Sams Walker
Day Work Party
Thu Jan 8, 2026: 8:30 AM — 3:30 PM
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Region
Southwest — Columbia River Gorge - WA
Features: Earn Northwest Forest Pass
Crew Leader: James Alexander
Overview
Start your new year of trail work on an overlooked gem of a trail near the Columbia River. Bald eagles will likely perch and call above you as you work to reclaim the tread from encroaching weeds, grass, and blackberry. Leather gloves recommended!
About the Area
Take a mile-long stroll along a graveled trail through abandoned farm fields. This trail is barrier free, and WTA has worked to make it it more wheelchair friendly. It wends through fields set aside for restoration, ducks into some woods, and emerges above the Columbia River. If you look carefully, you can see Multnomah Falls across the river.
What to Expect
We'll have fun, work hard and make a difference! No experience is necessary.
Project Description
In 2015 WTA restored the trail to its original width and resurfaced much of it with crushed rock. Since then it's been a yearly endeavor to keep the weeds, grass and blackberries from narrowing the trail down again. We'll run our brush cutter, use loppers, and bust out the digging tools to remove vegetation choking the trail.
Hiking Information
Round trip hiking is going to be about 2 miles on flat terrain.
Schedule
- 8:30 AM: Be ready to meet the crew, rain or shine
- 8:35 AM: Gather for a safety briefing, then hike 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: Sign out after enjoying 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 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
- 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
- A sense of fun and adventure for learning new skills and meeting great people!
Firearms and weapons are not allowed.
More Information
- Frequently Asked Questions
- WTA's Trail Work Guide introduces the type of work you may do
- Contact us at volunteer@wta.org or 206.625.1367
From the Hiking Guide
See what WTA's hiking guide and trip reports say about this area.
Partners
Directions
From Vancouver, drive east on Hwy 14 33 miles to Skamania Landing Road at milepost 32.8. (It is just before you get to the Skamania General Store) Turn right onto Skamania Landing Road and drive a quarter mile across the railroad tracks to the parking area on your right.
From Hood River, drive west on Hwy 14 to Skamania Landing Road at milepost 32.8. Make a left onto Skamania Landing Road, then drive a quarter mile across the railroad tracks to the parking area.
You may encounter a train parked at the railroad crossing at Skamania Landing Road. This happens from time to time. You can still reach Sams Walker. From Skamania General Store, go east for 1/2 mile. Turn right on Skamania Landing Road (its the same road that forms a loop). Follow Skamania Landing road as it curves back to the west through a residential area and you'll come to Sams Walker on your left in about a mile. You may need to do these directions in reverse if you find a train there at the end of the day.
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.
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