Oakshire Inspires
Celebrate Earth Day Early at Oakshire Brewing!
Get ready for an evening of beer, trails, and giving back! On April 16th, Oakshire Brewing is teaming up with Oakridge Trails Alliance (OTA) to raise funds and spread the love for our beautiful outdoors.
For every Core Beer you buy whether it's the crisp Watershed IPA, the smooth Amber Ale, the rich Overcast Oatmeal Espresso Stout, the refreshing Sunmade Cucumber Sour, the bold Hazy IPA, or the crisp Lagerbier $1 will be donated to OTA's trail building efforts!
Come down and learn about the incredible work Oakridge Trails Alliance is doing to make our trails even better, while sipping on your favorite Oakshire brews.
Join us for an evening of fun, good vibes, and making a real difference in our community. The earth will thank you, and so will your taste buds.
Date: April 16th
Where: Oakshire Brewing
Time: 5:00 - 10:00
Cheers to clean trails and cold beer!
OTA/ Trans Cascadia Trail Work Party TBA
Join the OTA & Trans Cascadia Trail Work Party – May 22-25!
Are you ready for an adventure? Pack your gear, grab your gloves, and get ready for one of the most rewarding weekends of your year! We’re teaming up with Trans Cascadia for a trail work party you won’t want to miss!
🗓 WHEN: May 22nd – 25th, 2025
📍 WHERE: Secretly awesome locations (shh… undisclosed for now, but trust us, it’s worth it!)
👉 Why join?
Trail work is WAY cooler than you might think! Not only will you be helping preserve some of the most beautiful and interesting sections of the wilderness, but you’ll also get to see your hard work pay off as the trails come to life. Plus, there's nothing like the camaraderie of working with fellow trail enthusiasts while connecting with nature.
🛠 What’s on the agenda?
Expect to be doing some hands-on work—clearing debris, brushing, and improving the tread for future adventurers! Whether you’re an experienced trail builder or a newbie, there’s a spot for you to contribute and learn. We’re all about building the trail together—one shovel at a time!
🌍 The Importance of Trail Stewardship
Maintaining trails is vital for preserving the natural beauty of our outdoor spaces. By volunteering with OTA & Trans Cascadia, you're becoming a part of the solution. Good trail stewardship ensures that these wild places remain open and accessible to FUTURE generations. Plus, it’s a chance to give back to the outdoors that we all love so much.
✨ Why Trans Cascadia?
We are beyond excited to partner with Trans Cascadia—they’re known for their incredible work in preserving and restoring the backbone of the Cascadia trail system. Their expertise combined with our local knowledge makes for a perfect partnership and we are looking forward to seeing what we can accomplish together!
What about meals?
Don’t worry about packing a lunch! We’ve got you covered with breakfast, lunch, and dinner provided throughout the weekend. That means more energy for you to get those trails looking amazing!
🔐 Are the locations secret?
Yep! We’ll be working at undisclosed spots across the region. All we can say is that it is on some of your favorite trails! So, if you want to be part of something special this is the event for you!
Sign up today and get ready to roll up your sleeves, eat well, and make a real difference. We can’t wait to see you there!
Sign up with Trans Cascadia Here: https://trans-cascadia.com/home#get-involved
Sign up with Cascade Volunteers/Better Impact Here :https://bttr.im/hc23m
OTA North Salmon Creek Trail Work Party 03.23.25-GA
Join Us for a North Salmon Creek Trail Work Party! 🌲
When: Sunday, March 23rd
Time: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM (Drop-in anytime!)
Where: North Salmon Creek Trail. We will meet at the OTA Office at 48241 E. 1st Oakridge, Or 97463
Get ready to roll up your sleeves and help create a brand-new section of trail!
This is a unique opportunity to see a trail transformation from the ground up from being flagged to getting brushed and bucked out (and later, treaded!). This project is part of an exciting effort to make North Salmon Creek almost all trail to the Campground! Whether you’re an experienced trail builder, swamper or a first-time volunteer, we need YOUR help. The more hands on deck, the more progress we can make! Please expect to be picking up and moving a lot of brush it will be wet, even it if isn't raining so the PRO move is to bring 3 or 4 extra pairs of gloves if you have then! Thank us later ;)
What to bring:
✔️ Work gloves
HAND SAW or loppers IF you have one!
✔️ Long sleeves, long pants, and sturdy boots
✔️ Water & snacks
✔️ Lunch (if you plan to stay the full day!)
✔️ A kick butt attitude!
Feel free to join us for part of the day or stay for the whole event whatever fits your schedule! We appreciate any time you can contribute.
Come make a lasting impact on our beautiful natural spaces and meet some awesome fellow volunteers!
For more details, contact Jacob Keltner- 503-893-5023
Bring the love! Post Valentines Day Trail Work Party!
OTA Trail Work Party 2.15.25-GA
PLEASE RSVP: https://bttr.im/dsjtm
Please consider signing up under the official Willamette National Forest Service Better Impact Cascade Volunteers system. This tool will help us track volunteer hours more accurately - both for grant match as well as ensuring our volunteers receive all the possible benefits earned for your efforts! Please create an account, which will allow you to sign up for public work parties and events offered by various stewardship partners, help us more easily assign project hours and prepare with enough tools and resources for each activity.
Please be sure to sign up under West Cascades Trails with Oakridge Trails Alliance as your primary organization.
Questions? Please feel free to message us directly!
Show the Trails Some LOVE – Post-Valentine’s Day Trail Work Party!
Valentine’s Day might be over, but our love for the trails is just getting started! Our Trail Crew is wrapping up on Cloverpatch this week, which means it’s time for a brand new adventure (stay tuned, we’ll spill the beans on the location soon)!
Here’s the Game Plan:
🗓 When: February 15th, 2025 at 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
📍 Where: Location TBD (we’ll keep you posted once we know!)
🧳 What to Bring:
* Sturdy boots (don’t let those toes get soggy!)
* Gloves + a bonus pair or two!(trail love for your hands)
* Water (stay hydrated, trailblazer!)
* Snacks (personal trail magic to keep you going)
* Positive vibes and a get-it-done* attitude!
Safety First – Let’s Keep It Fun!
* Boots, gloves, and long pants are a must—protect those legs from all the dirt and brush!
* Hard hats are a thing—so yes, you’ll look cool (and safe). We will supply one if you don't have one!
* Got your own eye protection? Bring it! If not, we’ll hook you up!
* Be weather-ready! Long sleeves are always a win, and if it’s rainy or muddy, bring an extra pair of gloves (your hands will thank you).
* Layers are your friend!
* We have a first aid kit on hand, but feel free to pack your own personal kit too—better safe than sorry!
There is no experience necessary! Whether you're a trail work veteran or just looking to get your hands a little dirty, we’re pumped to have you join us! You’ll leave the day feeling like a true trail hero, connected to nature, and maybe even a little muddy.
Ready to dig in and show some love for the trails? Let’s make it happen!
We will provide post trail work refreshments and baked goods made with LOVE!!!
RSVP: https://bttr.im/dsjtm
Cloverpatch Trail Work Party
OTA Cloverpatch Trail Work Party 1.19.25-GA
Kick Off 2025 with a Trailblazing Adventure on Cloverpatch!
New year, new trail adventures! Why not start 2025 with a bang by giving back to Cloverpatch Trail? Join us for a day of trail magic, where we’ll roll up our sleeves and dig in to improve the trail for everyone who loves to explore!
We'll be doing some serious trail TLC, focusing on widening the trail corridor with inside and outside edging—which means making the trail smoother, safer, and more sustainable for hikers, bikers, and all the awesome adventurers who visit.
But this isn’t just any workday—it’s a chance to get your hands dirty, breathe in the fresh mountain air, and make some new trail buddies. We’ll be working with hand tools (the real deal!), and yes, there’s a bit of a hike to get the tools in—so consider it your first adventure of the day!
RSVP: https://bttr.im/9ezdf
Here’s the Plan:
When: Saturday January 18th, 2025 at 10 am (Yes, you get to sleep in!)
Where: Meet at the Red Covered Bridge in Westfir, OR. Prepare to carpool, there is limited parking at the Cloverpatch Trail Head.
What to Bring: Sturdy boots, gloves, water, and personal trailside snacks—come ready for some trail magic and a good time!
Safety First (Because We Want You to Have Fun, Not Hurt!):
Everyone must wear gloves, boots, and long pants (protect those legs from brush and dirt!).
Hard hats will be provided, and they’re a must while working. (Safety is stylish!)
Need eye protection? The crew leader will provide it, but if you have your own pair, feel free to bring them along!
Plan for all weather—long-sleeved shirts are a good idea, and if the forecast is rainy or muddy, don’t forget extra gloves!
Cold or wet weather gear? Always a great idea! Think layers and comfort.
Oh, and while we’ll have a first aid kit on hand, it’s never a bad idea to bring your own, too!
Whether you’ve got trail work experience or you’re new to the crew, we’re stoked to have you. You’ll leave the day feeling accomplished, connected, and ready for more adventures—plus, you'll help make Cloverpatch even better for all to enjoy.
Ready to get dirty and have fun? We can’t wait to see you out there!
RSVP: https://bttr.im/9ezdf
Let’s make 2025 the year of epic trail work and unforgettable memories! ✨
Cloverpatch Trail Work Party
Cloverpatch Trail Work Party
Cloverpatch is well loved by all trail users! Please join Oakridge Trails Alliance in throwing down some elbow grease back on the trail!
DETAILS:
Where: We will meet up at the Red Covered Parking lot at 9AM and carpool to Cloverpatch from there. There will be many cars, and not enough room for parking where we are working. PLEASE PLAN TO CARPOOL.
Who: Everyone! We have a job for all of you, even if you have minimal trail maintenance experience. Prepare to hike up and down sometimes challenging terrain with tools.
What: We will be improving tread, drainage, and brushing. We will be using hand tools such at shovels and hoes.This project is a partnership of USFS and Oakridge Trails Alliance.
What to Bring: Please dress appropriately for the weather and the work - layers, long-sleeve shirts and pants, and comfortable, sturdy boots for working with sharp tools and walking on uneven surfaces. Please also bring personal protective equipment, including gloves, eye protection, and ear plugs, along with water, a bagged lunch, sunscreen, any medical necessities (epi-pen, medications) and a backpack to carry your belongings.
RSVP: https://bttr.im/lay3z
Thank you for showing your local Oakridge trails some love!
Mountain Town Throwdown
End of summer Disc Golf Tournament and Family fun event at Willamette Pass? You heard it right, Willamette pass will be open to the public (lift and lodge access) for the first time in nearly 14 years during the dry season for this summer ending festival. What started out as simply a disc golf tournament has gotten much bigger (we're talking food and drink, vendors from all walks of life, live performances from local DJs and the like, sip and paint classes on top of Eagle Peak, and much more).
Cloverpatch Switchbacks Part II
Join us to continue some great work on the Cloverpatch segment of the Alpine Trail Network.
Back on Cloverpatch Trail Work Party
Come swing a tool and help us revive the Cloverpatch switchbacks this weekend!
Lawler Trail Work Party: Session II - LAWLERPALOOZA!
LawlerPalooza is BACK on Saturday, May 11th! A major partnership between Oakridge Trails Alliance and Disciples of Dirt, LawlerPalooza is one of our favorite trail work gatherings of the year! Our Saturday trail work party will be focused on completing some of the earlier projects started this season, including reinforcing switchbacks, reclaiming line of site and tread with improved drainage, benchwork, and brushing. This is an “all hands on deck” effort on one of the best trails between Eugene and Oakridge!
Tree Planting Festival: East Oakridge Parks & Trails Community Work Party
Please join Oakridge Trails Alliance, our amazing local Oakridge Westfir Tree Planting Teens, and the Oakridge Disc Golf Club to help put the shine on our local Mill Park and Trails network in East Oakridge. We’ll meet up after the Mini Olympics at 3PM at the (former GOATS) Oakridge Trails Alliance Tool Shop (48362 OR-58, Oakridge, OR 97463). We’ll be removing invasives, cleaning up disc golf signs, brushing and clearing trails on the Mill Pond, spreading gravel on the new Flume Trail, and more! This is an inclusive effort, with jobs for everyone! Afterwards, we’ll host a BBQ in the parking lot of the OTA Tool Shop back on Industrial Parkway.
Please be on time for our volunteer check-in and safety briefing. We’ll break out into smaller groups to tackle specific projects. All tools will be provided by OTA. Please dress in appriate clothing for yard work activities (no open toe shoes please)!
The Oakridge Mill Park area improvements have been underway for quite sometime now with the Disc Golf Course, current trails development, and other landscaping efforts, the area is beginning to come to life! Please join us to put your own signature on this truly amazing emerging community recreation hub!
Questions? Please email us or call 541-913-4318.
If possible please RSVP to let us know you’re coming so we know how much food to prepare!
Lawler Trail Work Party: Session I
Please join Oakridge Trails Alliance on Saturday, April 28th for a trail work tuneup on Lawler Trail. Our primary focus is going to be attacking some of the places where riders commonly go off the edge of the trails. These changes will improve flow and help preserve that “raw” Lawler feel and challenge level, while increasing sustainability for less maintenance in the future.
Cloverpatch Trail Dig Day
Volunteers work together to move rocks as part of a new switchback build on the Cloverpatch Connection.
LEAVE A LEGACY and be a part of this phenomenal trail build! This new section of trail will is part of the Oakridge Ride Center Signature Trails Designation on the Alpine Trail Network just above Westfir, Oregon in the Middle Fork Ranger District of the Willamette National Forest. The segment will be working on will eventually replace three miles of gravel road climbing with 4.5 miles of rugged, forested singletrack over creek crossings and past a waterfall ~ don’t miss out on your chance to put your own signature on this incredible new trail!
DETAILS:
Where: We will meet up in the parking lot at Trans-Cascadia Excursions located at the corner of North Fork FS19 and Westoak road in Westfir, Oregon and re-organize into carpools to help decrease traffic impact in the work area.
Who: Everyone! Difficulty: Advanced. This is a new construction project located at an active worksite, so the work can be more challenging than our ongoing maintenance efforts. Access to and from the worksite is uphill and downhill +-1-2 miles hiking. We have tasks suitable for people of all skill levels, so don't hesitate to join in even if you're new to trail maintenance!
What: Eager to join our trail crew in the field? Now's your chance! You'll have an opportunity to build brand-new trails and learn trail construction techniques alongside our team. Tasks vary from rock work to hand-building new trails, and more. Participants are expected to show up prepared with a pack including water, lunch and snacks, and personal protective equipment. This project is a partnership of USFS and Oakridge Trails Alliance.
What to Bring: Please dress appropriately for the weather and the work - layers, long-sleeve shirts and pants, and sturdy, comfortable shoes or boots for walking on uneven surfaces. Please also bring personal protective equipment, including gloves, eye protection, and ear plugs, along with water, a bagged lunch, sunscreen, any medical necessities (epi-pen, medications) and a backpack to carry your belongings.
OTA Provides: First aid and CPR qualified leadership, radio, hard hats, tools, rigging, and any other job-related gear and equipment. Refreshments (beverages and snacks) are often provided afterwards - anything else you wish to potluck at the end of the day is also welcome!
IF YOU'RE NEW TO VOLUNTEERING ON THE WILLAMETTE NATIONAL FOREST: Please create a volunteer profile and sign into the WNF Cascade Volunteers volunteer tracking system. You can do this by heading over to the CV volunteer page and creating your own account here: https://bit.ly/3ZCqon4 - please add Oakridge Trails Alliance as your primary organization affiliation in the West Cascades volunteer group. This will help us track volunteer matching hours for our grant reporting purposes.
You should be able to register for this work party from a list of public volunteer opportunities once you’re in the system, however… if that isn’t working for you, please email us to let us know you are coming. If for some reason there is already an account registered under your email, we've likely already got you in the system, and you don't need to do anything else - we will manually enter your hours after each work party. Thank you for your time and efforts!
Oakridge Flume Trail Work Party
Volunteers demonstrate how to move gravel with power wheelbarrows - a good chunk of the work that needs to be completed on the East Oakridge Flume Trail!
EAST OAKRIDGE TRAILS ARE UNDERWAY and now YOU can play a part in helping connect the dots from our “Uptown” downtown living room, to the Mill Park Disc Golf Course, east to Salt Creek, and south to Greenwaters Park along the Salmon Creek Levy! This year we are focusing on completing the trail segment from Fish Hatchery Road and the Industrial Park at Dunning Road to Roberts Ranch Road. In the coming years, our goal is to connect the east side of Oakridge along the Salt Creek drainage to the Eugene to Crest trail route - completing the long term vision of providing a long distance, contiguous singletrack trail all the way from the Waldo Basin to township! But first things first… ;-)
DETAILS:
Where: We will meet up in the parking lot at the OTA shop space (still signed as the former GOATS trails group). Head north on Industrial Parkway from Hwy. 58, past Kokanee Way on the right, to the second set of buildings on the left before the turn into Brock’s Wood Lot. We’ll have the garage doors open - you can’t miss us!
Who: Everyone! Difficulty: Easy to Moderate. This is a trail restoration project that will be appropriate for people of all abilities. Relatively flat and wide, the trail bed follows a former road bed, over a seasonal draw and past an historical flume remnant from Dunning to Roberts Ranch road for approximately a mile. Access to and from the worksite will depend on whether you are driving a power carrier, raking gravel, or transporting gravel with a tractor or manual wheelbarrows. Lots of walking back and forth on level ground, and driving power equipment (very slow going - and we encourage everyone to participate - this is a level surface and the perfect environment to learn how to run a power wheelbarrow/carrier)!
What: This is a project partnership of the Southern Willamette Forest Collaborative and the City of Oakridge. Our goal is to engage the local community and visitors in expanding trail experiences for everyone with this accessible (not ADA!) trail option by providing opportunities to help us build a new system of intra-township multi-modal trails serving pedestrians and cyclists alike.
What to Bring: Please dress appropriately for the weather and the work - layers, long-sleeve shirts and pants, and sturdy, comfortable shoes or boots for walking on uneven surfaces. Please also bring personal protective equipment, including gloves, eye protection, and ear plugs, along with water, a bagged lunch, sunscreen, any medical necessities (epi-pen, medications) and a backpack to carry your belongings.
OTA Provides: First aid and CPR qualified leadership, radio, hard hats, tools, rigging, and any other job-related gear and equipment. Refreshments (beverages and snacks) are often provided afterwards - anything else you wish to potluck at the end of the day is also welcome!
Cloverpatch Trail Dig Day
Come out and support local trails. Join OTA needs to build this new connector trail on the ATCA loop.
Details:
Who: Everyone, Difficulty: Advanced. This is a new construction project located at an active worksite, so the work can be more challenging than our ongoing maintenance efforts. Access to and from the worksite is uphill and downhill +-1-2 miles hiking.
What: Eager to join our trail crew in the field? Now's your chance! You'll have an opportunity to build brand-new trails and learn trail construction techniques alongside our team. Tasks vary from rock work to hand-building new trails, and more. Participants are expected to show up prepared with a pack including water, lunch and snacks, and personal protective equipment.
What to Bring:
Layers, long-sleeve clothing, and sturdy, comfortable shoes or boots for walking on uneven surfaces. Personal protective equipment, including a helmet (some volunteers wear a bike helmet), gloves, eye protection, and ear plugs. Water, a bagged lunch, snacks, sunscreen, gloves, and a backpack to carry your belongings. Tecnu or other methods for poison oak removal post-event.
OTA Provides:
Event facilitation and professional trail work guidance from SCMTS staff and volunteers. All the tools and equipment you'll be using for the day. Extra personal protective equipment in case you need it.
First Aid & CPR for Trails Stewards
Oregon Trails Coalition and Oakridge Trails Alliance are pleased to be partnering with U.S. Forest Service Region 6, Bureau of Land Management OR-WA Office, Clackamas Community College, and other partners to make available a specialized first aid and CPR certification program for staff and volunteers performing trails stewardship activities on our public lands.