Join us for this event to
celebrate Earth Day!
Collect litter and improve the natural beauty of Mount Major
Tuesday, April 22nd
4 WAYS to participate!
#1: A DIY Litter Challenge from 9:00 am - 1:00 pm
(No Registration is Needed)
With more than 80,000 people hiking Mount Major every year, the popular hiking spot has seen its share of excessive trash, damage to vegetation, trail erosion, disturbance to wildlife, and more. In 2019, Mount Major was chosen as one of 19 Hot Spots nationwide to be the focus of training from the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics. As a result, we now host one seasonal staff in the summer and have established a Volunteer Trailhead Outreach Program (VTOP) to communicate the principals of Leave No Trace and responsible hiking to visitors. Even with these strategies in place, there continues to be a challenge with litter. We all have the best intentions, but sometimes we leave behind litter, forget a bag of dog poop, or our lunch bag blows away in the wind - a little bit here and there can really add up!
Each year we give the parking lot and trail system a deep clean of macro and micro litter. The goal is to start the season with a "clean slate" to set the expectation of a clean environment for visitors to enjoy the amazing natural beauty of Mount Major.
Take the DIY Trail Trash Challenge and give a little love for the mountain, the lakes, and the wildlife that calls this area home!
Guidelines:
- Arrive at the Mount Major trailhead parking lot and get a trash bag and gloves from us to collect as you hike to the summit.
- Please bring your own daypack, water bottle, appropriate footwear, and layers.
- Forest Society staff will collect your findings back at the trailhead to weigh and remove from the property. (Staff leaves the trailhead by 2:30 PM, so if you return after that time, we will ask that you take your finds to an appropriate waste disposal unit at home or in your town.)
#2: Trail Stewardship Workday from 9:30 am - 2:30 pm
(Register Here - Space is limited)
In 2024 we completed the second phase of a sustainable trail upgrade on the lower portion of the Main Trail (blue). This spring we will need to work to maintain that section of trail as well as conduct a few other trail maintenance activities on the Brook Trail & Boulder Trail (orange). If you enjoy level 1 basic trail maintenance or wish to learn more about it - this is a perfect opportunity for you!
#3: Learn more about the Volunteer Trailhead Outreach Program (VTOP) at Mount Major
(No Registration is Needed)
Visit the trailhead to talk with our volunteers & staff involved in the program to learn more about the program that was developed as a result of 2019 Leave No Trace Hotspot designation. We are always looking for new volunteers and help protect the recreational opportunities at the mountain.
Can't make it, but want to learn more about the program? Join the online informational session on April 9th, 7:00-8:00pm. Register here.
#4: Go Above & Beyond:
Can't make it in person? Give back to the trails you love as we continue to improve the sustainability of Mount Major's main trail, the most popular route up and down the mountain.