Join us for a backcountry trail project in the Arc Dome Wilderness as we continue restoring the South Twin Trail. This area was heavily impacted by flooding from Hurricane Hilary, and after several hitches by our professional trail crew, the first three miles are now passable. This trip takes us beyond that work to keep rebuilding. We’ll backpack three miles into the Wilderness and set up a base camp near our work site, spending two full days focused on rock work. Using grip hoists, rock bars, and jacks, we’ll move and shape stone to rebuild durable trail structures. This is physically demanding work, but also some of the most rewarding, offering the chance to build real confidence and skills in advanced trail techniques.

Beyond the work, this trip is a true backcountry adventure. You’ll spend your days in a rugged and beautiful landscape, your evenings at camp, and your time fully immersed in a place few people get to experience this way. Come ready to challenge yourself, learn a lot, and be part of something meaningful out in the heart of the Wilderness.

This project is funded by the OnX Adventure Forever Grant and the National Forest Foundation. We're so excited to partner with OnX in their mission to inspire communities to pass on responsible recreation ethics, enable land access, and promote healthy ecosystems. You can learn more about OnX here.

Learn more about the Arc Dome 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. This trip will require backpacking 3 miles to our basecamp!

This is a backpacking trip. We ask that all volunteers are able to carry their own gear and food in their own backpack for the weekend (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, stove, plate, mug, utensils, all food, clothes, etc.) plus work-specific tools that we will hand out at the trailhead. Long sleeves, long pants, and sturdy, close-toed shoes are required for our workday. Please also bring a hat and a rain jacket. Volunteers should ideally have prior backpacking experience before participating in this project. 

We will hike together as a group, taking frequent breaks, but expect volunteers to be able to complete this hike at a reasonable pace. 

There will be a water source at our campsite for the weekend. We will provide a water filter, but if you have one to share, we ask that you please bring that as well. Please bring the capacity to carry at least 3 liters of water at a time.

When: Thursday September 17th - Sunday September 20th

Where: South Twin Trailhead, Arc Dome Wilderness (roughly 4 hours from Reno)

Travel: The road to the trailhead is dirt, but should be passable in most vehicles. Please contact staff if you have any questions. There are limited spots in FNW vehicles from Reno. Reach out ASAP if you need a ride. There will not be FNW vehicles leaving from Las Vegas.

Food: No food will be provided on this trip. All participants must bring enough food for themselves for the entire weekend (Thursday/Friday/Saturday/Sunday lunch, Thursday/Friday/Saturday dinner, Friday/Saturday/Sunday breakfast, and plenty of snacks).

Gear/Clothing: For this project, volunteers must supply their own backpacking equipment (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, plate, mug, utensils, stove, all meals, clothes, etc.) and be able to carry it in their own backpack. Long sleeves, long pants, and sturdy, close-toed shoes are required for our workdays. Please also bring a hat and rain jacket. If you have any questions about what to bring, please reach out.

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. Friends staff members will provide any tool training necessary for the project. As this is a 'most challenging' and backpacking project, expect a staff member from FNW to reach out before the project to confirm your preparedness.

Are Dogs Allowed? No dogs are allowed on this project. 

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. 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!