The Clearwater Basin is home to incredible forests, rivers and grassland. For many of us, the public lands here are what drew us to this place. Whether you’re out for a morning run, a family hike, or just seeking a quiet moment under the canopy, our local lands give us so much. This month, our community had the perfect opportunity to give a little bit of that love back.
In celebration of National Trails Day, the Clearwater Basin Collaborative (CBC) teamed up with the Nez Perce and Clearwater National Forests for a localized stewardship event. The goal? Keep our backyard trails clean, healthy, and beautiful for everyone.
And wow, did you all deliver!
Pitching In, One Trail at a Time
Instead of hosting just one massive gathering, this year’s event was all about grassroots, community-driven action. CBC supplied custom “clean-up kits” at every local visitor center and ranger station.
The concept was simple: local folks dropped by their nearest station, picked up a kit, and hit their favorite local trails with a mission to leave them better than they found them. From picking up micro-plastics to clearing small debris, it was incredible to see individuals, families, and hiking buddies taking ownership of the spaces we all share.
Part of a Nationwide Movement
Our local efforts were part of a massive, nationwide wave of stewardship. Organized annually by the American Hiking Society, National Trails Day is the country’s largest celebration of public lands. Every year on the first Saturday of June, thousands of hikers, bikers, and outdoor lovers across the U.S. unite to advocate for, maintain, and clean up public trails.
By grabbing a kit and heading out into the Nez Perce and Clearwater National Forests, our community joined a proud tradition of trail service that keeps the great outdoors accessible for all.
A Little Token of Appreciation
Beyond the incredible reward of a cleaner forest and that unmistakable “giving back” glow, we wanted to make sure our volunteers walked away with a tangible badge of honor. Every participant who picked up a clean-up kit received an exclusive, limited-edition event sticker to commemorate their hard work. Keep an eye out for them on water bottles, roof racks, and coolers around town!
Thank You!
An enormous thank you to everyone who grabbed a kit, laced up their boots, and spent their day caring for our public lands. We also want to extend our deep gratitude to our incredible partners at the Nez Perce and Clearwater National Forests for helping us make this happen.
Our forests are in good hands because of neighbors like you. See you out on the (now much cleaner!) trails!