Work Party @ Canyon Lake Community Forest

Join Whatcom Land Trust and Whatcom County for a Work party doing trail maintenance and stewardship at Canyon Lake Community Forest.

Volunteers will spend the day caring for trails in this stunning old-growth forest, tackling tasks such as moving rocks and dirt, clearing brush, and using hand tools such as saws. This is a physically demanding day. Expect to hike three to seven miles on steep, potentially rugged terrain while carrying heavy tools. Come ready for a full day of hard work in a beautiful setting.

For those who’d like to stay and explore after the work party wraps up, you’re welcome to stick around from 1:00 pm to 6:00 pm. This is optional and not part of the organized work party. If you plan to stay, please come with your own plan for how you’ll spend the time.

Event Details:

• Registration is REQUIRED for this event: Sign up here! Once you register, our Volunteer Coordinator, Lauren Ralbovsky, will send additional details a few days before the event. If you have questions in the meantime, email lauren.r@whatcomlandtrust.org.
• Carpooling: Because of the remote location and rough access road, we strongly encourage carpooling. On the registration form, let us know if you’re comfortable driving others in your vehicle. If you’re willing to be a carpool leader, we ask that you have a vehicle with AWD or 4WD and be comfortable driving on bumpy gravel roads.
• What to Expect: Hiking three to seven miles on steep, uneven terrain; carrying heavy tools; moving rock and dirt; using hand tools such as saws; a physically demanding day of outdoor labor.
• What to Bring: Gloves, a backpack, a fillable water bottle, and a lunch. This is a remote site and a long day of hard work, so please plan to bring your own food. Whatcom Land Trust will provide some light snacks and refreshments.
• Parking: TBD, either at Lower Kenney Creek or Mt. Baker School. The final parking location will be confirmed with registered volunteers before the event.

Site Info:

Canyon Lake Community Forest is 2,266 acres in the Mount Baker foothills, jointly owned by Whatcom County and Western Washington University and protected in perpetuity by a conservation easement held by Whatcom Land Trust. Whatcom Land Trust identified the area as a top conservation priority in 1993 and led the effort to purchase the forest, then donated it to the county and university in 1998. The forest opened to the public in 2001 and includes a roughly 7.5-mile round-trip trail ending in the old-growth forest. The old-growth grove covers about 700 acres and holds Alaska yellow cedar, hemlock, and Pacific silver fir, some more than 800 to 1,000 years old, making it one of the oldest known forest stands in the Pacific Northwest. Canyon Lake itself was formed by a massive landslide, likely from an earthquake within the last 200 years, and is home to cutthroat trout. The land also supports owls, bears, cougars, and pika.

Vehicle access to the Canyon Lake trailhead has been unavailable for several years due to an ongoing, multi-party negotiation over the access road. Whatcom County is working to restore public access, and this work party is part of the effort to keep the trail system in good shape for when that happens. For the latest on the access situation, visit Whatcom County’s Canyon Lake Community Forest page.