Join us for a women’s 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 3.7 miles into the Wilderness and set up a base camp near our work site, spending two full days focused on rock work and tread repair. Using grip hoists, rock bars, and pick mattocks, we’ll move rocks and lots of dirt to rebuild a durable trail! This is physically demanding work, but also some of the most rewarding, offering the chance to develop real confidence and skill in trail work techniques. No prior trail work experience needed; we will provide training on site. 

Led by experienced female trail professionals, this project creates a supportive, team-focused environment to learn, grow, and take on a meaningful challenge together. It’s a great project for those looking to build trail skills and gain hands-on experience.

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. By joining this project, you’ll help restore a trail that was nearly lost, protect the surrounding landscape, and create a safe, lasting route for future visitors. Come ready to challenge yourself, build skills, and be part of an incredible team of women doing meaningful work in 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.

Interested in working on this trail, but you're not a woman? Check out our two other South Twin Trail Projects on August 27th and September 17th.

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 3.7 miles to our basecamp!

This is a backpacking trip. We ask that all volunteers are able to carry their own gear and personal food in their own backpack for the weekend (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, plate, mug, utensils, personal food, clothes, etc.). Long sleeves, long pants, and sturdy, above-the-ankle boots 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. Work-specific tools will already be cached at our basecamp.

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

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 3rd - Sunday September 6th

     Thursday: meet at the South Twin trailhead in the afternoon and hike 3.7 miles to our basecamp

     Friday and Saturday: complete trail work, approximately ~1 mile of hiking roundtrip each day

     Sunday: hike 3.7 miles back to the trailhead and drive back to Reno

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: We will provide breakfast on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday as well as dinners on Friday and Saturday. We ask that you bring dinner for yourself on Thursday - we will provide hot water for backpacking meals. Please bring your own lunches and snacks for the entire trip. You do not need to carry your own stove.

Gear/Clothing: For this project, volunteers must supply their own backpacking equipment (tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, plate, mug, utensils, Friday dinner and lunches, 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!