From June through October in any given year, if you hike in the Mt. Zirkel, Sarvis Creek or Flat Tops wilderness areas, or backcountry lands of Routt National Forest and adjacent national forests, there is a good chance you will encounter one or more volunteers from Friends of Wilderness. This organization is a nonprofit group whose mission is to partner with the U.S. Forest Service in managing and protecting these lands.

FOW fields about 100 trained volunteers who performed two primary activities. Uniformed ambassadors patrol trails and set up informational tables at trailheads educating trail users about forest regulations, current trail conditions and “Leave No Trace” principles.

Trail maintenance crews work diligently all summer to clear fallen trees from trails, maintain water bars and remediate campsites. Trail conditions are reported back to the Forest Service for dissemination to the public and additional tasks are taken on as requested by the Forest Service.

In 2024, FOW volunteers volunteered 5,390 hours, traversed 1,166 miles, contacted 3,225 visitors, cleared 1,014 fallen trees, rehabilitated 57 dispersed campsites and removed 93 pounds of trash. With support from the Heritage and Trails Foundation, FOW collaborated closely with the USFS to fund, design and construct a 96-foot boardwalk on the Gilpin Lake trail, addressing the trail’s deterioration caused by overflow from a nearby beaver pond. Additionally, FOW sponsored Rocky Mountain Youth Corps in clearing the Main Fork Trail in the North Zirkels in the Parks District.

Our educational outreach committee has presented wilderness programs at North Routt Community Charter School and provided wilderness information to local hotel concierges. We held booths at the Farmers’ Market and the Yampatika Fall Festival. We also organized a series of community events to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of the Wilderness Act and funded a seasonal wilderness ranger position to enhance Forest Service presence in popular Wilderness areas.

Friends of Wilderness values its partnership with the Forest Service and is excited to continue its contribution to the management and protection of wilderness.

Nancy Kellogg is a board member of Friends of Wilderness, which assists the U.S. Forest Service in maintaining trails and educating the public about the Mount Zirkel, Sarvis Creek and Flat Tops wilderness areas.  For more information, visit http://www.friendsofwilderness.org.