Our backcountry restoration crew has been working in the Kelly Creek area for over a decade, and we need your help to figure out if our treatment efforts are effective. Autumn is a beautiful time to visit Kelly Creek, one of the most wild and remote areas of the Great Burn Recommended Wilderness. The area is home to blue ribbon trout streams and abundant wildlife, and our restoration work directly improves the wild character of the area. 

To help target treatment, GBCA utilizes Line Point Intercept monitoring. Volunteers will assist the Restoration Program Director in completing two blocks of transects located in Hanson Meadows. This will provide great plant ID practice!

This trip is rated as moderate to strenuous in difficulty. Monitoring is a long process and each block will take 3-5 hours.

**All volunteer trips are subject to change due to ever changing fire activity.

Itinerary:

Day 1 | Volunteers will carpool to Kelly Creek TH and hike to Hanson Meadows via trail 567. Set up basecamp and relax! 12 mi, Elevation gain: 1774 ft, Elevation loss: 1276 ft

Day 2 | Both monitoring plots are located in Hanson Meadows near our camp, so we’ll get to work in the morning on the first plot. There will also be some time to explore or fish Kelly Creek. 

Day 3 | Same as the day before, but we will complete the second monitoring plot just west of camp. Again, there will also be time to explore the Kelly Creek area in the afternoon.

Day 4 | Break down camp and hike out via trail 567. Return to Missoula.

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 Hayley@greatburn.org

The Rocky Mountaineers started work on this trail in 2022, and we are lucky enough to have them back! Trail 510 is overgrown and anything but clear. Once clear, trail 510 will provide a short but steep section up to Cedar Peak, and a long open ridge walk to Chilcoot Pass, ending at Siamese Lakes. It will be another great loop option from Clearwater Crossing! 

This trip is rated as moderate to strenuous in difficulty.

**All volunteer trips are subject to change due to ever changing fire activity.

Itinerary:

Day 1 | Meet at the Clearwater Crossing trailhead at 9 am. Volunteers will hike to basecamp, eat lunch, pick up cached tools, and head to the worksite. Total miles: 3

Day 2 | Work day! We’ll be cutting brush, redefining trail tread, and clearing fallen logs on trail 510. Total miles: 2.

Day 3 | Work day! We’ll be cutting brush, redefining trail tread, and clearing fallen logs on trail 510. Total miles: 2.

Day 4 | Volunteers will continue to make progress on trail 510 in the morning. After lunch, we’ll break camp and head out. Total miles: 5

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 Hayley@greatburn.org

Hub, Hazel, and Mary Lakes are popular lakes that lie in the beautiful Ward-Eagle inventoried roadless area along the Montana/Idaho border. We will access the lake's basin via a short hike through pristine old growth forest. GBCA volunteers will help remove noxious weeds, climb a peak or two, and conduct backcountry campsite surveys and cleanup. Those who want to fish can try their hand at Hub Lake!

This trip is rated as moderate in difficulty.

**All volunteer trips are subject to change due to ever changing fire activity.

Contact volunteer@greatburn.org for carpooling options.

Itinerary:

Day 1:  Depart from the TH at 9:30 am. Survey for noxious weed populations that may be emerging along Trails 262 and 280 towards Hub Lake. We’ll handpull any small populations of noxious weeds we find. Later in the day we’ll inventory lakeside campsites at Hazel Lake. Camp at Hub Lake.  3 mi   Elevation gain: 1,827ft    Elevation loss: 82ft

Day 2: Exploratory day for the group! After breakfast we will take a day trip to Mary Lake and complete campsite surveys and clean up. Hikes to Eagle Peak and Ward Peak summits are also a possibility – these hikes are on trail systems, and surveys for noxious weed outbreaks along trails will be performed on the way up to peak areas. Those who have a hankering to wet a line may do so at the lakes! Mary Lake: 0.5 mi, Elevation gain: 646ft; Eagle Peak: 1.2 mi, Elevation gain: 1542ft; Ward Peak: 2.5 mi, Elevation gain: 1536ft

Day 3:  Morning will consist of surveying campsites at Hub Lake for noxious weeds and hand pulling small populations. After lunch we will pack up camp and head back  to the trailhead, arriving back in Missoula late afternoon/early evening.

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 Hayley@greatburn.org

This area is a popular destination for both backpackers and day hikers, and is located on the Superior Ranger District. GBCA has a long history restoring the sensitive sub-alpine meadows around Pearl Lake, which has dealt with pesky noxious weeds in the past. This volunteer group will head out and hand pull selected species, as well as monitor and clean campsites around Pearl Lake. There’s also a good chance you’ll catch site of the local mountain goat herd! 

This trip is rated as moderate in difficulty.

**All volunteer trips are subject to change due to ever changing fire activity.

Itinerary:

Day 1 | Bright and early we’ll drive to Hoodoo pass and hike to Pearl Lake via the Stateline trail 738. After lunch and camp set up we’ll get to surveying and improving the meadows above Pearl Lake. 5.3mi Elevation gain: 1,406 ft , Elevation loss: 1,124 ft

Day 2 | Work will continue in the morning with campsite inventory and clean up around Pearl Lake and Dalton Lake (0.6 mi from Pearl, Elevation gain: 340 ft, Elevation loss: 300 ft). Pack up and hike out to Hoodoo Pass in the afternoon and back to Missoula by early evening.  

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 Hayley@greatburn.org

We are excited to partner with Idaho Trails Association on this week long trail improvement project in Kelly Creek. Volunteers will work alongside GBCA and ITA staff and volunteers to clear a portion of the Idaho Centennial Trail that has been long overgrown

For more specific trip info and registration visit ITA’s website. You can view the trip itinerary and register directly through the ITA website. There are 4 spots reserved specifically for GBCA volunteers.

Use the password below to register today!

Password to register: hike2023

This trip is open to BIPOC community members only. GBCA is excited to offer a Stateline Trail traverse in partnership with Here Montana. This trip will be centered around getting to know the Great Burn, why protecting places like the Great Burn is important, becoming comfortable in the backcountry, and getting out and experiencing a wild place that is only 40 miles from Missoula (as the crow flies). Volunteers will start at Hoodoo Pass and hike south along the Stateline Trail, crisscrossing in and out of Montana and Idaho, visiting some of the incredible lakes that make this area special. All overnight stays will be at Montana lakes, so if you’re interested in fishing make sure to have your MT license!

Trip is limited to 8. Please submit your application by May 31, 2023. Registration fee is waived for this trip.

This trip is rated as moderate in difficulty.

**All volunteer trips are subject to change due to ever changing fire activity.

Itinerary:

Day 1 | Meet at the GBCA office, where we’ll carpool to the Hoodoo Trailhead, outside of Superior, MT. After a trailhead orientation, we’ll hit the trail and make it to Dalton Lake to set up camp. There’s also a good chance we’ll spot some of the resident mountain goats! 5.5 miles,  Elevation gain:  1494ft, Elevation loss:  1158ft

Day 2 | After breakfast, we’ll hike back up to the stateline trail and continue south to Trio Lakes. This will be the day of views as you crisscross on the stateline. 4.2 miles, Elevation gain: 625ft, Elevation loss: 1579ft

Day 3 | Starting our descent into Fish Creek, the group will make it to a large grove of old growth cedar trees. Options for a side hike to French Lake, or continue on to Greenwood Cabins, an abandoned mining outpost to set up camp. 5.9 miles, Elevation gain: 109ft, Elevation loss:1676ft

Day 4 | After breakfast, we’ll finish off our descent along the North Fork of Fish Creek to Clearwater Crossing, where our shuttle back to town will be waiting. 5.5 miles, Elevation gain:  89ft, Elevation loss:  851ft

Heart Lake is one of the most popular locations in the Great Burn Proposed Wilderness, which means the trail gets its fair share of wear. Volunteers will help the US Forest Service trail crew on trail improvement on the main Heart Lake trail 171. 

This trip is rated as moderate to strenuous in difficulty.

**All volunteer trips are subject to change due to ever changing fire activity.

Itinerary:

Day 1 | Meet at Heart Lake Trailhead at 9am. Hike to meet the USFS trail crews- which should be within 1-2 miles of the trailhead. GBCA volunteers will lend a helping hand for the day. Volunteers will then head to Heart Lake to spend the night.

Day 2 | Volunteers will help the Superior District tail crew on improving trail 171. Work will consist of rebuilding creek crossings, tread improvement, waterbar installation, and rock work.

Day 3 | After breakfast and packing up, volunteers will continue work on trail 171 until mid-day, when we will hike back out to the Heart Lake trailhead and head home.

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 Hayley@greatburn.org

The Schley Trailhead is a popular access point to the heart of the Great Burn, and is a great jumping off point to the southern portion of the stateline trail. The lush native meadows in the area provide valuable wildlife forage, making it an important area to keep weed free. Volunteers will assist our Restoration Program Director (who also happens to be a birder!) in biocontrol monitoring and hand pulling in Kid Lake Meadows.

This trip is rated as easy to moderate in difficulty. Access to Schley TH requires a high clearance vehicle. Contact volunteer@greatburn.org for carpooling options.

**All volunteer trips are subject to change due to ever changing fire activity.

Day 1 | Carpooling is encouraged to Schley TH. From the trailhead, we will make our way on trail 110 and 738 to Kid Lake. 5.2 mi ,Elevation gain: 669 ft , Elevation loss: 1,132 ft

Day 2 | From Kid Lake, we will day hike to Kid Lake Creek Meadows, where the group will conduct biocontrol monitoring  (using sweep nets to look for Chrysolina beetles) and hand pull targeted noxious weeds.  We’ll be back to camp at Kid Lake for the evening. 6 mi (round trip), Elevation loss/gain: 1200 ft

Day 3 | We’ll have a relaxed morning in camp with some opportunity to explore the stateline area. Pack up camp and head back to Missoula by mid-day.  

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 Hayley@greatburn.org