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Sawtooth Wilderness I

Volunteer Vacation

Thu Jun 11, 2026 3:00 PM — Wed Jun 17, 2026 11:00 AM

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Region

North Cascades — Methow/Sawtooth

Features: Earn Northwest Forest Pass

Crew Leader: Lisa Black

Dagger Lake in a basin below the trail to Twisp Pass, one of several lakes you might see on this trip. Photo by Dave Schuba.

Overview

Note: This is a moderately strenuous trip. Expect to hike 6-8 miles roundtrip per day with 2000 feet of elevation gain over moderately steep terrain.

The remote Lake Chelan-Sawtooth mountains are gorgeous, but between fires and heavy winter snows, trails here are hard to keep clear.

You'll hike big miles along the Twisp River and by the end of it, you and your crew will have brought several trails up to Forest Service standards. Luckily, you can bring some extra in-camp comforts, since your home for the week is a car campground.

About the Area

The Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness features some of the most remote, dramatic landscapes in Washington. Because the trails here are so spread out, and the weather here can be so dramatic, the Methow Valley Ranger District needs help keeping these trails clear of trees downed from fires or degrading tread.

Despite the sometimes-harsh climate, this area is stunningly beautiful, with craggy mountains and sweeping views. It is a fantastic place to spend a week, and you have lots of options for your day-off hike. 

What to Expect

We'll have fun, work hard and make a difference!

Project Description

This crew will be performing annual maintenance on several trails in the Twisp River area. This may include logout - removing fallen logs with crosscut saws, hand saws, and axes. It may also include removing overgrown brush, reparing the walking tread, and digging drainage channels. The goal of this trip is to clear as much mileage as possible on several trails. Be prepared for a little bit of everything and a 1-2 days on each trail.

Camping and Hiking Information

  • Type: Car camp
  • Location: Poplar Flats Campground
  • Shower: None
  • Bathroom: Pit Toilet/Outhouse
  • Weather: Be prepared for variable conditions including heat, cold, wind and rain
  • Other: Daily carpooling to various trailheads
  • Hike to camp: None
  • Expected daily hike to project: Up to 6-8 miles roundtrip with 2000 feet of elevation gain at a moderate pace

Schedule

  • Day 1 (Thurs): Meet the crew rain or shine, then help setup camp
  • Day 2-3(Fri-Sat): Trail work day. Gather for breakfast (7:00 AM) then hike to the project site (8:00 AM). Work at your own pace, take plenty of breaks and enjoy lunch on the trail. By 3:00 PM, hike back to camp to enjoy snacks and unwind before dinner (6:00 PM). Help with a different camp chore each day including meal preparation and cleanup.
  • Day 4 (Sun): Day off to relax and explore your beautiful surroundings
  • Day 5-6 (Mon-Tue): Trail work day
  • Final Day (Wed): Break down camp, finish trail project, hike out and say goodbye to the crew at the trailhead

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

Planning Information

Get ready for a great vacation!

What it Takes to Do This Work Party

  • A great attitude for working with a team!
  • Camping gear and trail work gear; WTA provides training, tools and great food
  • Good physical condition to be physically active for about 7 hours daily on uneven terrain
  • Day work party experience recommended
  • Flexibility to adapt to changes due to unpredictable weather or land manager requests
  • Minimum age: 18

What to Bring

Required:

  • Sturdy work or hiking boots. Review our Logout Boot Guide for more details.
  • Work gloves 
  • Eye protection (glasses, sunglasses, safety glasses, or mesh “bug eyes”. Glasses should have wrapping side shields. ANSI Z87.1+)
  • Long pants
  • Long sleeve shirt

Required for Chainsaw Use: 

  • Sturdy work or hiking boots that are “cut resistant” or leather, laced boots that provide ankle support and nonskid soles. 

A hard hat will be provided by WTA. For chainsaw use, volunteers will be provided with additional PPE (eye protection, ear pro, gloves, and chainsaw chaps). For safety reasons, volunteers who do not have required gear will not be able to participate in the work party. 

In addition to the items listed above, bring the following camping gear:

  • WTA hard hat
  • Work gloves
  • Tent, sleeping bag and sleeping pad
  • At least two 1-liter water bottles and a coffee mug
  • Rain jacket and rain pants
  • Extra warm clothing
  • Camp clothing such as shorts, shirt and sandals
  • Sun and bug protection
  • Headlamp and extra batteries
  • Personal items such as medication, hand sanitizer and toiletries
  • ​First aid kit
  • Day pack
  • A sense of fun and adventure for learning new skills and meeting great people!

A hard hat will be provided by WTA if you do not already have a WTA provided hart hat. 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.

More Information

From the Hiking Guide

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

A My Backpack account is required. You will be asked to register or log in before you can join.

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Partners

Directions

We will be camping at the Poplar Flat Camground, a car camp which is located up the Twisp River road, approximately 20 miles from the town of Twisp. From the town of Twisp, on the eastern portion of North Cascades Highway (State Route 20), drive west on the Twisp River road (it is signed and leaves from the center of town) for approximately 20 miles. The Campground is just off of the road, about 6.5 miles beyond the War Creek Campground,2 miles beyond where the pavement end.

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.

Fees

Trip fee for WTA members: $300.00

Trip fee for non-members: $350.00

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Cancellation Policy

  • If you paid the WTA member fee of $300, there is a $30 cancellation fee for cancellations more than 30 days prior to the trip, and no refund for cancellations within 30 days of the trip.
  • If you paid the WTA non-member fee of $350, there is a $70 cancellation fee for cancellations more than 30 days prior to the trip, and no refund for cancellations within 30 days of the trip. You will retain your one-year membership to WTA.

Required Documentation

You must be part of this crew and have a My Backpack account to see the Crew Corner.

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Carpool

Find a ride, give a ride with people who also want to carpool.