Calling all trail aficionados: Caltrans District 2 Clean California team is encouraging interested people to join a trail maintenance event led by the U.S. Forest Service and Pacific Crest Trail Association to mark National Trails Day. This June 1 cleanup calls for 12 people to clear a 1.2-mile portion of the Pacific Crest Trail.
Volunteers will meet at the Belden Rest Area on Highway 70. The cleanup is set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration is available here.
Volunteers should be ready to clear brush, improve eroded trails, install drainage features and add new signage. Organizers report that this event is suitable for a spectrum of physical capabilities, making it ideal for those new to trail work. The project location is situated conveniently near a trailhead at the Belden Rest Area, with trail work being moderately challenging.
Organizers warn participants that the area contains Pacific poison oak. They encourage those allergic to poison oak or who prefer to avoid it to consider joining a different trail crew project. Information about other trail cleanup events — including how to organize a new one — is available at the National Trails Day website.
The Clean California Program is part of the governor’s $1.2 billion initiative to expand state and local litter abatement efforts and provide thousands of job opportunities. It consists of four key action components: engagement and community investment, education, litter pickup expansion, and infrastructure enhancements.
In conjunction with dedicated litter cleanup crews and adopt-a-highway enhancements, the objective of Caltrans District 2 Clean California is to encourage and facilitate community involvement in cleaning up local communities through educational outreach, encouraging cleanups through awareness, and free dump events. Through these combined efforts, District 2 has collected more the 64,000 cubic yards of trash, held 76 free dump events, gained 154 new highway adopters and participated in 69 educational outreach events. To learn more about the Clean California Program, visit CleanCA.com.
Information provided by Caltrans District 2