Grand County CO National Public Lands Day 2026
Grand County Colorado has the longest continuously running National Public Lands Day (NPLD) in the country. 2026 is our 32nd year! We invite you to join us on one of the various projects that are being hosted across our county. There is a project for almost every area of interest and skill level. At the end of the day, bring your family and friends to the NPLD celebration at the Rendezvous Event Center in Winter Park beginning at 4:30pm. There will be live music, a beer garden, informational booths and giveaways. You do not need to volunteer on a project to join the end of day celebration. We would actually love it if you put the word out to all lovers of public lands to come join us!
Unless otherwise noted, all projects begin at 9:00am and go until 3:00pm. Although it is preferred that volunteers participate for the entire shift, we are happy for any time that folks are willing to give. All volunteers will receive an email the day before the event with specifics regarding meeting location.
Projects to choose from:
BLM Skyline Loop Access Improvement (Kremmling) - Join the West Grand Recreation Foundation Volunteers in improving this trail access to Kremmling. Hand tools will be used to impove the trail surface and drainage. Level - moderate.
BLM Colorado River Cleanup (Kremmling) - (8:30 start time) on and off the river cleanup near Kremmling starting at the Pumphouse Recreatin Area. If you do not have your own water craft, you will be paired up with someone who has space on theirs. This is a collaborative project with the BLM-Kremmling Field Office and Protect Our Rivers. To insure that there are enough water craft for all who are interested, you need to sign up on BOTH this Ticket Tailor event page AND at: https://www.protectourrivers.org/npldweekend2026 Level: easy to moderate.
BLM Gore Canyon Trail (Kremmling) - meet at the Pumphouse Recreation Area at 9:00am. Volunteers will using hand tools to improve and maintain the trail into the canyon. Level - moderate.
Fraser River Cleanup (Fraser-Winter Park) - join Headwaters River Journey Museum and Trout Unlimited to cleanup the Fraser River between Fraser & Winter Park plus Vasquez Creek. Conducting trash cleanup along both shore areas of the river/creek. If you have waders, your ability to get items out of the river itself would be a huge help. Meet at the picnic pavillion by the Lion's Club Ponds. Level - easy. Family friendly.
Rocky Mountain National Park (Grand Lake) - building and installing three natural log foot bridges across Bowen Creek appx. 4.6 miles from Kawuneechee Visitor Center outside of Grand Lake. These bridges will be part of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. Requires a hike into the work site. Volunteers will help move timber, peel bark from logs, dig footing for the sills, and finally move and secure each section of the bridge into place. Level - Strenuous. Must be 18years or older. Meet up at 8:30 in the plaza at Kawuneeche Visitor Center. Participants must sign up on BOTH this Ticket Tailor event page AND at: https://bit.ly/RMNP_NPLD26
Town of Fraser - Revegetation work in Cozens Open Space and the Fraser Bike Park using a collection of native seeds from previous NPLD events. Meet at the Fraser Bike Park hub where the picnic tables are. Level - easy
Town of Grand Lake/Continental Divide Trail Coalition - help brand the downtown boardwalk with the CDT (Continental Divide Trail) blaze. Meet in the park on main street by the info hut. 10am-noon. Level - easy. Family friendly.
Town of Hot Sulphur Springs - River restoration and revegetation work along the Colorado River adjacent to Pioneer Park. Volunteers will be helping to plant willows and do river cleanup. Level - easy to moderate
Town of Winter Park - Leland Creek winter loop route. This will be preparing the route for winter grooming by pruning, weed wacking and removing rocks & logs. Meet at the bottom of Leland Creek trail on Leland Creek Way road. Level: moderate.
USFS & HTA: Creekside Trail outside of Fraser - refurbishing turnpikes on this popular trail where it passes through a wetland area. Requires use of trail tools to dig out old dirt and fill, add in new dirt and fill, plus new curbing as needed. Meet at the Leland Creek Trailhead on road FS160/CR73. Level - easy to moderate.
Berthoud Pass Cleanup - SUNDAY PROJECT! join the Friends of Berthoud Pass in collecting trash at the top of the pass. Level: easy. Open to all ages. 9:00am to noon on SUNDAY with BBQ to follow in the Berthoud Pass parking lot. Meet at the north end of the parking lot. Level: easy to moderate.
FREE Celebration in the Park!!! - (4:30- 7:00 pm) All volunteers and the general public are invited to join us at the Rendezvous Event Center at Hideaway Park in Winter Park for live music, drinks and other fun. NO tickets needed.
Gate Monitor (4:30- 7:00 pm; split between 2 people) Greet people as they arrive and say goodbye as they leave. Make sure no one leaves with alcohol.
Event Clean Up (7:00 pm) Help to breakdown tables, put away chairs and pick up minor trash.