Have you ever wondered what it's like to be part of restoring 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 restoring 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 restoring 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.

Are Dogs Allowed? Due to the dangerous nature of trail maintenance, no dogs are allowed on this 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

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 restoring 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 restoring 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 Sept 4th - Sunday Sept 7th

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 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.

Are Dogs Allowed? Due to the dangerous nature of trail maintenance, no dogs are allowed on this 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

Migrating Wildlife Says "Thank You!"

Spend a weekend in the beautiful and pristine Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge while working on restoration projects that will help improve wildlife habitat and re-naturalize the area. This project will directly help improve the natural area, wildlife, and their habitat. 

An article from High Country News says, "Fence ecology research shows that the West is a wiry place, containing enough fencing to circle the equator 25 times. Sage grouse, peregrine falcons, and other birds collide with fences, and ungulates must navigate an endless obstacle course. A 2021 paper found that pronghorn in Wyoming encountered fences an average of 249 times in a single year and changed their behavior around the barriers nearly 40% of the time. Fences often ensnare and kill large animals; woven wire with barbed wire on the top, like that on Horse Prairie, is particularly lethal. Fences also separate mothers from calves, exclude herds from prime habitat, and exhaust and injure animals."

To help with this important issue, we will be removing the barbed wire and pulling out the metal or wooden posts holding it up. It is such a rewarding project to remove these fences and see a significant difference within a few hours.

The Sheldon is a vast and rugged land that provides year-round habitat as well as major wintering areas for the Oregon-Nevada interstate pronghorn herd. This is the largest protected landscape in Nevada, managed exclusively for native wildlife species. The Sheldon Refuge contains some of the highest-quality sage-grouse habitat remaining in North America. Protecting this habitat and enhancing its health is an important part of minimizing the possibility of an Endangered Species Act listing of the sage-grouse. The area's sparse vegetation is dominated by sagebrush, grasses, and other shrubs with local areas of juniper or patches of mountain mahogany. Along the wetter drainages at lower elevations, you can find willow, cottonwood, and aspen. Away from the creeks, water sources are rare, and due to the underlying rock and soil, most upland areas are remarkably dry.

Photos from our two Sheldon fence pulls last year - Fence Removal #1 & Fence Removal #2

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

Dates: Friday, September 5 - Monday, September 8

Travel: Leave Reno on Friday Morning, returning Monday 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, Sunday, Monday, and a big group dinner (with dessert) on Saturday and Sunday nights. 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.

Are Dogs Allowed? Due to the dangerous nature of fence removal, no dogs are allowed on this project. 

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].

SAVE THE DATE!

Where: Cedarville, CA 

When: Saturday, September 13th

Join Friends of Nevada Wilderness, the BLM Applegate District, Modoc County Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, and local astronomy groups for an evening of family-friendly Dark Sky activities and unbelievable stargazing! 

We hope you will bring your telescope, binoculars, star chart, and appreciation for darkness, as we gather to spend some time staring at the stars. Folks are welcome to set up gear, looks through someone else's, or simply come to look up at the night sky to spot some stars and constellations, and maybe a meteor or two!

Updates will be made to this page as they become available, and all RSVP's will be sent an e-mail with more specific information about location and timing of events as we get the details nailed down!

In partnership with: Bureau of Land Management Applegate Field Office, Modoc County Outdoor Recreation and Tourism, Astronomical Society of Nevada

Please visit our Massacre Rim WSA and Dark Sky Sanctuary page for more information on the Sanctuary and places to stay in the Surprise Valley Area. We encourage you to make accommodations before you arrive, as lodging is limited in the valley and fills up quickly. Camping and RV hookups will be available on a first-come first-serve basis at the Modoc County Fairgrounds.

Citizen astronomers are welcome! Bring your telescope, your knowledge of the night sky, and your enthusiasm to teach... and learn!

English: We're excited for 2025 National Public Lands Day! Come out and have a blast with a weekend full of projects, fun, and great food (including a Dutch Oven cook-off)! There will be multiple projects for all skill levels, camping in a beautiful location, and a great community of people. You don't want to miss this one, RSVP and save your spot today! Some of this year's projects will include: 

1 - Fence removal to improve wildlife habitat throughout Soldier Meadows! 

2 - Cabin/campground cleanup, trash removal, and beautification 

And more to come! We are still in the planning phase and will have projects for every level! Check back for updates closer to the event!

As always, this project is free! We will be providing breakfast with coffee Saturday and Sunday as well as a delicious dinner on Saturday night. For this project, a 4-wheel drive vehicle is not required to reach the campsites (as long as it's not too wet), but, higher clearance and good tires are recommended. We have camping gear available for those who need it. 

Check out photos from last year's National Public Lands Day here!

Spanish: ¡Estamos emocionados por el Día Nacional de las Tierras Públicas! ¡Ven y diviértete con un fin de semana lleno de proyectos, diversión y deliciosa comida. Habrá múltiples proyectos para todos los niveles, campamentos en un lugar hermoso y una gran comunidad de personas. ¡No te lo pierdas! ¡Reserva tu lugar hoy mismo! Algunos de los proyectos de este año incluyen:

1 - Remover el cerco de alambre de pua para mejorar el hábitat de la vida silvestre en Soldier Meadows.

2 - Limpieza de cabañas y campamentos, recolección de basura y embellecimiento.

¡Y más por venir! Todavía estamos en la fase de planificación y tendremos proyectos para todos los niveles. ¡Vuelve para obtener actualizaciones cuando se acerque la fecha del evento!

Como siempre, ¡este proyecto es gratuito! Ofreceremos desayuno con café el sábado y el domingo, así como una deliciosa cena el sábado por la noche. Para este proyecto, no se requiere un vehículo 4x4 para llegar a los campamentos (siempre que no esté demasiado mojado), pero se recomienda un vehiculo alto y con llantas en buen estado. Disponemos de equipo de campamento para quienes lo necesiten. 

¡Vean las fotos del Día Nacional de las Tierras Públicas del año pasado aquí!

EN: Information:

Difficulty: All Levels. There will be projects available for all skill levels and children. 

Location: Soldier Meadows

Dates: Friday, September 26th - Sunday, September 28th

Travel: For this project, a 4-wheel drive vehicle is not required to reach the campsites (as long as it's not too wet), but, higher clearance and good tires are recommended. 

Food: Breakfast and coffee are provided on Saturday and Sunday, Dutch Oven Cook-off and potluck dinner on 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: Details such as exact camping location, projects, daily schedule, and weather-related factors will be provided to those who have RSVP'd on a date much closer to the project. Plans are subject to change. We will always give as much notice as possible when this happens.

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].

SP: Información:

Dificultad: Todos los niveles. Habrá proyectos disponibles para todos los niveles incluyendo niños.

Ubicación: Soldier Meadows

Fechas: Viernes 26 de septiembre - Domingo 28 de septiembre

Como Llegar: Para este proyecto, no se requiere un vehículo 4x4 para llegar a los campamentos (siempre que no esté demasiado mojado), pero se recomienda un vehiculo alto y con llantas en buen estado. 

Comida: Se ofrece desayuno y café el sábado y domingo. ¡Competición de cocina a carbon y cena compartida el sábado por la noche!

Equipo/Ropa: Mangas largas, pantalones largos, calzado resistente para trabajo o senderismo. Equipo de campamento: carpa, bolsa de dormir, aislante. Tenemos equipo de campamento disponible para prestar. Lista de equipaje sugerida.

Más detalles: Se enviara información detallada como la ubicación exacta del campamento, los proyectos, y las condiciones climáticas a quienes hayan confirmado su asistencia en una fecha mucho más cercana al proyecto. Los planes están sujetos a cambios. Siempre avisaremos con la mayor antelación posible cuando esto ocurra.

¿Preguntas?: Consulte nuestra página de Preguntas Frecuentes o envíe un correo electrónico a [email protected].

Se requiere confirmar su asistencia para participar.

Friends of Nevada Wilderness y nuestros colaboradores dedican mucho tiempo y recursos a la organización de proyectos. Al confirmar su asistencia, se compromete a unirse a nosotros en ese proyecto. Entendemos que pueden surgir circunstancias que le impidan asistir. Entonces, si ya no puede asistir, cancele su RSVP lo antes posible para que otro voluntario pueda unirse al proyecto. Puede cancelar su RSVP a través del enlace de cancelación en encontrando el correo electrónico de confirmación de este proyecto o enviando un correo electrónico a [email protected] 

Migrating Wildlife Says "Thank You!"

Spend a weekend in the beautiful and pristine Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge while working on restoration projects that will help improve wildlife habitat and re-naturalize the area. This project will directly help improve the natural area, wildlife, and their habitat. 

An article from High Country News says, "Fence ecology research shows that the West is a wiry place, containing enough fencing to circle the equator 25 times. Sage grouse, peregrine falcons, and other birds collide with fences, and ungulates must navigate an endless obstacle course. A 2021 paper found that pronghorn in Wyoming encountered fences an average of 249 times in a single year and changed their behavior around the barriers nearly 40% of the time. Fences often ensnare and kill large animals; woven wire with barbed wire on the top, like that on Horse Prairie, is particularly lethal. Fences also separate mothers from calves, exclude herds from prime habitat, and exhaust and injure animals."

To help with this important issue, we will be removing the barbed wire and pulling out the metal or wooden posts holding it up. It is such a rewarding project to remove these fences and see a significant difference within a few hours.

The Sheldon is a vast and rugged land that provides year-round habitat as well as major wintering areas for the Oregon-Nevada interstate pronghorn herd. This is the largest protected landscape in Nevada, managed exclusively for native wildlife species. The Sheldon Refuge contains some of the highest-quality sage-grouse habitat remaining in North America. Protecting this habitat and enhancing its health is an important part of minimizing the possibility of an Endangered Species Act listing of the sage-grouse. The area's sparse vegetation is dominated by sagebrush, grasses, and other shrubs with local areas of juniper or patches of mountain mahogany. Along the wetter drainages at lower elevations, you can find willow, cottonwood, and aspen. Away from the creeks, water sources are rare, and due to the underlying rock and soil, most upland areas are remarkably dry.

Photos from our two Sheldon fence pulls last year - Fence Removal #1 & Fence Removal #2

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

Dates: Thursday, October 2 - Sunday, October 5

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, Sunday, and a big group dinner (with dessert) on Friday and Saturday nights. 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.

Are Dogs Allowed? Due to the dangerous nature of fence removal, no dogs are allowed on this project. 

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].

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 restoring 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 restoring 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 October 2nd - Sunday October 5th

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 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.

Are Dogs Allowed? Due to the dangerous nature of trail maintenance, no dogs are allowed on this 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

Join us in Restoring Mount Rose Wilderness! 

In Spring 2025, volunteers will work hard to remove invasive musk thistle from Mount Rose Wilderness! This fall, we will head into Mount Rose Wilderness to spread native seeds in these recovering riparian areas and help bring back native plants. We will hike bags of seeds from native grasses and pollinator-friendly plants, spread them across the meadows by hand, and then let nature take them from there. These are fun projects that usually only take half a day to complete, but can make a huge difference in the ongoing restoration efforts. 

Photos from the 2024 Seed Spreading Projects in Mount Rose

Check out more information on Mount Rose Wilderness

Information:

Timing: Seeds are the most successful if spread right before snow or rain, so therefore, we are not setting specific dates at this time. Our timeframe is Late October through mid-December. Those who register on this page will be notified as soon as possible before we head out (about a week's notice). At that point, you can let us know if you are available to join us. Spots will be limited on those projects. 

Difficulty: Moderate - See our difficulty rating scale here. This project is suitable for individuals in good physical condition who participate in a semi-exercise routing. Most people who are physically active can participate at this level. The project involves hiking 2-6 miles, partially off-trail, creek crossings, steep hills up and down, carrying a shovel, using the shovel, bending up and down. We will carry no more than 10 lbs of seed each. These projects may not be appropriate for children under 12 years of age. 

Location: 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. 

RSVP/Registration: If you are interested in joining us, please register below. We will contact you as soon as possible before a re-seeding project (about a week's notice). Because this is weather-dependent, flexibility in scheduling is necessary, thanks for your understanding. 

Questions?: Check out our FAQ page 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].

PLEASE NOTE: We are not setting specific dates at this time. Seeds are most successful if spread right before snow or rain, so therefore flexibility in scheduling is necessary.