Volunteer Vacations

Every spring-summer WTA hosts week-long work parties called Volunteer Vacations. Volunteers from all over Washington and sometimes, all over the country, join with WTA for a week of volunteer trail maintenance in premiere backcountry locations throughout Washington State.

Volunteer Vacations

Give us a week. We'll make it great.

: Click the photo to check out pictures from the 2007 Volunteer Vacations! Arlo Smith took this photo of last year's crew at Hart Lake.

Looking for a rewarding, challenging and fun vacation? Every spring-summer WTA hosts week-long work parties called Volunteer Vacations. Volunteers from all over Washington and sometimes, all over the country, join with WTA for a week of volunteer trail maintenance in premiere backcountry locations throughout Washington State.

For only $150 ($125 for WTA members) we will provide you with a week of fine cooking, fun folks and fantastic entertainment. Most likely you'll have such a great time that you'll want to join us for another trip later in the season. If you do, we'll give you an even better deal - only $75 for your second and any subsequent trips after that. Because of the popularity of these trips, full payment is due within two weeks of signing up for a trip. Please read through the procedures for submitting application and payment in the Volunteer Vacation FAQs.

What's the catch?

Well, we do a little trail work during the day. We might be rebuilding some tread, installing drainage structures, brushing and lopping or logging-out with crosscut saw. In the morning and in the evening we take turns doing in-camp chores like helping the cook, washing dishes and pumping water. But there will be plenty of time left over to sleep, eat and relax – and all those other "vacationy"-type things. Our menu can accommodate most hearty appetites and dietary needs. See our full listing of Frequently Asked Questions for more information on applying, payment, the menu and typical schedule.

2008 Volunteer Vacation Schedule

Note: You must be 18 years old or older to join one of our Volunteer Vacations. We also have a schedule of Volunteer Vacations for Youth.
* Difficulty Levels - see below
** Family Vacation welcomes children 10 - 14 years old with at least one parent

Dates difficulty levels*	Location (click location to learn more about trip)	Spaces Remaining
May 17 - 24 Car Camp	Carbon River Mt. Rainier National Park	FULL!
May 31 - June 7 Boat Ride to Easy Backpack	Domke Lake Lake Chelan	FULL!
June 7 - 14 Boat Ride to Easy Backpack	Domke Lake Lake Chelan	FULL!
June 7 - 14 Boat Ride to Car Camp	Holden Village Lake Chelan	FULL!
June 7 - 14 Car Camp	Little Pend Oreille Colville - US Fish & Wildlife	1
June 14 - 21 Car Camp	Cispus Trails Cowlitz Valley	4
June 14 - 21 Car Camp with moderate day hikes	Sawtooth Ridge Trails Methow Valley	Waitlist!
June 21 - 28 Car Camp with moderate day hikes	Teanaway Area Trails Cle Elum	FULL!
June 28 - July 5 Difficult	Chiwaukum Creek Wenatchee River	8
June 28 - July 5 Easy	Mid Fork Snoqualmie at Goldmyer Snoqualmie / North Bend	FULL!
July 5 - 12 Difficult	Chiwaukum Creek Wenatchee River	FULL!
July 5 - 12 Moderate	Green River - Goat Mountain Mount St. Helens	FULL!
July 12 - 19 Difficult	Green River - Goat Mountain II Mount St. Helens	2
July 19 - 26 Moderate	Stuart Lake Wenatchee River	FULL!
July 19 - 26 Moderate	PCT at Dewey Lakes Naches	Waitlist!
July 26 - August 2 Backcountry - Easy	Hyas Lake Family Vacation** Cle Elum (ages 10 - 14 with adult)	FULL!
July 26 - August 2 Moderate	Anderson and Watson Lakes Mount Baker	2
August 2 - 9 Car Camp	Bird Creek Meadows Yakama Nation	FULL!
August 2 - 9 Strenuous	Upper Dungeness Hood Canal	Waitlist!
August 9 - 16 Strenuous	PCT at Dishpan Gap Skykomish	FULL!
August 16 - 23 Difficult	Buck Creek Wenatchee River	FULL!
August 16 - 23 Strenuous	Granite Mountain Snoqualmie - North Bend	FULL!
August 23 - 30 Strenuous	PCT at Waptus Lake Cle Elum	FULL!
August 30 - Sept. 6 Strenuous	PCT at Waptus Lake Cle Elum	3
September 6 - 13 Moderate	Hidden Lakes Methow Valley	FULL!
September 6 - 13 Car Camp	Heather Meadows Mount Baker	FULL!
September 13 - 20 Easy	Mid Fork Snoqualmie at Goldmyer Snoqualmie / North Bend	FULL!
September 20 - 27 Car Camp	Cape Horn Columbia River Gorge Nat'l Scenic Area	5
September 27 - Oct 4 Car Camp	Lake Wenatchee Wenatchee River	6

*Difficulty Rating System

Trips range from easy front country (where we camp near the trailhead) to strenuous backpacks to remote locations. We do our best to provide trips that accommodate all types of abilities. If you can't tell from the trip descriptions below, call the office and we'll help get you set up with the trip that makes the most sense for you.

Car Camp – We will stay at a campsite close to the trail head.
Easy – A 1-3 mile hike to camp with little elevation gain.
Moderate – A 3-5 mile hike to camp with 500-1,000 feet elevation gain.
Difficult – A 5-8 mile hike to camp with 1,000-2,000 feet elevation gain.
Strenuous – A 4+ mile hike to camp with 2,000+ elevation gain.

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Volunteer Vacations