Trail maintenance is a vital part of preserving the trails and keeping them safe for trail users. Without regular maintenance, the trails would become overgrown or washed out, limiting their use and compromising the safety of trail users.
Why are volunteers needed? In the current economic conditions federal, state and local municipalities are strapped for funding to support activities such as trail maintenance, habitat restoration and removal of invasive plants. Government agencies have reached out to non-profit groups to help in supporting these activities to promote the goals of each of these organizations and to keep the natural resources available and safe for the public to enjoy. Volunteering is a great way to preserve the region's incredible trail network for the present and future generations. Volunteers have played a critical role in the development of new trails throughout the Santa Monica Mountains and other areas. If all trail users volunteered just one day a year we could meet the demands of maintaining more than 500 miles of trail and make the trails that much better! The Trails Council works under the direction of California State Parks and the NPS. Our crew leaders are trained and authorized to perform trail maintenance. All events are cleared in advance by NPS or State Parks in regard to sensitive native plants or archaeology.Date | Location | Trail | More Information | Day |
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2024-10-12 | Point Mugu State Park | La Jolla Valley Trails | 8:00AM to 2PM. Work will be on the trails in La Jolla Valley. Meet at the Sycamore Canyon day parking just off the PCH 1. Tell the attendant that you'll be doing trail work. Don Brusselars | Saturday |
2024-10-15 | Point Mugu State Park | La Jolla Valley Trails | 8:00AM to 2PM. Work will be on the trails in La Jolla Valley.
Meet at the Sycamore Canyon day parking just off the PCH 1. Tell the attendant that you will be doing trail work. Ruth Feldon 805-906-1953 | Tuesday |
2024-10-16 | Point Mugu State Park | Guadalasca Trail | Routine Trail Maintenance - starting at top "Hell Hill". 8AM to 2:30PM. Pack a lunch and bring some water. Please contact leader before attending and consider arriving a few minutes early to sign the necessary forms. Juan Carlo Mendoza 805-890-7424 | Wednesday |
2024-10-17 | Point Mugu State Park | Guadalasca Trail | Routine Trail Maintenance - starting at top "Hell Hill". 8AM to 2:30PM. Pack a lunch and bring some water. Please contact leader before attending and consider arriving a few minutes early to sign the necessary forms. Juan Carlo Mendoza 805-890-7424 | Thursday |
2024-10-18 | Point Mugu State Park | Guadalasca Trail | Routine Trail Maintenance - starting at top "Hell Hill". 8AM to 2:30PM. Pack a lunch and bring some water. Please contact leader before attending and consider arriving a few minutes early to sign the necessary forms. Juan Carlo Mendoza 805-890-7424 | Friday |
2024-10-19 | COSCA Fall Trail Work Day | COSCA | 8:00AM to 12PM. Work site TBD. Registration begins at 7:30 AM - Work begins at 8:00 AM. Work completes at 12:00 PM. Lunch provided after work. All tools and training provided. See COSCA website for additional details. John Kross 805-587-0721 | Saturday |
2024-10-19 | Point Mugu State Park | Guadalasca Trail | Routine Trail Maintenance - starting at top "Hell Hill". 8AM to 2:30PM. Pack a lunch and bring some water. Please contact leader before attending and consider arriving a few minutes early to sign the necessary forms. Juan Carlo Mendoza 805-890-7424 | Saturday |
2024-10-26 | Point Mugu State Park | La Jolla Valley Trails | 8:00AM to 2PM. Work will be on the trails in La Jolla Valley. Meet at the Sycamore Canyon day parking just off the PCH 1. Tell the attendant that you'll be doing trail work. Greg Sweel 310-452-4443 | Saturday |
2024-11-02 | Malibu Creek SP | Creek Trail towards MASH Site | 8:00AM to 2PM. Work will be on the trail starting just past Malibu Creek up to the MASH site. Meet at the lower parking lot at Malibu Creek SP. Tell the kiosk attendant that you'll be doing trail work. Roger Young | Saturday |
2024-11-09 | Point Mugu State Park | La Jolla Valley Trails | 8:00AM to 2:00PM. Work will be on the trails in La Jolla Valley. Meet at the Sycamore Canyon day parking just off the PCH 1. Tell the attendant that you'll be doing trail work. Roger Young | Saturday |
2024-11-16 | Leo Carillo State Park | Malibu Springs trail | 8:00AM to 2:00PM. Meet at Leo Carrillo State Park parking area just off PCH 1 for shuttle to the trailhead along Mulholland. Tell the kiosk attendant that you'll be doing trail work. We will be working with NPS staff trail crew. Anne Russell 310-600-4798 | Saturday |
2024-11-23 | Topanga State Park | Backbone Trail - Hondo | 8:00AM to 2:00PM. This is a joint project with the Sierra Club Task Force. The SCTF will work starting at the upper section of Hondo and will meet at the trailhead parking just east of Topanga Overlook along Stunt Rd.The SMMTC crew will work starting at the lower section of Hondo and will meet at the Dead Horse parking lot of Topanga State Park for shuttle to trailhead along Old Topanga Canyon Rd. Jon Sheldon 805-906-1069 | Saturday |
2024-11-30 | Topanga State Park | Backbone Trail - Hondo | 8:00AM to 2:00PM. This is a joint project with the Sierra Club Task Force. The SCTF will work starting at the upper section of Hondo and will meet at the trailhead parking just east of Topanga Overlook along Stunt Rd.The SMMTC crew will work starting at the lower section of Hondo and will meet at the Dead Horse parking lot of Topanga State Park for shuttle to trailhead along Old Topanga Canyon Rd. Barb Thomas 805-509-3426 | Saturday |
2024-12-07 | Topanga State park | Backbone Trail - Hondo | 8:00AM to 2:00PM. This is a joint project with the Sierra Club Task Force. The SCTF will work starting at the upper section of Hondo and will meet at the trailhead parking just east of Topanga Overlook along Stunt Rd.The SMMTC crew will work starting at the lower section of Hondo and will meet at the Dead Horse parking lot of Topanga State Park for shuttle to trailhead along Old Topanga Canyon Rd. George Sherman 805-490-0381 | Saturday |
2024-12-14 | Point Mugu State Park | Old Cabin Trail | 8:00AM to 2:00PM. Work will be on the Danielson fire road leading to the Old Cabin site. Meet at dirt parking area at the end of Wendy Dr. for shuttle into the park. George Sherman 805-490-0381 | Saturday |
2024-12-21 | Point Mugu State Park | Old Cabin Trail | 8:00AM to 2:00PM. Work will be on the Danielson fire road leading to the Old Cabin site. Meet at dirt parking area at the end of Wendy Dr. for shuttle into the park. Jon Sheldon 805-906-1069 | Saturday |
2024-12-28 | Point Mugu State Park | Old Cabin Trail | 8:00AM to 2:00PM. Work will be on the Danielson fire road leading to the Old Cabin site. Meet at dirt parking area at the end of Wendy Dr. for shuttle into the park. Ruth Feldon 805-906-1953 | Saturday |
Primarily of interest for our crew leaders. Note: changes in prior schedules are not always reflected in the PDFs.
Each year we coordinate with Channel Island NPS to arrange some trail work trips to the islands, usually Santa Cruz Island. Some prior trail work experience is desired. If you are interested in learning more about these trips please contact Jerry Mitcham directly at (818) 406-1269.
Other volunteer projects, unscheduled at this time, may be conducted in the Santa Monica Mountains NRA and Channel Islands National Park. Special projects might be arranged for school or corporate groups interested in performing trail maintenance or other volunteering efforts as public service projects. If you are interested in arranging a special project, please contact Jerry Mitcham (818) 406-1269 or email us at mail@smmtc.org.
JOIN US for four maintenance outings and you will receive an SMMTC T-shirt! Eight outings and you'll receive Milt McAuley's book Hiking Trails of the Santa Monica Mountains.