Join us for a weedy weekend in Mount Rose Wilderness! We will be leading an invasive weed removal project as part of the Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful Great Community Clean-up! We will meet at the Hunter Creek trailhead at 8 am and hike to a location along the Hunter Creek Trail as a group to remove the invasive musk thistle.

Musk thistle is classified as a noxious weed which spreads prolifically and negatively impacts native ecosystems. This weed thrives in disturbed areas like fire scars and replaces native plants. As wildfire seasons rage hotter and longer, restoration is vital to ensure native species have a fighting change at survival. Musk thistle competes with desirable native plants, and because of it's spiny nature, wildlife rarely graze upon it. When left unmanaged, it can take over and transform the landscape. Removing this invading species directly supports the health of our native ecosystems. Weed pulls are a fun way to spend time outdoors and help support the health of our native ecosystems. 

Photos from the 2024 Great Community Clean Up with KTMB

Read more about the beautiful Mount Rose Wilderness here!

Information:

Difficulty: Easy - See our difficulty rating scale here. This project is suitable for a wide range of physical abilities. It’s great for individuals new to volunteer conservation work. Appropriate for children over 12 years old with a parent or guardian. The project involves hiking 1-2 miles, partially off-trail, some steep hills up and down, carrying a shovel, using the shovel, and bending up and down.

Location: Hunter Creek Trailhead

Dates: Saturday, May 3rd, 8am - 12pm

Gear/Clothing: Long sleeves, long pants, sturdy work or hiking shoes. Bring at least 2 liters of water, sunscreen, and a lunch/snacks. Shovels and gloves will be provided. 

More Details: Keep Truckee Meadows Beautiful is hosting a lunch with food and drinks right after the project. More details will be provided day of, the morning of the project. 

Questions?: Check out our FAQ page here or email [email protected]

RSVP on the KTMB Website HERE! 

RSVP is required to participate.

Friends of Nevada Wilderness and our partners put a great deal of time and resources into organizing volunteer projects. When you RSVP you are committing to join us on that project. We understand circumstances may arise where you need to cancel. So, if you’re no longer able to attend, please cancel your RSVP as soon as possible so other volunteers can join the project. You can cancel your RSVP through the cancellation link in your project confirmation email or by emailing [email protected]

Wildlife Coming Through!

Barbed wire fence dissects habitats and entangles wildlife. Join us in removing unnecessary fence within the Soldier Meadows ACEC (Area of Critical Environmental Concern). We will work to remove the wire and wooden or metal posts, leaving the landscape open and unconstrained. Wildlife will be able to migrate freely again!

Photos from Soldier Meadows Fence Removal w/ Patagonia in 2022

Information:

Difficulty: Challenging - See our difficulty rating here. This project is suitable for individuals in good physical condition who participate in a regular exercise routine. This project may be physically challenging to some people, participants need to be in good physical condition and aware of their physical abilities and limits before joining this project. 

Location: Soldier Meadows, north of the Black Rock playa

Dates: Friday, May 9th - Sunday, May 11th

Travel: Leave Reno on Friday Morning, returning Sunday afternoon. A limited number of spots are available in Friends trucks to transport volunteers and carpooling is also an option. 

Food: Breakfast and coffee are provided on Saturday and Sunday, and yummy group dinner (with dessert) on Saturday night. Volunteers must bring their own lunches and snacks.

Gear/Clothing: Long sleeves, long pants, sturdy work or hiking shoes. Camping equipment: tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad. Camping gear is available for loan. Check out our suggested Packing List.

More Details: In-depth information such as camping location, weather, and project specifics will be sent out about a week before to those who have RSVP'd.

Questions?: Check out our FAQ page here or email [email protected].

RSVP is required to participate.

Friends of Nevada Wilderness and our partners put a great deal of time and resources into organizing volunteer projects. When you RSVP you are committing to join us on that project. We understand circumstances may arise where you need to cancel. So, if you’re no longer able to attend, please cancel your RSVP as soon as possible so other volunteers can join the project. You can cancel your RSVP through the cancellation link in your project confirmation email or by emailing [email protected].

Musk Thistle Your Time is Up

Join us for a Wednesday in Mount Rose Wilderness! We will meet at the Hunter Creek trailhead at 8 am on Wednesday, May 14th, and hike to a location along Hunter Creek Trail as a group to remove the invasive musk thistle. 

Musk thistle is classified as a noxious weed that spreads prolifically and negatively impacts native ecosystems. This weed thrives in disturbed areas like fire scars and replaces native plants. As wildfire seasons rage hotter and longer, restoration is vital to ensure native species have a fighting chance at survival. Musk thistle competes with desirable native plants, and because of its spiny nature, wildlife rarely graze upon it. When left unmanaged, it can take over and transform the landscape. Removing this invading species directly supports the health of our native ecosystems. Weed pulls are a fun way to spend time outdoors and help support the health of our native ecosystems. 

Check out these photos from a weed removal project last year.

Read more about Mount Rose Wilderness here!

Information:

Difficulty: Moderate - See our difficulty rating here. This project is suitable for individuals in good physical condition who participate in a semi-exercise routine. Most people who are physically active can participate at this level. 

Location: Hunter Creek Trail

Dates: Wednesday, May 14th, 8am - 3pm

Travel: Meet at Hunter Creek Trailhead

Gear/Clothing: Long sleeves, long pants, sturdy work or hiking shoes. Bring at least 2 liters of water, sunscreen, and a lunch/snacks. Shovels and gloves will be provided. Check out our suggested Packing List.

More Details: In-depth information such as weather and project specifics will be sent to those who RSVP about 1 week before the project.

Questions?: Check out our FAQ page here or email [email protected].

RSVP is required to participate.

Friends of Nevada Wilderness and our partners put a great deal of time and resources into organizing volunteer projects. When you RSVP you are committing to join us on that project. We understand circumstances may arise where you need to cancel. So, if you’re no longer able to attend, please cancel your RSVP as soon as possible so other volunteers can join the project. You can cancel your RSVP through the cancellation link in your project confirmation email or by emailing [email protected].

Musk Thistle Your Time is Up

Join us for a Wednesday in Mount Rose Wilderness! We will meet at the Hunter Creek trailhead at 8 am on Wednesday, May 21st, and hike to a location along Hunter Creek Trail as a group to remove the invasive musk thistle. 

Musk thistle is classified as a noxious weed that spreads prolifically and negatively impacts native ecosystems. This weed thrives in disturbed areas like fire scars and replaces native plants. As wildfire seasons rage hotter and longer, restoration is vital to ensure native species have a fighting chance at survival. Musk thistle competes with desirable native plants, and because of its spiny nature, wildlife rarely graze upon it. When left unmanaged, it can take over and transform the landscape. Removing this invading species directly supports the health of our native ecosystems. Weed pulls are a fun way to spend time outdoors and help support the health of our native ecosystems. 

Check out these photos from a weed removal project last year.

Read more about Mount Rose Wilderness here!

Information:

Difficulty: Moderate - See our difficulty rating here. This project is suitable for individuals in good physical condition who participate in a semi-exercise routine. Most people who are physically active can participate at this level. 

Location: Hunter Creek Trail

Dates: Wednesday, May 21st, 8am - 3pm

Travel: Meet at Hunter Creek Trailhead

Gear/Clothing: Long sleeves, long pants, sturdy work or hiking shoes. Bring at least 2 liters of water, sunscreen, and a lunch/snacks. Shovels and gloves will be provided. Check out our suggested Packing List.

More Details: In-depth information such as weather and project specifics will be sent to those who RSVP about 1 week before the project.

Questions?: Check out our FAQ page here or email [email protected].

RSVP is required to participate.

Friends of Nevada Wilderness and our partners put a great deal of time and resources into organizing volunteer projects. When you RSVP you are committing to join us on that project. We understand circumstances may arise where you need to cancel. So, if you’re no longer able to attend, please cancel your RSVP as soon as possible so other volunteers can join the project. You can cancel your RSVP through the cancellation link in your project confirmation email or by emailing [email protected].

Join Us at the 2025 Black Rock Rendezvous! 

Come join us out in the Black Rock Desert for a weekend full of learning, conservation, and the famous Dutch oven cook-off! This annual event brings together a large and varied group of people who love the Black Rock Desert. We are still in the planning stages of this event...more information about the specific tours, volunteer projects, and presentations will be available soon. 

As always, this project is free! We will be providing breakfast with coffee on Saturday and Sunday morning as well as a delicious dutch oven competition Saturday night. We have camping gear available to loan for those who need it. The road to the camping area should not require 4-wheel drive and high clearance. We will have limited space in Friends trucks to transport volunteers and carpooling is an option as well. 

Check out some of our 2024 Black Rock Rendezvous photos here!

Information

Difficulty: all levels!

Location: Black Rock Desert

Dates: Memorial Day weekend, Friday, May 23rd - Monday, May 26th

Travel: Most cars should be fine

Food: Breakfast and coffee are provided on Saturday and Sunday, Dutch Oven Cook-off Saturday night

Gear/Clothing: Long sleeves, long pants, sturdy work or hiking shoes. Camping equipment: tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad. Camping gear is available for loan. Check out our suggested Packing List.

More Details: In-depth information such as camping location, weather, and project specifics will be sent out about a week before the Rendezvous to those who have RSVP'd

Questions?: Check out our FAQ page here or email [email protected].

RSVP is required to participate.

Friends of Nevada Wilderness and our partners put a great deal of time and resources into organizing volunteer projects. When you RSVP you are committing to join us on that project. We understand circumstances may arise where you need to cancel. So, if you’re no longer able to attend, please cancel your RSVP as soon as possible so other volunteers can join the project. You can cancel your RSVP through the cancellation link in your project confirmation email or by emailing [email protected]

Musk Thistle Your Time is Up

Join us for a Tuesday in Mount Rose Wilderness! We will meet at the Hunter Creek trailhead at 8 am on Tuesday, June 3rd, and hike to a location along Hunter Creek Trail as a group to remove the invasive musk thistle. 

Musk thistle is classified as a noxious weed that spreads prolifically and negatively impacts native ecosystems. This weed thrives in disturbed areas like fire scars and replaces native plants. As wildfire seasons rage hotter and longer, restoration is vital to ensure native species have a fighting chance at survival. Musk thistle competes with desirable native plants, and because of its spiny nature, wildlife rarely graze upon it. When left unmanaged, it can take over and transform the landscape. Removing this invading species directly supports the health of our native ecosystems. Weed pulls are a fun way to spend time outdoors and help support the health of our native ecosystems. 

Check out these photos from a weed removal project last year.

Read more about Mount Rose Wilderness here!

Information:

Difficulty: Moderate - See our difficulty rating here. This project is suitable for individuals in good physical condition who participate in a semi-exercise routine. Most people who are physically active can participate at this level. 

Location: Hunter Creek Trail

Dates: Tuesday, June 3rd, 8am - 3pm

Travel: Meet at Hunter Creek Trailhead

Gear/Clothing: Long sleeves, long pants, sturdy work or hiking shoes. Bring at least 2 liters of water, sunscreen, and a lunch/snacks. Shovels and gloves will be provided. Check out our suggested Packing List.

More Details: In-depth information such as weather and project specifics will be sent to those who RSVP about 1 week before the project.

Questions?: Check out our FAQ page here or email owolff@nevadawilderness.org.

RSVP is required to participate.

Friends of Nevada Wilderness and our partners put a great deal of time and resources into organizing volunteer projects. When you RSVP you are committing to join us on that project. We understand circumstances may arise where you need to cancel. So, if you’re no longer able to attend, please cancel your RSVP as soon as possible so other volunteers can join the project. You can cancel your RSVP through the cancellation link in your project confirmation email or by emailing [email protected].

Work in an awe-inspiring place! Once again, this year's National Trails Day will be held at Steven's Camp, north of High Rock Canyon and the Black Rock Desert. The work will include maintaining the Upper High Rock Canyon Trail, and maintaining the public-use cabin. Trail maintenance helps keep a trail open and available to the public while minimizing damage to its fragile environment. The work involves cutting back overgrown brush, sawing fallen trees to remove them from the trail, and creating a safe durable surface to hike on. Friends of Nevada Wilderness will provide all the training, safety equipment, and trail maintenance tools needed to get the job done. We'd love to see you at National Trails Day to help maintain this beautiful area. 

About Steven's Camp and the Upper High Rock Canyon Area

Steven's Camp is located on the north side of High Rock Canyon Wilderness and High Rock Canyon Area of Critical Environmental Concern. Steven's Camp Recreation Area has a public-use cabin available for visitors on a first-come, first-serve basis. It is located in a unique area surrounded by desert rims and vistas with large meadows. Another cool feature of the area is The Applegate Lassen Emigrant Trail which goes through High Rock Canyon and was used by thousands of Emigrants and their wagons starting in 1848. The journey through was often slow and arduous, fraught with risks from infectious diseases, dehydration, malnutrition, injury, and harsh weather. 

Check out these photos from 2024 National Trails Day at Steven's Camp.

Read about the High Rock Canyon Wilderness here!

Information:

Difficulty: Easy - See our difficulty rating scale here.  This project is suitable for a wide range of physical abilities. It’s great for individuals new to volunteer conservation work. Appropriate for children over 12 years old with a parent or guardian.

Location: Steven's Camp, north of High Rock Canyon and the Black Rock Desert

Dates: Friday, June 6th - Sunday, June 8th

Travel: Leave Reno on Friday morning, returning Sunday afternoon. Most cars should be fine, higher Clearance and 4WD are recommended to reach the campsite (one small creek crossing near the campsite). A limited number of spots are available in Friends trucks to transport volunteers and carpooling is also an option. 

Food: Breakfast and coffee are provided on Saturday and Sunday, big group dinner (with dessert) on Saturday night. Volunteers must bring their own lunches and snacks.

Gear/Clothing: Long sleeves, long pants, sturdy work or hiking shoes. Camping equipment: tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad. Camping gear is available for loan. Check out our suggested Packing List.

More Details: In-depth information such as camping location, weather, and project specifics will be sent out about a week before to those who have RSVP'd.

Questions?: Check out our FAQ page here or email [email protected].

RSVP is required to participate.

Friends of Nevada Wilderness and our partners put a great deal of time and resources into organizing volunteer projects. When you RSVP you are committing to join us on that project. We understand circumstances may arise where you need to cancel. So, if you’re no longer able to attend, please cancel your RSVP as soon as possible so other volunteers can join the project. You can cancel your RSVP through the cancellation link in your project confirmation email or by emailing [email protected].

Musk Thistle Your Time is Up

Join us for a Wednesday in Mount Rose Wilderness! We will meet at the Hunter Creek trailhead at 8 am on Wednesday, June 11th, and hike to a location along Hunter Creek Trail as a group to remove the invasive musk thistle. 

Musk thistle is classified as a noxious weed that spreads prolifically and negatively impacts native ecosystems. This weed thrives in disturbed areas like fire scars and replaces native plants. As wildfire seasons rage hotter and longer, restoration is vital to ensure native species have a fighting chance at survival. Musk thistle competes with desirable native plants, and because of its spiny nature, wildlife rarely graze upon it. When left unmanaged, it can take over and transform the landscape. Removing this invading species directly supports the health of our native ecosystems. Weed pulls are a fun way to spend time outdoors and help support the health of our native ecosystems. 

Check out these photos from a weed removal project last year.

Read more about Mount Rose Wilderness here!

Information:

Difficulty: Moderate - See our difficulty rating here. This project is suitable for individuals in good physical condition who participate in a semi-exercise routine. Most people who are physically active can participate at this level. 

Location: Hunter Creek Trail

Dates: Wednesday, June 11th, 8am - 3pm

Travel: Meet at Hunter Creek Trailhead

Gear/Clothing: Long sleeves, long pants, sturdy work or hiking shoes. Bring at least 2 liters of water, sunscreen, and a lunch/snacks. Shovels and gloves will be provided. Check out our suggested Packing List.

More Details: In-depth information such as weather and project specifics will be sent to those who RSVP about 1 week before the project.

Questions?: Check out our FAQ page here or email owolff@nevadawilderness.org.

RSVP is required to participate.

Friends of Nevada Wilderness and our partners put a great deal of time and resources into organizing volunteer projects. When you RSVP you are committing to join us on that project. We understand circumstances may arise where you need to cancel. So, if you’re no longer able to attend, please cancel your RSVP as soon as possible so other volunteers can join the project. You can cancel your RSVP through the cancellation link in your project confirmation email or by emailing [email protected].

Restoration Crew Comin' Through!

This project will be focused on repairing a section of UTV/ATV road near the Peacock Opal Mine where the trail crosses a creek. The stream bed is soft and deep and often encourages riders to go around. This is problematic for several reasons:

1.) When UTVs travel off the designated route, habitat is unnecessarily destroyed

2.) When new "bypasses" are created subsequent users may unknowingly use the reroute and create a larger damaged footprint

3.) More sediment is dug up from these new crossings which results in degraded water quality downstream of the crossing

For this project, we will be shuttled into the work site via USFWS UTVs and will work together to armor/repair the existing crossing. Placing rocks in the soft areas will provide a solid place for UTVs to cross the creek without disturbing more habitat or creating more suspended sediment. We will collect rocks along the roadway and transport them to the creek crossing. 
Expect two days of heavy lifting and carrying.

Photos from around the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge

Check out our Stewards of Sheldon video and Sheldon Story Map.

Information:

Difficulty: Challenging - See our difficulty rating here. This project is suitable for individuals in good physical condition who participate in a regular exercise routine. This project may be physically challenging to some people, participants need to be in good physical condition and aware of their physical abilities and limits before joining this project. 

Location: Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge, camping at Virgin Valley Campground

Dates: Thursday, June 19th - Sunday, June 22nd

Travel: Leave Reno on Thursday morning, returning Sunday afternoon. A limited number of spots are available in Friends trucks to transport volunteers and carpooling is also an option. 

Food: Breakfast and coffee are provided on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, big group dinner (with dessert) on Friday and Saturday night. Volunteers must bring their own lunches and snacks.

Gear/Clothing: Long sleeves, long pants, sturdy work or hiking shoes. Camping equipment: tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad. Camping gear is available for loan. Check out our suggested Packing List.

More Details: In-depth information such as camping location, weather, and project specifics will be sent out about a week before to those who have RSVP'd.

Questions?: Check out our FAQ page here or email [email protected].

RSVP is required to participate.

Friends of Nevada Wilderness and our partners put a great deal of time and resources into organizing volunteer projects. When you RSVP you are committing to join us on that project. We understand circumstances may arise where you need to cancel. So, if you’re no longer able to attend, please cancel your RSVP as soon as possible so other volunteers can join the project. You can cancel your RSVP through the cancellation link in your project confirmation email or by emailing [email protected].

Have you ever wondered what it's like to be part of re-building a trail?! Well, now's your chance!

Hampton Creek on the Southeast side of Mount Moriah Wilderness needs your help! During 2014 a large area of Mount Moriah Wilderness was affected by a wildfire and two floods that damaged the Hampton Creek Trail. We will be re-building the trail within it's original corridor by digging tread, doing rock work, and creating drainage to establish a safe and useable trail for future trail users. This is a great opportunity to learn new trail skills and, of course, it's going to be a fun weekend of volunteering with great people and rewarding results.

Trail work is very important work and is highly rewarding! By maintaining existing trails there is less overall damage to our Wilderness areas and re-building damaged trails creates a safe and durable surface (a key principle of Leave No Trace) for trail users to experience these Wilderness Areas. 

You can see more pictures from the area here.

Learn more about the Mount Moriah Wilderness area here.

Information

Difficulty level: Most Challenging- see our difficulty rating here. Strenuous with longer hikes, off-trail hiking, sometimes with significant elevation changes. These trips are very challenging and require excellent aerobic conditioning, past experience in outdoor settings, and familiarity with backcountry hiking and/or camping. Not for beginners. 

When: Thursday June 26th - Sunday June 29th

Where: Mount Moriah Wilderness Area (roughly 5 hours from Las Vegas and about 6.5 hours from Reno)

Travel: A high-clearance, 4WD vehicle is recommended to reach the campsite. There are limited spots in FNW vehicles from Reno and Las Vegas. Reach out ASAP if you need a ride. 

What to bring: sturdy work or hiking shoes, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, sun protection, a pack with the ability to carry at least three liters of water, lunch, and snacks. As this is an overnight trip you will need camping gear, dinner for Thursday, lunch and snacks for Friday, Saturday and Sunday, a camp chair, and any entertainment you would like for the evenings. Check out our suggested Packing List.

What to expect: In-depth information such as weather, travel plans, parking/camping, and project specifics will be sent to those who RSVP about 1 week before the project. This is a multi-day project, we will provide breakfast for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and dinner for Friday and Saturday. You will need to provide food for yourself on Thursday, lunches, and any other snacks you would like. We will hike to the project area with all tools, safety equipment, lunch, and whatever else you may need for the day, and we will return to camp in the afternoon to make dinner. 

What we need from you: If you're interested in joining us for this project, you must RSVP. Friends of Nevada Wilderness and our partners put a great deal of time and resources into organizing volunteer projects. When you RSVP you are committing to join us on this project. We understand circumstances may arise where you need to cancel. If you’re no longer able to attend, please cancel your RSVP as soon as possible so another volunteer can join the project.

Want to bring a friend? All participants must RSVP individually (even partners, spouses, children, etc). Please send them this link and tell them to sign up.

Questions?: Check out our FAQ page here or email [email protected].

We can't wait to see you out there!

Click Here to RSVP