Western Slope Trail Work Tiers
Want to get rolling on trail work?
All Access Trail Stewards — Anyone, Anytime, Anywhere
We always welcome these contributions:
- Rake Trails – remove leaves, acorns, and other accumulated debris on the trails.
- Clean/Clear Drains (Rolling Grade Dips): Remove leaves, silt, and other debris blocking water flow in established dips. This may involve adding material to the roller to help with drainage but not substantially change the riding experience.
- Small Limb and Tree Removal—Any trees or limbs that are blocking a trail or obstructing sight lines and can be removed with hand tools. (Chainsaw removal requires a chainsaw certification class, described below.)
- Clean Up – If you pack it in, pack it out…but sometimes things get forgotten. Keep our trails looking wild by “packing it forward” and grabbing trash left behind.
- Report a Maintenance Need – See something that needs a little more love than you can give? Snap a photo and upload it to TrailForks.com.
- Event-Based Trail Work – Come to a public trail work day! These are a great way to gain skills, experience, friends, and community.
Certified Stewards — Anytime, Anywhere, Once You are Certified
- Chainsaw Removal of Downed Trees—We offer chainsaw certification classes at least once a year. To use a chainsaw on Western Slope Trails, you must obtain a chainsaw certification through the Coalition or the National Forest and register with Massanutten Resort as a chainsaw volunteer.
- Power Brushing—The Coalition owns brushing and equipment, which we are happy to lend out for trail maintenance. Please contact us for tool orientation and to get on our list of volunteers with power tool access.
Team Coordination Projects
Numerous trail work projects can be initiated based on coordination with a single Western Slope Team Member.
- Become a Certified Trail Angel—Do you love the Western Slope Trails and have time to do more? Let us know, and we’ll work with you to create a maintenance plan, supply you with tools, and recognize your contribution.
- Small Group Trail Maintenance Missions – Want to get more involved outside of larger public trail work days? Our Team members regularly lead small groups and special project missions, undertaking berm improvements, brushings, intersection alignment, and more.
- Approved Maintenance & Upgrade Projects—The Coalition maintains a list of needed maintenance projects. Want to take one on? Please check in with one of our Team members before beginning work. They will be able to discuss the scope and needs of the project.
- Berm Maintenance—Bicycle-optimized trails need love. Help maintain berms and dirt rollers, restoring flow features to their original size and shape. Please check in with a Team Member before completing berm maintenance, so we know where and when it is happening.
New Features & Trail Construction
All of the following projects that require Coalition & Massanutten Resort pre-approval:
- New Trail Construction – Massanutten Resort and the Western Slope Team must approve all new construction projects before volunteer trail work on them can begin.
- New Trail Features—We all love an alt line, but all new trail features require location and safety approval from Massanutten Resort and the Western Slope Team. This includes adding new drops, bigger rollers, technical features, and more.
- Major Trail Rehabilitation—Trails aren’t static, and older trails change their nature significantly through erosion, wear, and the passage of time. Trails may be brought back up to their original specifications and difficulty level and/or redesigned for updated usage; this is considered a major trail work initiative and requires approval similar to new trail construction.
Once Massanutten Resort and the Western Slope Team have approved major projects, we welcome qualified crew leaders to organize trail work events to support these efforts.
