks before your scheduled trip.
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Yes! Whether you’re a student in need of community service hours or need to complete court-ordered community service for a non-violent offense, you can earn your hours on a volunteer project. Email us at volunteer@greatburn.org for details.
POLICIES
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Each volunteer group has a Garmin InReach device and is required to check in daily with GBCA admin. In the event of an emergency or if a volunteer needs to be reached while in the field, please contact GBCA Executive Director Hayley Newman at hayley@greatburn.org or 406-546-2329.
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At GBCA, we are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all volunteers and members of our staff. The GBCA is committed to maintaining a work environment free from all forms of discrimination regarding its employees, contractors, donors, volunteers, customers, or any other person.
The specific forms of discrimination prohibited by GBCA policy are those based on race, sex, gender, religion, age, color, creed, national or ethnic origin, sexual preference, physical or mental disability, marital status, and political beliefs.
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Alcohol: Volunteers over the age of 21 participating in a GBCA volunteer stewardship trip are welcome to bring a small amount of alcohol ONLY if it is consumed responsibly. Alcohol should only be consumed after work hours and in a manner in which you can work the following day. Please avoid glass bottles.
Firearms: Firearms and other weapons are strictly prohibited on GBCA stewardship trips. Trip leaders carry bear spray, and GBCA encourages volunteers to carry their own.
Marijuana and other drugs: Marijuana is now legal in Montana, but it is still ILLEGAL in Idaho and on federal lands, including Forest Service lands, where all GBCA-led stewardship projects and trips take place.
Other illegal drugs are also prohibited on GBCA trips. Anyone participating in a trip is a Forest Service volunteer under a working agreement. Drug use violates that agreement and could leave you liable for any injury, loss, or other issue that occurs.
Have additional questions?
Please email us at volunteer@greatburn.org.
Make any recurring donation, and opt in to receive action alerts, volunteer information, newsletters, and other opportunities to get engaged to become a Friend of the Burn. You’ll join hundreds of others who are showing support for permanent protection of this special place, so that it can stay Wild and available for generations to come.
BECOME A FRIEND OF THE BURN
