Trail Work

Ready to get your boots dirty?

COTA maintains over 520 miles of singletrack across Central Oregon—and with another 100 miles in the planning stages, there’s always work to be done. No matter your experience level, we have a place for you.

  • New to trail work? No worries—we’ll teach you everything you need to know, starting with the basics.

  • Experienced builder? Put your skills to use maintaining flow trails or rebuilding technical features.

  • Looking for more? We even offer nationally certified chainsaw training and opportunities to help with winter fatbike grooming using our snowmobiles.

Whether you’re picking up a shovel for the first time or bringing years of experience, trail work with COTA is for everyone.

What to Expect

Trail work can be physically demanding—but no experience is required! Our trained COTA Crew Leaders will provide all the tools, teach you the skills needed, and happily share their knowledge along the way. Work parties typically last 2–4 hours. Because trail work is most effective when there’s moisture in the soil, the bulk of our events take place in spring (late April–June) and fall (September–October), when Central Oregon dirt is less dry and dusty. While we often haul in water to support projects, these seasons provide the best natural conditions for building and maintaining sustainable trails.

What to Wear

  • Sturdy, closed-toe shoes

  • Long pants

  • Clothes you don’t mind getting dirty (layers recommended for the everchanging weather in Central Oregon)

What to Bring

  • Water

  • Lunch/snacks

  • Sunscreen and chapstick

  • Personal medications

  • A backpack to carry your gear

What COTA Provides

  • All necessary tools

  • Clear safty glasses, you may use your own sunglasses

  • Hard hats (yes, you’re required to wear one when working on Public Lands)

  • Guidance and training from experienced Crew Leaders

Sign Up for Trail Work

We use a thrid party platform called, Meetup to schedule and coordinate trail work events. It’s FREE to sign up, you can RSVP to events, and connect with other volunteers.

Join us on Meetup!

Explore Opportunities

  • Time requirement: Flexible, 2-4 hours per event.

    Trail volunteers are the backbone of COTA’s trails program. Without their dedication, we couldn’t maintain the hundreds of miles of trails our community enjoys or bring new trail projects to life each year. More than 1,000 people step up annually to dig, shape, and care for the trails we all love. You could be one of them!​

    Responsibilities:

    • May work on all types of projects under direct supervision of a Crew Leader.

    • Prerequisites: None.

    • ​Training Requirements: None.

  • Time requirement: 8 hours/month minimum 
    ​Commitment level: 2 years +

    Job Responsibilities:

    • Lead group work events including Trail LOVE.

    • Participate/lead at least 4 regularly-scheduled work events (e.g., via meetup).

    • Understanding Trail Management Objectives.

    • Lead routine maintenance (hand logout, brushing, and drain clearing).

    • Lead work building new drains and associated rolling grade dips.

    • Manage volunteers.

    • May lead specialized work after consultation with the Trails Program Manager or Senior Crew Leader. Such work may include tread work, rock work, trail realignment, trail design, machine work, jump building and repair, wooden technical feature inspection and repair, etc.

    • Log all volunteer hours.

    Job Qualifications:

    • Complete COTA training program (or receive exemption).

    • 1-2 years of prior trail work experience.

    • Basic trail knowledge in all aspects of trail maintenance, hand building new trails, finish work behind machines on machine built new trail construction, and managing people with positive attitude and appreciation of volunteer work.​

    • Must be current COTA member.

  • Time requirement: At least 4 hours per logout session, 3 sessions per season
    Commitment level: 1 year commitment
    Positions available: Open
    ​
    Job Description:

    • This is the path to becoming a sawyer. Swampers help to clean up debris as Sawyer cuts trees. You’ll work closely with the Sawyer to help watch as they make cuts and manage trail users entering the work area for their safety. Potential sawyers must swamp 3 or 4 times prior to taking sawyer certification.


    Job Responsibilities:

    • Participate in a minimum of 3 logout work events per season.


    Job Qualifications:

    • None needed to swamp.

    • Previous chainsaw knowledge is beneficial but not necessary.

  • Time requirement: At least 4 hours per logout session, 3 sessions per season
    Commitment level: 2 year commitment
    Positions available: 40
    ​
    Job Responsibilities:

    • Participate in a minimum of 3 logout work events per season.

    • Follow all guidelines from training and FS check out/in system.

    • Work within your certification level.

    • Always work with a swamper.

    • Log all volunteer hours.


    Job Qualifications:

    • Potential sawyers must swamp 3 or 4 times prior to taking sawyer certification.

    • 40 hours of prior chainsaw use is what the USFS asks for prior to the certification course.​

    • Sawyers must be current with 1st Aid and CPR certifications.

    • Successful completion of 16 hour USFS Chainsaw Certification Course with recert every 3 years.

    • Must be current COTA member.

  • Time requirement: At least 24 hours a year
    Commitment level: 2 year minimum
    Positions available: 20

    Job Responsibilities:

    • Understand and execute the trail building/maintenance needs.

    • Participate in a minimum of 3 machine work sessions per season.

    • Follow machine and vehicle check out system.

    • Follow all guidelines from training and FS check out/in system.

    • Work within your certification level.

    • Always work with a 2nd crew member.

    • Log all volunteer hours.


    Job Qualifications:

    • Successful completion of COTA’s machine operator training.

    • ​Minimum of 16 hours of supervised operation before consideration for unsupervised machine use.

    • 2-3 years of trail experience using hand tools and well versed in all aspects of trail maintenance and new trail construction.

    • Prior machine experience and use will be considered.​

    • Must be current COTA member.

  • Time requirement: At least 24 hours a year
    Commitment level: Ongoing; 2 year minimum
    Positions available: 10

    Job Description:

    • Trail Groomers are responsible for machine grooming our winter snow bike trails at Wanoga (and possible future locations).


    Job Responsibilities:

    • Sweep / Shovel CONEX box every time you groom keeping the inside as free of snow as possible.

    • Clear snowmobile and grooming implement of snow after grooming including the track. 

    • Refuel and add 2 cycle oil as needed after grooming.

    • Report any issues with equipment when logging hours.

    • Brush trail/ trim branches as necessary.

    • Add trail confirmation markers as necessary and trim trees as necessary to make them visible.

    • Wear proper PPE.

    • Work with Winter Snowbike Trail Program Manager on grooming schedule.

    • Log all volunteer hours.


    Job Qualifications:

    • Some prior snowmobile experience is a good thing, but past experience with ATVs for work will be sufficient with proper training.

    • A love for cold weather and often working after dark are also important.

    • Must have a minimum 8 hrs training before they can groom without the supervision of the Winter Snowbike Trail Program Manager.

    • Must be current COTA member.

  • Time requirement: At least 8 hours/month
    Commitment level: 2 year commitment
    Positions available: 15

    Goals:
    Management of bike parks:

    • Sisters Bike Park 242

    • Prineville

    • Phils Jump area

    • The Lair

    ​
    Flow Trails:

    • Tylers

    • Lower Whoops

    • Tiddlywinks

    • Royal Flush

    • Trestles

    • Strong Whiskey


    Job Responsibilities:

    • Participate/lead at least 4 regularly-scheduled work events annually (e.g., via meetup).

    • Understanding Trail Management Objectives.

    • Assess maintenance and alignment needs.

    • Lead routine maintenance of jump features and berms.

    • Manage volunteers.

    • Log all volunteer hours.


    Job Qualifications:

    • Complete COTA training program (or receive exemption).

    • 1-2 years of prior trail work experience.

    • Jump riding experience.

    • 1-2 years experience building and shaping jumps.

    • Familiarity with small power equipment like the Cannycom and plate compactors.

    • Must be current COTA member.

Questions?? Reach out any time.

Training Opportunities

  • Introduction:
    Evening presentation of COTA and overview of topics

    • COTA history

    • What does it mean to be a crew leader-volunteer

    • Expectations, logging volunteer hours, volunteer rewards program, COTA membership, COTA representation, conversations with users while on trail

    • Overview of leading a crew

      • Planning, logistics, communication, action

    • Trail characteristics-styles-skill levels-soil-climate-users-land managers

    • Sustainable trails overview – management of user, water, environment

    • Safety – physical and environmental

    • Tools – what works, how do we use them, what we have in inventory

    • Maintenance (Brushing, drainage, grade reversal, Guide structures, Tread work)

      • Seasonal timing, what work gets done when

    • Overview of advanced trail maintenance

      • Jumps, berms, drops, rock features, machine use

    • Next steps and wrap up


    Trail Maintenance Techniques (6 - 8 hours, in field)

    • Review material from Introduction

    • Quality over quantity – consistency

      • What is your role as Lead Volunteer/Crew Leader

        • Safety talk – signage of trail work

        • How to lead

      • Review Tools – check out/year-end inventory

      • Goals of trails/flow/riding experience (how are work effects this)

        • Trail characteristics-styles-skill levels

      • Trail eyes

        • How to view problems and create a solution – ask for help

        • Start with the basic (Take workshops to learn more)

      • Brushing/limbing – Line of sight

      • Drainage – flat terrain, steep slope, inside turns, side slope – raise grade

        • Question every drain

        • Things evolve, just because it was there – doesn’t mean it works

      • Tread work

        • What does completed trail look like (No duff curbs/borrow pits)

      • Guide structures, anchors, gateways

      • Grade reversals (grade dips, bumps)

      • Wrap up, logging work party hours

        • Next steps (2nd trail workday and workshops)


    Volunteer/Trail Crew Lead Day (4 - 8 hours, in field)

    • Lead crew while being shadowed by instructor

    • Review all topics

    • Connect with mentor Senior Crew Leader

  • COTA in partnership with Oregon Trails Coalition and Clackamas Community College has offered a two-part hybrid First aid and CPR course. This training usually happens in the beginning to Mid-April. Part 1 is 4-12 hours of self-directed online learning. Part 2 is a in-person and outside training to complete the 6 hours of skills verification and includes CPR and AED. 

  • Initial Certification:
    COTA offers the Forest Service initial chainsaw certification in Mid-April every year. This is a 2 day training with an evening session and a full field day with evaluation. 

    Potential sawyers must swamp 3 or 4 times prior to taking sawyer certification. 40 hours of prior chainsaw use is what the USFS asks for prior to the certification course.​ Sawyers must be current with 1st Aid and CPR certifications. Successful completion of 16 hour USFS Chainsaw Certification Course with recert every 3 years. Must be current COTA member.

    Recertification:
    Sawyer recertification is a one day training with evaluation. This training is offered in Mid-April every year.

    Crosscut Certification:
    This certification is for training on crosscut and hand saw use. More information on this training coming soon.

  • COTA offers machine trail building training in the beginning of May. This is a 2 day field training. 2-3 years of trail experience using hand tools and well versed in all aspects of trail maintenance and new trail construction prior to training.

  • Flow Workshop:
    Advanced Trail Maintenance Techniques (1 Day, in field)

    • Flow trails (jumps, berms, drops)

    • Progressions (size, location in and on trail)

    • Turns – radius


    Rock Work Workshop:
    Advanced Trail Maintenance Techniques (1 Day, in field)

    • Rockwork – Tread and armoring (rideability, erosion, evolution)

    • Safety, lifting, trundeling, hand/finger smashing


    Advanced Trail Problem Solving (1 Day, in field)

    • How to solve trail problems

    • Brake bumps, trail evolution, radius turns, re- alignments, drainage

    • Judgment, site selection, evaluation



    Wood Feature Workshop (1 Day, in field)

    • Construction

    • Evaluation

    • Inspection/Upkeep/maintenance/inventory