MWBA February Trail Stewardship Day on Valley Forge Trail

Join MWBA as we continue the final stages of our Valley Forge restoration project! On this bike-in (or a long hike, if you're up for it!) volunteer event, we will work on tread restoration and brush clearance projects along the bottom mile of Valley Forge.

For those who chose to ride-in, A dirt-capable bicycle is required to access the project area. For volunteers who'd like to hike-in, please plan to arrive 30 minutes early (7:30am) to give yourself time to get down to Valley Forge. If you plan to hike, you should be prepared for a full day on the trail and 7+ miles round trip hiking in addition to trail work.

This stretch of trail was burned in 2020 during the Bobcat Fire and has been impassible for nearly 3 years. Please join us to restore eroded tread and brush the corridor so we can once again enjoy the connectivity (and ripping descent!) of Valley Forge Trail.

Please note: There is no cell service at Redbox or at any point along the trail. Please be sure to download driving directions prior if you expect to need them.

Volunteers will park at Redbox Picnic Area and are responsible for getting themselves to Valley Forge Trail Camp by bike or on foot. This is a 3.2 mile stretch of 2N24 that descends 1200 feet on the way to Valley Forge - be prepared for a fast, clear fire road descent and a challenging climb back to the vehicles at end of the workday. Hikers should follow the same route to Valley Forge.

Volunteers will be working on Valley Forge Trail from the lower junction with the Gabrielino Trail. This section of trail needs all hands on deck to brush, root-ball, and re-establish a full bench. Our crew leaders have already prepped the trail and gotten a head start, and a big turnout should bring us closer to connecting Valley Forge top to bottom.

As always, no trail work experience is necessary to join us on trail! We will provide the tools and guidance for a fun, safe, and productive day in the forest.

Please bring the following in preparation for a day out on the trail:

• Trail work clothing: long sleeve shirt, long pants, sturdy shoes, eye protection are required
• A hydration pack or backpack able to carry water and snacks while working on the trail
• Water and snacks to keep you feeling good for 5-6 hours in the sun
• A change of clothes for post-trail work activities (lunching, relaxing, biking)

Since we are working in a recent burn zone, we will be working around Poodle Dog Bush - this plant can cause an allergic reaction if touched, so please make sure to bring required long pants and sleeves. Our MWBA crew leaders will point out Poodle Dog and any other burn zone hazards as we make our way to the work sites.

If it's your first time joining us, or you're not sure what to expect, check out our link below:

Please RSVP by obtaining a ticket via EventBrite - This will help us keep track of headcount, and make sure we have meals and tools for all.

• 7:30 am: Hiker meetup time at Redbox Picnic Area
• 8:00 am: Meet at Redbox Picnic Area at 8 am for trail work staging and safey briefing
• All volunteers will ride or hike to Valley Forge Trail Camp (3.25 miles one way, 1200ft descent)
• All volunteers park bikes at campground and then hike-in to worksites from camp (up to 3 additional miles roundtrip)
• MWBA provided lunch at 12:30 @ Valley Forge Camp
• Ride or hike back to vehicles after lunch (3.25 miles one way, 1200ft climb)

Our volunteers made excellent progress at our December Campout, where we punched through the worst of the whitethorn and poodle dog brush tunnels at the bottom of the trail. Only 0.6 miles remain to restore before the trail is passable top-to-bottom. The remaining restoration work includes scraping tread, root balling the corridor, and removing some moderate Poodle Dog growth.

With steady volunteer turnout, we hope to re-open Valley Forge by Spring 2025.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Red Box Picnic Area, Forest Route 2N24, Palmdale, United States