Press release from the Bigfoot Trail Alliance:

The Bigfoot Trail Alliance (BFTA) is celebrating a landmark year of conservation work across the Klamath Mountains, with significant accomplishments in wilderness trail restoration, volunteer engagement, and youth education. 

During the 2026 field season, BFTA staff and volunteers maintained and restored 140 miles of trails across five Northern California counties and removed 1,894 fallen trees in the Klamath, Shasta-Trinity, Mendocino, and Six Rivers National Forests. The organization also launched its first dedicated seasonal trail crew, significantly expanding its ability to restore remote trails impacted by wildfire, fallen timber, and years of deferred maintenance. 

Trail restoration efforts spanned the region, with 85 miles maintained in Siskiyou County, 25 miles in Trinity County, 11 miles in Humboldt County, 10 miles in Del Norte County, and 9 miles in Tehama County. These projects improved access to some of Northern California’s most remote and biologically diverse public lands. 

“Every mile we reopen represents an opportunity for people to reconnect with these extraordinary landscapes,” said Michael Kauffmann, BFTA Executive Director. “Our accomplishments this year reflect the dedication of volunteers, the hard work of our seasonal crew, and the generosity of supporters who believe in keeping public lands accessible.” 

Volunteers Contribute More Than 4,500 Hours 

Volunteer engagement remained central to BFTA’s success in 2026. Eighty-eight individual volunteers contributed 4,581 hours across 14 recorded projects, supporting trail restoration throughout the region. 

Major projects included work in the Marble Mountains, Russian, Yolla Bolly–Middle Eel, Trinity Alps, and Siskiyou Wilderness areas. Volunteers worked alongside professional leaders to clear fallen trees, repair damaged trail tread, and reopen historic wilderness routes. 

The organization’s first seasonal trail crew complemented these efforts, allowing BFTA to undertake longer and more technically challenging restoration projects. 

Investing in the Next Generation 

Beyond trail maintenance, BFTA continued expanding opportunities for young people to explore conservation careers through its Klamath Mountains Workforce Training Network. 

The network successfully completed its first year with 20 youth participants and expanded to 25 participants for 2026–27, representing communities across Northern California, including Mount Shasta, Happy Camp, Orleans, Willow Creek, Weaverville, Covelo, and the North Coast. 

The program provides hands-on experiences in trail restoration, forestry, ecology, mapping, and outdoor leadership. First-year highlights included a spring gathering along the Salmon River and a youth trail work weekend at Stanshaw in the Marble Mountains, where participants earned stipends while developing practical conservation skills. 

Supported by the S.H. Cowell Foundation, Humboldt Area Foundation’s Klamath River Fund, and a growing network of regional partners, the program is helping build pathways into conservation careers. 

“This is the kind of work that defines our future,” Kauffmann said. “We’re not just restoring trails. We’re helping young people develop skills, confidence, and lasting connections to public lands.” 

Thank You to Our Partners and Supporters 

Our accomplishments are made possible through strong partnerships and generous community support. We thank our four National Forest partners—Klamath, Shasta-Trinity, Six Rivers, and Mendocino—for their collaboration in trail restoration. 

Our youth programs benefit from partnerships with Ascend Wilderness Experience, Scott River Watershed Council, Salmon River Restoration Council, Trinity County Resource Conservation District, Watershed Research & Training Center, and Trinity Together, along with regional Tribal governments and community organizations. 

Special thanks to the California Conservation Corps, S.H. Cowell Foundation, Humboldt Area Foundation’s Klamath River Fund, and our generous individual donors and supporters for making this work possible. 

Above all, we thank the volunteers, seasonal staff, and young people who bring energy, dedication, and purpose to our mission. 

Learn more and volunteer with us at www.bigfoottrail.org.