In 2023 Sitka Trail Works launched our volunteer trail maintenance program in partnership with the USDA Forest Service Tongass National Forest. The program aims to develop a skilled volunteer force to support trail maintenance in Sitka.
Past events
Yaw DRIVE CONNECTOR
2025
Over 30 volunteers came out in the sun to help us gravel the Indian River Cross Trail Connector for a few hours. In partnership with the City of Sitka, many hands make light work. The tread of this trail is now significantly improved, and it is due to the time donated from so many incredible community members, of all ages that made it happen.
Charteris street entrance
2024
Thank you to the 20+ people who came out to the last volunteer event of the year! We made significant improvements to the Charteris Street Cross Trail Connector. The volunteers hauled over 2 tons of rock uphill to rebuild a wet section of tread, added traction, and removed loose steps. All of the gravel for this project was donated by K&E Alaska, a local business essential to our work. The contributions from K&E and our generous volunteers are invaluable to the community members who frequent this connector.
NAtional public Lands Day
2024
In partnership with the USFS Sitka Ranger district we had a hefty turn out at Mosquito Cove for National Public Lands Day! We had a great time working to repair the trail post-blast. Volunteers were able to move two helicopter bags worth of gravel up from the cove, rebuild the main bench of the trail that got damaged, and started making a dent in the accessibility of the cove side trail. There is still lots of work to be done on this trail. Thank you to all the volunteers that helped to make an impact!
Salmon Lake
2024
In July of 2024, 30 volunteers joined us for a trip up Silver Bay to the Salmon Lake Trailhead. Attendees helped us distribute gravel to continue a project from 2023. We distributed multiple tons of gravel throughout the trail to improve tread.
Lake Eva
2024
In May of 2024, 40 Trail Works Volunteers got to attend a two-night, three-day cruise about the Admiralty Dream Boat of Allen Marine Tours, supporting Southeast Alaska through Tourism. With complete services provided, attendees dined and enjoyed building community on the cruise to Lake Eva. We completed eight hours of long deferred maintenance on the trail to Lake Eva, retreading, brushing, removing moss and more.
Harbor Mountain Viewpoint Trail
2023
To celebrate National Public Lands Day in partnership with the Forest Service in September of 2023, Sitka Trail Works recruited group of volunteers to put the final touches on the recent viewpoint trail construction project on the top of Harbor Mountain. Attendees assisted with essential revegetation all along the new trail.
SAWMILL CREEK PATHWAY
2025
For the first work party of 2025, with almost 30 volunteers helping for two hours, we made a big impact by clearing brush on the SMC Pathway. By widening the usable portion of the trail, we hope everyone will have a safer and more enjoyable experience while walking, rolling, or biking the trail.
Russian Orthodox Cemetary
2024
October’s Volunteer Trail Work Party was a huge success! For this community project, we were supporting Bob Sam, who has been a longtime caretaker of many cemeteries in town, and collaborating with Father Herman of the Russian Orthodox Church. The Orthodox Cemetery at the top of Observatory Street is a beautiful forest and we helped by spreading gravel and rebuilding tread to make the area more accessible for everyone. Bob is excited to have trails in better shape to promote a love of the cemetery and decrease vandalism to gravestones. We’re so appreciative of Bob’s dedication and guidance on this project, go check out the trails!
GAVAN HILL staircase
2024
We were lucky to get to work on a local favorite, the Gavan Hill Trail. On this volunteer day, we removed the dangerous, slanted boardwalk at the start of the trail and rebuilt the tread with gravel that our team carried in. A week after we worked on this trail, over 100 people from Sitka and beyond competed in the annual Alpine Adventure Run. The race climbs this steep trail and goes around the ridge to end on the Harbor Mountain road. We were very happy to contribute to repairing this trail before the race, which was made possible due to generous support from the Sitka Dock Co. and Chris and Charles Horan who sponsored this project.
National Trails Day
2024
June 1st 2024, community members game together to work on the Indian River Trail repairing tread, spreading gravel, brushing, scraping moss off bridges, and more. We celebrated our love of trails by tackling one in the middle of town. Thank you to SEARHC for co-sponsoring this event!
Kaasda Héen/Indian RiveR Work Party
2023
November 18th, 2023 a crew of 20 volunteers and staff worked on the Indian River Trail. Over 2800 pounds of old lumber were removed from the trail as well as significant gravel work to build resilience of the trail. Numerous drainage issues were also addressed including leveling out boards that help cross drainage flows.
Salmon Lake
2023
In summer of 2023, Sitka Trail Works brought over 50 volunteers to work on the Salmon Lake Trail using Allen Marine water taxis. The volunteers distributed over 30,000 pounds of gravel to improve accessibility and address erosion issues on this trail.
