National Public Lands Day Volunteer Event

 09/26/2026  |  08:30 AM - 12:30 PM
  Reservoir Ridge Natural Area  |  Registration Required

Stewardship Project - 12 +

The purpose of this project is to celebrate National Public Lands Day while helping out with a variety of trail-related projects at Reservoir Ridge Natural Area. We will have project options available for all ages and ability levels. This trail project will focus on trail maintenance along the two main entrance trails at Reservoir Ridge, Michaud from the east and North Loop Connector from the west. The purpose of this project is to perform standard trail maintenance of implementing sustainable drainage structures, vegetation management, and implementing strategic rock work to stabilize areas of the tread surface. Don't worry - we'll show you how! All volunteers will start at the Michaud Trailhead (4300 Michaud Lane) and those working on the North Loop Connector will be shuttled to that location. Most projects will work in groups of 4-5 with a crew leader from Natural Areas staff. Volunteers can expect to walk 1-2 miles throughout the project. Projects will include the following: Vegetation Management - Beginner - Individuals will take pruners, and hand saws to cut back tree limbs, and sturdy shrubs that are encroaching the tread to open up vegetation that has overgrown segments of the trail. These individuals will get to walk a longer distance than other projects (3 miles) and open sight lines 1 crew of 4 individuals with 1 crew lead Drainage Implementation - Intermediate - Individuals will take hand tools and implement drainage structures along the trail, supported by rocks where applicable, to allow the water to slowly and sustainably move off the tread surface and stop tread cutting and trenching that is currently occurring. Crew’s will work up the trail tackling each drainage area they can in the allotted amount of time they have. 1 crew per side of 4-6 individuals with 1 crew lead Tread Stabilization / Rock Work – Intermediate/Advanced – Individuals will take hand tools and work on technical rock features and areas of the trail that have been severely degraded over the years. Crew’s will work up the trail tackling each tread maintenance area they can in the allotted amount of time they have. 1 crew per side of 4-6 individuals with 1 crew lead Schedule for the Day: 8:00am - Bus transportation available for up to 15 people. Sign up in advance with AJ at [email protected]. Meet at Northside Aztlan Center in the back parking lot. 8:30am - Arrive at Pineridge Dixon Reservoir Lot. 9:00am - Project begins 12:00pm - Project ends. Return to parking lot for lunch and prize drawing! 12:30pm - Lunch ends. Bus will head back to town. 1:00pm - Bus arrives back at Northside Aztlan Snake gaiters to protect from rattlesnakes will be provided for those working off trail. Please bring: Long sleeve shirts, long pants, boots/hiking shoes, sun protection and water.

Registration is required for this activity. Click "register" to reserve your spot.

General Info

Thank you Fort Collins and Larimer County voters! Your support of citizen-initiated sales taxes makes land conservation and educational activities like this possible.

AJ Chlebnik

Pronouns: she/her/hers

City of Fort Collins

Natural Areas Department

Public Engagement Specialist

[email protected]

970-224-6118