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Yacolt Burn - Bells Mountain

Day Work Party

Sat Dec 20, 2025: 8:30 AM — 3:30 PM

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Region

Southwest — Columbia River Gorge - WA

Features: Earn Discover Pass

Crew Leader: Emma Royce

Photo by trip reporter wishfulwanderer

Overview

The very northern portion of the Bells Mountain trail needs work to get water off the trail and clean some bridges. Join us for a day of drainage and water!

About the Area

Close to several cities in Southwest Washington, the Yacolt Burn State Forest is a hiker, biker, or trail runner's dream. There are many trail options at low and mid-elevations, making it perfect for year-round adventures.

What to Expect

We'll have fun, work hard and make a difference! Be prepared for a variety of projects. No experience is necessary.

Project Description

You will meet at Moulton Falls and take a short and beautiful walk over the Lewis River to get to the very beginning of the Bells Mountain Trail. From there, it is a steep hike up, which you will do slowly because you will be stopping frequently to use digging tools to address drainage issues. The full bridge-cleaning experience will take a hike of 4 miles round trip, with 1,100 ft of elevation gain, which some parts of the crew may tackle which others stay back.

Hiking Information

Our hike to the project site is expected to be up to four miles round trip with up to 1,100ft of elevation gain.

Schedule

  • 8:30 AM: Gather for introductions and safety briefing, then caravan in to the project site
  • Morning: Work at your own pace, and take breaks throughout the day
  • 12:00 PM: Lunch on the trail
  • Afternoon: Consider trying a new task before wrapping up the day's work
  • 3:30 PM: Discuss the day's work and enjoy refreshments at the trailhead

For safety reasons, arriving late or leaving early is not allowed.

Planning Information

Get ready for a great day outside!

What it Takes to Do This Work Party

  • No experience is necessary—just bring a great attitude for working with a team! WTA provides the training and tools you need
  • Expect to be physically active at your own pace for up to 6 hours each day on uneven terrain
  • Recommended for ages 10 and older; under 14 must be accompanied by an adult and a parental consent form must be signed for anyone under 18

What to Wear

Required:

  • Sturdy closed-toe shoes
  • Work gloves
  • Eye protection (glasses, sunglasses, or safety glasses)
  • Long pants

Recommended:

  • Sturdy work or hiking boots
  • Long sleeved shirt

A hard hat will be provided by WTA. Additionally, work gloves and eye protection will be provided by WTA if you do not have your own, but when possible we recommend bringing your own. For safety reasons, certain tasks may be assigned based on the safety level of your footwear. Volunteers who do not have long pants, or sturdy closed toes shoes, will not be able to participate in the work party.

What to Bring

  • A sense of fun and adventure for learning new skills and meeting great people!
  • Lunch and plenty of water
  • Rain jacket and pants
  • Extra warm clothing in case of wet or cold weather
  • A pack to carry your personal gear

Firearms and weapons are not allowed.

More Information

From the Hiking Guide

See what WTA's hiking guide and trip reports say about this area.

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Directions

From I-5, take the exit for WA 502-E toward Battle Ground. Take 502E until 10th Ave/503N; turn left on 10th Ave/503N. After 5.6 miles, take a sharp right onto NE Rock Creek Rd. This will become 52nd Ave and then Lucia Falls Rd. You will pass Lucia Falls Regional Park on your right. After 3 more miles you will see the parking lot for Moulton Falls on your right. Park there.

Note: Please follow the written directions above instead of using a GPS device. This will ensure that you get to the correct meeting location for this work party. The location of the pinpoint below is only approximate.

Getting to WTA work parties can involve travel on rough, unpaved roads in areas without cellular service and without street addresses that can be accurately used by navigation devices. Unless specifically noted otherwise, routes can generally be traveled by all types of vehicles. Volunteers with limited experience driving on unpaved mountain roads may want to allow extra time, beyond what is recommended in the directions above, to get to the meeting location.

Required Documentation

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