This past weekend, volunteers met at Lolo Creek Campground on the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest to repair this bridge in the Lewis and Clark Grove on the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. The bridge was damaged by a tree last year and our crew was able to repair the handrail and running boards. This is a remote but gorgeous trail near great camping and we appreciate our volunteers putting in the time to repair the bridge!

Volunteering with Idaho Trails Association this summer? Your time on the trail can make an even bigger impact!
As part of the celebration of America's 250th anniversary, the America Gives initiative is encouraging people across the country to log their volunteer hours and be part of what aims to be the largest year of service in U.S. history. By recording the hours you spend maintaining Idaho's trails, you'll help showcase the power of volunteerism—and you'll have the chance to direct funding to your favorite nonprofit (ITA of course!😉).
If you're volunteering with ITA or any nonprofit this season, be sure to log your hours and help support Idaho's trails while joining a nationwide movement of service.
Learn more and log your hours at: https://america250.org/america-gives/

Four days. Six miles of trail. Sixty-seven logouts.

Just miles from the Canadian border on Upper Priest Lake, an incredible crew of nine youth volunteers spent four days tackling some of Northern Idaho’s toughest trail work. Massive cedar and pine trees blocked the trail corridor, testing their strength, teamwork, and determination. Add in rainy days and plenty of sore muscles, and the challenge only grew.

But challenges have a way of bringing people together.

Between long days on the trail, this crew found time to laugh, explore, and make memories in one of Idaho’s most remote and beautiful places. They worked hard—and somehow played even harder.

A huge thank you to Bobby and Mike for providing transportation and treating the crew to a few scenic laps along the way. Another thanks to @priestlakestatepark for hosting us!

What makes projects like this so special isn’t just the miles cleared or the logs removed. These youth traveled from communities across Idaho to spend a few days working side by side, turning strangers into friends through shared challenges and experiences. The trails are better because of their hard work, but the connections they built may be the most lasting accomplishment of all.

If you shop at either @boisecoop locations anytime this month, be sure to round up to support Idaho Trails Association!

Three spots remain on ITA's 2026 Frank Church Wilderness Immersion, July 29 – August 13. This 15-day fly-in project drops volunteers deep into the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness to work on the Cottonwood Creek Trail. This is a physically demanding, remote experience, and we're looking for volunteers who bring at least one overnight trail work trip under their belt (with any organization) along with solid backpacking experience. If you're ready for the adventure of a lifetime, read the full project description and apply! See link in profile to learn more.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined ITA on the trail this Saturday, June 6 for National Trails Day. All across Idaho, seven crews of over 75 volunteers came together to give back to the trails we all love! From clearing brush and removing logs to improving trail tread and tackling deferred maintenance, this work will help keep Idaho's trails open, safe, and enjoyable for countless hikers, bikers, horseback riders, and outdoor enthusiasts.

Thank you our partners: Idaho Panhandle National Forest, Payette National Forest, Salmon-Challis National Forest, City of Pocatello, BLM Boise, BLM CDA, @ridge_to_rivers, and @thelonelylarch

Thank you Chief of the Forest Service, Tom Schultz, for joining ITA, Northern Rockies Trail Project, and other north Idaho trail groups at Canfield Mountain.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED! We have some spots open on one of our best summer projects, complete with all meals prepared by a seasoned camp cook!

Liz Butte | July 6-11 | Nez Perce Clearwater National Forest

Come work on the Idaho Centennial Trail along the historic Lolo Motorway, a ridgeline route used by the Nez Perce and Lewis & Clark. Saw work and brushing on the ICT while car camping along a scenic ridge.

Oh, and did we mention food is provided?!

https://idahotrailsassociation.org/event/2026-liz-butte/

Into the heart of the Frank

Six youth participants and two crew leads flew into Big Creek for a week of stewardship, learning, and adventure at the Taylor Wilderness Research Station. Surrounded by the history of Wilderness itself, they explored career pathways in natural resources, firefighting, guiding, trail work, and land stewardship while experiencing one of the wildest corners of Idaho.

The work was equally impressive: 50+ miles hiked, 16 miles of trail opened, over a mile of new tread built, and countless logs cleared through the 2025 Rush Fire burn area. The crew also spent a day helping Taylor Ranch by deconstructing a historic cougar cage, used for groundbreaking research in the 1960s.

A huge shoutout to the Happy Sackers for their curiosity, grit, and endless good humor. They’ll be a hard crew to follow- whether because of their hacky sack prowess, their determination through the heat and ticks, or their willingness to tackle giant ponderosa logouts without a complaint. I couldn’t have asked for a better crew.

Watching young people connect with Wilderness, each other, and the work of stewardship is one of the best parts of this job. It brings me joy to see them discover what they’re capable of, build confidence in wild places, and leave the Frank a little better than they found it 🌲✈️🥾

A special thank you to @u_idaho_twrs for hosting us and to @teammcalvain for sponsoring this trip year after year. Experiences like this wouldn’t be possible without partners who believe in getting young people outside and connected to wild places.

Happy National Trails Day! 🌞

Today we celebrate the trails that connect us to Idaho’s wild places, the volunteers who care for them, our supporters who make this work possible, and everyone who gets outside to enjoy them.

Whether you're hiking a local favorite, exploring a new trail, or giving back through trail stewardship, you're part of a community that helps keep Idaho’s trails open and accessible for all.

Here's to the trails that inspire us and lead us to unforgettable places. Happy National Trails Day from Idaho Trails Association!

Did you go for a hike today? Let us know in the comments!

Working 9-5! Our staff trip into the historic Stonebraker ranch in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness was a blast (and a lot of work). Thank you to @idahofishandgame for partnering with us to help clear trails!