Juan Tomas Open Space Signs ADD-ON
2025-11-12 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Denver)
RESULTS: Volunteers put up 10 signs in Juan Tomas Open Space on trails that NMVFO has worked on over the last 6 years.

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What is an add-on? We organize several off-schedule short-notice word-of-mouth projects during the trail season. If you show up to a large number of projects, mention to your project leader that you are interested.

Coronado Historic Site 2 - Invasive Tree Removal
2025-11-15 08:00 - 16:00
Description: Join NMVFO on a one-day project as we remove more invasive trees (juniper, tamarisk, Russian olive) in the bosque at the Coronado Historic Site in Bernalillo. NMVFO removed approximately 400 invasive trees in March 2025, but there are plenty more to remove.
We will use loppers and hand saws to cut the trees at ground level and pile the cut trees. We will also spray the remaining trunks with an approved herbicide to help prevent resprouting.
Please bring a daypack to carry your lunch, snacks, sunblock, rain gear, and water. We highly recommend wearing long sleeve shirts, long pants, sturdy boots, and gloves. All tools will be provided.
The Project starts at 8:00 am on Saturday, November 15th, 2025, and ends at 4:00 pm
Meet at: Coronado Historic Site Visitor Center
How to find us: Look for the signs to the Coronado Historic Site on Highway 550 west of I25.
After parking in the parking lot, join us on the patio of the Visitor Center.
Reminder: Pets are not allowed on NMVFO projects.
Please sign up below by November 13th. One person per signup.
Difficulty:
Group Size: 20. If the project becomes full, please email the project leader to add your name to the waitlist, and we will contact you if a spot opens up.
For more information: If this is your first NMVFO project, you can find more information about difficulty ratings and what to expect at Volunteer FAQs or email the project leader.
Please read our Volunteer Guidelines before signing up for this project.
On the signup form please leave the "Number of Volunteers" at 1. If you would like to sign up additional volunteers please submit multiple signups.

Outdoor Adventure Show Tabling
2026-02-13 12:00 - 2026-02-15 17:00
RESULTS: For the 2nd year in a row NMVFO participated in the Outdoor Adventures Show sponsored by New Mexico Wildlife. It was held at Expo New Mexico in Albuquerque February 13th – 15th 2026 and 16 volunteers staffed our display table sharing their enthusiasm and knowledge of what NMVFO does with hundreds of participants.

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Shifts:
Friday, Feb 13, 12 Noon – 3PM, 3PM – 6PM
Saturday, Feb 14, 9AM – 12Noon, 12Noon – 3PM, 3PM – 6PM
Sunday, Feb 15, 10AM – 1:30PM, 1:30PM – 5 PM
Come help NMVFO staff a booth at the New Mexico Outdoor Adventure Show at EXPO New Mexico (300 San Pedro Drive NE) from February 13th through the 15th, 2026. The show is sponsored by the New Mexico Department of Wildlife. Over 10,000 visitors are expected to attend the show, making this a great opportunity for NMVFO to get our name and activities in front of a lot of outdoor-oriented folks.
Staffing the booth is easy and fun as you get to talk with visitors about NMVFO’s wide range of projects, training, and social events, about the camaraderie we experience during our projects, and the satisfaction of giving something back to New Mexico’s outdoors. You will be tabling with at least one other volunteer, for mutual support.
Information concerning parking, booth location, passes, etc. will be provided as it becomes available.
Difficulty:
Group Size: Unlimited
Please email Laurie Lacey at l.lacey@nmvfo.org to let her know when you can attend, and which days/shifts you are available, and then sign up for this event below. (Ignore the total hours in the signup acknowledgement email.) Most tabling volunteers will only work one shift, provided enough people sign up.
The closing date for signups is February 11th at 5:00 pm
Please read our Volunteer Guidelines before signing up for this project.
On the signup form please leave the "Number of Volunteers" at 1. If you would like to sign up additional volunteers please submit multiple signups.

Coronado Bosque Add-On
2026-02-25 10:00 - 16:00
RESULTS: NMVFO returns to the Coronado Historic Site to chainsaw to swamp invasive trees and to thin dead wood, with three chainsaws going at once.

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What is an add-on? We organize several off-schedule short-notice word-of-mouth projects during the trail season. If you show up to a large number of projects, mention to your project leader that you are interested.

Burro Mountains CDT Backpack (Gila NF)
2026-02-27 09:00 - 2026-03-02 17:00
RESULTS: BCH-Gila and NMVFO cleared 5.5 miles of trail on the CDT near Saddle Rock.

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Description: Join us for an early-season trail project with our partners Gila Back Country Horsemen. We will be brushing with some logging and building trail markers. A map of the project is at https://caltopo.com/m/KVQC4HL
What to bring: Come prepared with layers. Mornings and evenings may be chilly. Days will likely be cool to warm. See the packing list and a more detailed description at this link

Food and Water: Gila BCH homemade vacuum-sealed meals (breakfasts and dinners) will be available for this project. We can accommodate meat eaters, vegetarians, and some gluten-free diets. But you can also bring your own breakfasts and dinners if you prefer.
Everyone will need to provide their own lunches and snacks.
Please bring water for the hike to base camp. Once at basecamp, we will pack in water for us to drink. There is no water along the trail, so bring a 3-quart water capacity.
Why This Trail: This trail is a part of a nice loop that we want to reopen. The loop is the Gnarly Trail, CDT, and then back to Saddle Rock Canyon. We will also improve the CDT south of Saddle Rock.
Directions: From Silver City:It is about a 20-minute drive. Take 180 12 miles west of Silver City to Saddle Rock Road. Turn left onto the Saddle Rock Road. Parking TBD. 2wd can work, but this road is sandy so 4wd is preferable
Difficulty: Easy to moderate. Be able to hike up to 6.5 miles per day. The elevation is from 5000 ft up to 6300 ft.
For more information: go to the Gila Trails Info website.
Please read our Volunteer Guidelines before signing up for this project.
On the signup form please leave the "Number of Volunteers" at 1. If you would like to sign up additional volunteers please submit multiple signups.

Sevilleta NWR
2026-03-07 09:00 - 16:00
RESULTS: NMVFO volunteers, along with Amigos de la Sevilleta and UNM staff, dismantled an entire Rainfall Study experiment array in the far northeast corner of Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge

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The Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge protects a large expanse of land north of Socorro encompassing a variety of terrain and habitats on both sides of the Rio Grande.
Sevilleta partners with UNM for scientific research, and this year NMVFO will be removing hardware from a past research study, working with Professor Pockman, Director of the UNM Sevilleta Field Station. We will be working with the refuge volunteer group, Amigos de la Sevilleta.
Description: On the eastern reaches of the refuge in pinon-juniper woodland in the north end of the Los Pinos mountains is located equipment for a rainfall manipulation study that now needs to be removed (see photo above). The work involves using rechargeable drill/drivers to dismantle the rainfall structures and remove the material from the site to vehicles at a nearby road so they can be hauled from the refuge.
What to bring: Volunteers must wear sturdy boots (preferred) or shoes (no sandals), long pants, eye protection, and work gloves. Long sleeve shirts are recommended. Bring a hat, sun protection, and other apparel appropriate for the predicted weather. Also bring a day pack with extra sunscreen, snacks and a pack lunch, a waterproof jacket if rain is possible, and at least a liter container of water.
If you have your own battery-operated driver, you are welcome to bring it– otherwise NMVFO and the Refuge will provide tools.
Directions: We will meet at the far northeastern corner of the refuge. Take I-25 south from Albuquerque about 50 miles to US Highway 60 (Exit 175) and drive east approximately 20 miles (where the road curves south into the Los Pinos Mountains and then starts to turn east again). Turn right where a green NMVFO sign should be visible, and park just past the gate. We’ll then carpool in high clearance vehicles to the work site, about 6 miles to the south. Corrected Google Map Link.
Note: check email updates shortly before the project, in case the meeting location has changed.
Upon arrival volunteers will sign-in at the Visitor Center and then we will carpool to the work site.
Group Size: Up to 20
Difficulty:
Please read our Volunteer Guidelines before signing up for this project.
On the signup form please leave the "Number of Volunteers" at 1. If you would like to sign up additional volunteers please submit multiple signups.

Coronado Bosque Add-On 2
2026-03-09 10:00 - 15:00
RESULTS: Volunteers return to the Coronado Historic Site to cut and pile dead trees in the bosque, making room for new native growth.
We do not want to disturb wild turkeys in the area, so we will not be back until the Fall.

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What is an add-on? We organize several off-schedule short-notice word-of-mouth projects during the trail season. If you show up to a large number of projects, mention to your project leader that you are interested.

Trail Workshop - Classroom (CABQ Open Space)
2026-03-14 09:15 - 14:30
RESULTS: Nineteen NMVFO volunteers joined four members of Albuquerque Open Space Division staff for a class at the Holiday Park Community Center, featuring PowerPoint presentations on how to build and maintain trails. They then went for some practice supervised by Open Space personnel at the Tijeras Canyon Biozone. After hiking in for about a mile, they broke into groups and improved some existing trails by excavating drain dips to control erosion, building a rock wall to hold up a collapsing section of trail tread, erecting some signage, and closing off entry to an old deteriorating trail by transplanting cholla and prickly pear cactus and setting out other barriers.

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Description: Learn the fundamentals of building and maintaining trails with Larry, and Jim Sattler, the Deputy Superintendent of Albuquerque’s Open Space Division. This class is especially designed for beginners, although anyone who would like a skills refresher will be welcome. To follow-up on this introduction, a full-day field training project will be held one week later on Saturday, March 21.
Indoor Class. The workshop will begin with an indoor class at the Holiday Park Community Center, 11710 Comanche Road NE (just south of Tramway Blvd). Larry will narrate NMVFO PowerPoint presentations that show the challenges and techniques of building and maintaining trails in terrain across New Mexico. Jim will present some background on the Tijeras Canyon Biozone Open Space and use a whiteboard to illustrate the specific trail problems to be dealt with during the outdoor session. You will also receive some handouts about doing trail work.
Outdoor Practice. After the classroom session, we will drive east to Tramway Blvd, south to Central Ave., and left for about a mile on Old Route 66 (NM 333) to the Tijeras Biozone Open Space at 15600 Central Ave SE. We will meet in front of the old building located there. Jim will then demonstrate how to safely use the tools that we will carry farther into the Open Space to do some maintenance on an existing trail and (time permitting) build a short new section of trail.
Preparations: Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, sturdy boots or work shoes, eye protection (glasses or sun glasses), caps or hats, and outer layers appropriate for the weather forecast. Bring work gloves if you have them (extras will be available to borrow) and a daypack with water, snacks, and sunscreen. An email update will be sent out during the week before the project. Please sign up no later than March 12.
Difficulty:
Sign up by clicking the button below. If this is your first NMVFO project, you can find out more information at Volunteer FAQs. If you have any more questions, or would like to be put on a waitlist if the project is full, you can email the project leaders or call Larry at 505-821-7999.
Group Size: 20
Cost: Free!
Please read our Volunteer Guidelines before signing up for this project.
On the signup form please leave the "Number of Volunteers" at 1. If you would like to sign up additional volunteers please submit multiple signups.

Emory Pass Scenic Trail (Gila NF)
2026-03-16 09:00 - 16:00
RESULTS: Members of Gila BCH, NMVFO, and a new Kingston trail group brushed 1.3 miles of the Scenic Trail.

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Description: We will meet at Emory Pass Overlook. Our group will work from there on Trail #796 down hill towards the other trailhead. There will be vehicles already parked at the bottom to run a shuttle back up to Emory Pass.
The work will consist of lopping, with some sawing. Please note that this is a Monday project.
What to bring: Come prepared with layers. Mornings will be cool, while daytime may be warm. Emory Pass is always extra windy, but once we are on the trail, the wind should be less. Bring sturdy boots/shoes, at least 3 quarts of water, lunch and snacks (more than you think you will need), long-sleeve shirt (for sun protection and protection from the brush), raincoat, daypack (preferably one that can carry a lopper and hand saw safely), extra layer, long pants, sunscreen and sunhat, heavy-duty work gloves, eye protection (can be sunglasses that cover eyes well) and hand sanitizer. All tools will be provided.
Why This Trail: It offers expansive views!
Camping optional: Iron Creek Campground. You must bring all your camping gear, food, and water.
Directions: Emory Pass, 9AM. Be there.
Difficulty: Be able to hike 4.5 miles. The elevation is from 6300 to 8,200 feet.
For more information: go to the Gila Trails Info website.
Please read our Volunteer Guidelines before signing up for this project.
On the signup form please leave the "Number of Volunteers" at 1. If you would like to sign up additional volunteers please submit multiple signups.

Los Luceros Historic Site - Invasive Tree Removal
2026-03-20 08:00 - 2026-03-22 16:00
RESULTS: Twenty-three NMVFO volunteers hiked to the bosque along the Rio Grande and cut and piled over 800 Russian olive trees (an invasive species) and protected 175 cottonwood trees from ground fires by removing plant material and duff within a five-foot radius of the trees’ trunks.

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Description: Join NMVFO as we remove invasive trees (Russian olive and tamarisk) from the bosque at the Los Luceros Historic Site just north of Espanola. We will be using loppers and hand saws to cut the trees at ground level and piling the cut trees next to a nearby gravel road. We will also use hatchets to macerate the remaining trunks to help prevent them from sprouting. All tools will be provided.
You can join us on either Friday or Saturday (March 20th or 21st) for a day of work starting at 8:00am or car camp with us starting either Thursday or Friday evening (March 19th or 20th).
NMVFO cooks will provide breakfasts on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mornings and dinners on Friday and Saturday evenings. Folks can eat in the dining hall adjacent to the kitchen. Please let the Project Leader (Mike Timmer at m.timmer@nmvfo.org) know when you plan to arrive and depart so he will know how many tools to bring and the cooks will know how much food to prepare.
The site will provide a level spot for tent campers and a gravel parking lot for RV campers. Both sites are near the dining hall, restrooms, and showers.
Site staff anticipate that many of the 1,000 apple trees at the Site will be in bloom for us to enjoy.
We suggest that you wear boots, long pants, long sleeves, work gloves, hats, and eye protection (sunglasses okay) while working. Please bring a day pack to carry your lunch, snacks, sunblock, and rain gear (if rain is expected), and water.
Reminder: Pets are not allowed on NMVFO projects.
Please sign up below. The closing date for signups is March 16th, 2026
Difficulty:
Group size: Up to 25. If the project becomes full, please add your name to the waitlist, and we will contact you if a spot opens up.
Meet at: Visitor Information Center, Los Luceros Historic Site, 253 County Road 41, Alcalde, NM 87511
How to find us: Look for the sign to the Los Luceros Historic Site on State Highway 68 about 15 miles north of Espanola. Green NMVFO signs will point you to the Visitor Center at approximate coordinates 36.1174, -106.0396
For more information: If this is your first NMVFO project, you can find more information about difficulty ratings and what to expect at Volunteer FAQs or email the project leader.
Please read our Volunteer Guidelines before signing up for this project.
On the signup form please leave the "Number of Volunteers" at 1. If you would like to sign up additional volunteers please submit multiple signups.

Trail Workshop - Field (CABQ Open Space)
2026-03-21 08:30 - 14:30
RESULTS: Training project conducted on Albuquerque Open Space land in the Tijeras Canyon Biozone just east of the city. Experienced Open Space personnel and the NMVFO project leaders mentored volunteers to build a new trail section and close an old one.

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This session will build upon skills introduced to new volunteers at an indoor class on March 14, but anyone is welcome to sign up for either or both sessions. For those who miss last week’s class, we recommend you review its two PowerPoint presentations at the top of the following webpage: https://nmvfo.org/volunteer/resources/.
Description: This training project will be conducted on Albuquerque Open Space land in the Tijeras Canyon Biozone just east of the city. Experienced Open Space personnel and the NMVFO project leaders will help mentor volunteers as we build a new trail section and close an old one. The trail’s new route will be marked with pin flags that carefully follow the terrain to permit proper drainage. Any large trees in the way will have already been felled with a chainsaw, but we will use hand tools to remove stumps, smaller trees, brush, and intruding branches. We will also reshape and smooth the tread, digging out rocks and roots, and build rock walls as needed to buttress the trail along steep slopes or at drainage crossings. For closing the old trail segment, we will scarify the tread and scatter foliage to limit erosion and block its entrances with rocks, branches, and replanted cactuses where available.
Preparations: Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts, sturdy boots or work shoes, eye protection (such as sun glasses), caps or hats, and outer layers appropriate for the weather forecast. Bring work gloves if you have them (but extras will be available to borrow) and a daypack with water, a light lunch and/or snacks, and sunscreen. An email update will be sent out during the week before the project. Please sign up no later than March 19.
Directions: The Tijeras Biozone facilities are located at 15600 Central Ave SE as shown on this map. If coming from Albuquerque on I-40, turn south on Tramway Blvd (Exit 167), then turn left on Central Ave. and continue east on Old Route 66 (NM 333) for 1.2 miles to the parking lot.
Difficulty:
Sign up by clicking the button below. If this is your first NMVFO project, you can find out more information at Volunteer FAQs. If you have any more questions, or would like to be put on a waitlist if the project is full, please email Larry and Christy or call Larry at 505-821-7999.
Group Size: 20-ish.
Cost: Free!Please read our Volunteer Guidelines before signing up for this project.
On the signup form please leave the "Number of Volunteers" at 1. If you would like to sign up additional volunteers please submit multiple signups.

Bosque del Apache NWR
2026-03-28 09:00 - 16:00
RESULTS: Fifteen NMVFO volunteers and two Bosque del Apache staff removed tangles of dead willows along a trail near the Observation Blind and Pollinator Enhancement Project, and installed two benches and cleared weeds.

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Description: Volunteers will assist refuge and Friends staff in reducing fire hazards along a newly installed 0.4-mile addition at the Observation Blind Trail. Removal of dead and downed cottonwoods and willows will encourage existing native plants to grow and help to improve wildlife observation opportunities.
Most of the work will involve bucking and moving plant debris into piles or trailers to be moved offsite. Some shovel work may be needed to remove roots of invasive trees.
We will meet in the Bosque del Apache Visitor Center parking lot at 9:00 AM to sign in. We will then proceed by car caravan to the work site to review the planned work and conduct a safety briefing.
Volunteers must wear sturdy boots (preferred) or shoes (no sandals), long pants, eye protection, and work gloves. Long sleeve shirts are recommended. Bring a hat, sun protection, and other apparel appropriate for the predicted weather. Also bring a day pack with water, snacks, lunch, and other necessities. NMVFO will provide tools. We plan to finish work by 4:00 pm.
After completion of the project, volunteers are invited to share a late-afternoon meal at the Owl Cafe in San Antonio, NM.
Directions: Bosque del Apache is located approximately 7.7 miles south of San Antonio NM. Coming from the North, take Interstate 25 South to the San Antonio (Exit 139). Go East on US-380 E for 0.2 miles, then South on Main St, NM-1 S/Old US Hwy 85, for 7.7 miles. At the entrance, proceed to Visitor Center parking. Please plan to be there a little before 9:00 AM.
Difficulty:
To sign up: Click on the button below and fill out the contact information. If the project is full, you can email the project leader to be put on a wait list.
Please read our Volunteer Guidelines before signing up for this project.
On the signup form please leave the "Number of Volunteers" at 1. If you would like to sign up additional volunteers please submit multiple signups.

Mesa Prieta Petroglyph Project
2026-04-04 09:00 - 16:00
Description: Join NMVFO as we improve the trails at the Mesa Prieta Petroglyph Project located north of Espanola. Founded in 1999, the Project has three goals; to record as many of the estimated 100,000 petroglyphs and other archaeological features as possible; to educate the archaeological community, local people, and visitors about this treasure; and to protect and preserve archaeological features on the mesa.
We will be brushing a short section of trail, pruning junipers that are overhanging some of the petroglyphs, and improving drainage from the trails that wander among the thousands of petroglyphs at this little known but quite fascinating petroglyph site. All tools will be provided.
We suggest that you wear boots, long pants, long sleeves, work gloves, hats, and eye protection (sunglasses okay) while working. Please bring your lunch, snacks, sunblock, and rain gear (if rain is expected), and water.
Reminder: Pets are not allowed on NMVFO projects.
Please sign up below. The closing date for signups is April 1st, 2026.
Difficulty:
Group size: Up to 15
Meet at: Directions to the trailhead parking lot will be provided to the people who sign up no later than April 1st, 2026
For More Information: If this is your first NMVFO project, you can find more information about difficulty ratings and what to expect at https://nmvfo.org/volunteer/volunteer-faq or email the project leader.
Please read our Volunteer Guidelines before signing up for this project.
On the signup form please leave the "Number of Volunteers" at 1. If you would like to sign up additional volunteers please submit multiple signups.

Ghost Ranch (Carson NF)
2026-04-09 17:00 - 2026-04-12 12:01
RESULTS: 18 volunteers worked on Kitchen Mesa Trail and a new accessible trail being built.
Over the weekend volunteers built 4 sets of steps, 15+ erosion control features, and moved many, many rocks. and began work on nearly 0.5 miles new trail, and worked to help block off the old trail.

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Description: Join NMVFO for a unique dorm-camping volunteer project at Ghost Ranch! Ghost Ranch is allowing us to stay in dorm-style accommodations with multiple beds per room. Volunteers who prefer to camp are welcome to camp. Dinner and breakfast will be provided in the dining hall; volunteers should plan to bring their own trail lunches.
Participants may arrive Thursday evening. Trail work will take place Friday and Saturday, with a half day of work on Sunday.
Each workday will begin with a safety talk at 8:00 am. Work will typically conclude around 5:00 pm on Friday and Saturday. On Sunday, we will begin around 8:30 am and finish by noon.
This year’s project will focus on retaining wall construction on the Kitchen Mesa Trail, sign installation along the Chimney Rock and Kitchen Mesa Trails, and construction of drainage features as time allows.
Required gear: sturdy boots, work gloves, long sleeves, long pants, eye protection (sunglasses okay). Please also bring a day pack, snacks, trail lunches, sunblock, rain gear, and water bottles.
Difficulty:
Group Size: up to 20. Please sign up by April 1.
Please read our Volunteer Guidelines before signing up for this project.
On the signup form please leave the "Number of Volunteers" at 1. If you would like to sign up additional volunteers please submit multiple signups.

Encino Trail ADD-ON
2026-04-14 08:30 - 16:00
RESULTS: Six volunteers tackled the lesser-known Encino Trail on the west side of the Manzano Mountains. The team installed a wilderness sign and climbed for 3.5 miles from 6200 feet to 8,800 feet to lop a heavily overgrown trail section about 0.5 miles from the crest.

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What is an add-on? We organize several off-schedule short-notice word-of-mouth projects during the trail season. If you show up to a large number of projects, mention to your project leader that you are interested.

Volunteer Appreciation Picnic
2026-04-19 10:00 - 15:00
RESULTS: On a perfect spring afternoon, with a high in the mid-70s and light winds, 60 or more NMVFO members and volunteers enjoyed a meal catered by Rudy’s BBQ with side dishes prepared by David Broudy.

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Description: Please join us for the 2026 NMVFO Volunteer Appreciation Picnic which will be held at the Kiwanis Shelter at Elena Gallegos Open Space on Sunday, April 19. Further details and a link to register will be sent out to current volunteers and members as we get closer. We hope to see you there. Time to be determined.

Randall Davey Audubon Center
2026-04-25 09:00 - 2026-04-26 15:00
Description: We return to the Randall Davey Audubon Center for the second year in a row, this time to build a new trail that the center has been thinking about for a long time.
Although some details of the project remain to be worked out, we’ll plan to meet at the center at 9AM (look for the green signs) on Saturday April 25 and hike a short distance to the start of the project.
Those who wish could camp overnight at Randall Davey or return from home to resume work on Sunday. Dinner on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday will be provided by center staff. We’ll send further details to those who sign up once the project gets closer.
Please bring your own snacks and lunches as well as water. Tools will be provided. Participants should wear sturdy boots or work shoes (no sandals), long pants, hat, eye protection, gloves, and bring gear for rain if forecast. Pets are not allowed on projects or at the Audubon center.
Difficulty:
Group Size: Up to 15
Please read our Volunteer Guidelines before signing up for this project.
On the signup form please leave the "Number of Volunteers" at 1. If you would like to sign up additional volunteers please submit multiple signups.

Valle de Oro Habitat Restoration (NWR)
2026-05-02 08:00 - 16:00
Description: The Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge is the Southwest’s first urban wildlife refuge. It serves as an oasis for both wildlife and people. Established in 2012, the refuge is transitioning from agriculture fields to a diversity of native habitats and visitor amenities.
Help us with habitat restoration at the Refuge by volunteering for the annual Visitor Center pond clean up event. We will be cutting back cattails and removing tumbleweeds and invasive species to make space for native plants. This will be a great project to get your hands dirty and your boots muddy. Waders will be provided by refuge staff. Guided tours of the Refuge will be provided for interested volunteers.
Volunteers must wear sturdy boots (preferred) or shoes (no sandals), long pants, eye protection, and work gloves. Long sleeve shirts are recommended. Bring a hat, sun protection, and other apparel appropriate for the predicted weather. Also bring a day pack with water, snacks, lunch, and other necessities. We plan to finish work by 4:00 pm.
The volunteer group will not exceed 20 participants. Registrants will be updated by email in the week(s) before the project with the latest information. If you have to cancel on the day of the project, please text the Project Leader at 505-705-2584.
Directions: Valle de Oro is located approximately 10 miles south of Albuquerque’s Big I. Coming from the North, take Interstate 25 South to Rio Bravo (Exit 220). Go West on Rio Bravo, then South on Broadway for approximately 2.25 miles. Turn West on Desert, cross the Rail-runner Tracks, then turn South on 2nd Street. The entrance to Valle de Oro will be on your right about 0.75 miles. At the entrance, proceed to Visitor Center parking. Please plan to be there a little before 8:00 AM.
Difficulty:
To sign up: Click on the button below and fill out the contact information. If the project is full, you can email the project leader to be put on a wait list.
Please read our Volunteer Guidelines before signing up for this project.
On the signup form please leave the "Number of Volunteers" at 1. If you would like to sign up additional volunteers please submit multiple signups.

East Railroad Trail Backpack (Gila NF)
2026-05-08 08:00 - 2026-05-11 14:00
Description: Lots of brushing, in addition to logging, trail marking, and tread work with our partners Gila Back Country Horsemen. A map of the project is at https://caltopo.com/m/865CL65.
Hikers and equine-riders will all meet the Upper Gallinas Campground. Hikers will pass off 40 lbs or less of personal gear to be packed in and then drive to the Railroad Trailhead to start hiking in. The packers will ride from Gallinas Campground, packing into the hiker basecamp. Once at basec camp, hikers will set up camp and work from there. The packers will ride back to Upper Gallinas Campground and basecamp there for the rest of the project, riding up each day to log. At the end of the project, the packers will pack out the hikers.
What to bring: Come prepared with layers. See the packing list and a more detailed description at this link

Food and Water: Gila BCH homemade vacuum-sealed meals (breakfasts and dinners) will be available for this project. We can accommodate meat eaters, vegetarians, and some gluten-free diets. But you can also bring your own breakfasts and dinners if you prefer.
Everyone will need to provide their own lunches and snacks.
Please bring water for the hike to base camp. We will provide jugs of water at base camp or if there is water in the creek, we will filter water. There is not always water on the trail where we will work, so bring a 4-quart water capacity.
Why This Trail: This trail is easy to access since it starts near Highway 152.
Directions: 8 am Upper Gallinas Campground.
Difficulty: Be able to hike up to 6 miles per day. The elevation is from 7,000 to 9,660 feet.
For more information: go to the Gila Trails Info website.
Please read our Volunteer Guidelines before signing up for this project.
On the signup form please leave the "Number of Volunteers" at 1. If you would like to sign up additional volunteers please submit multiple signups.

Latino Outdoors – 2026 Spring Bows in Burque
2026-05-09 09:00 - 13:00
Description: Come help NMVFO staff a booth at the Latino Outdoors’ Spring Bows in Burque event on Saturday May 9th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm. The event provides hands-on outdoor experiences for residents. We’ll have our two-person crosscut saw, logs, and crossbuck for folks and kids to try out their lumberjack skills.
Staffing the booth is easy and fun as you get to talk with visitors about NMVFO’s wide range of projects, training, and social events, about the camaraderie we experience during our projects, and the satisfaction of giving something back to New Mexico’s outdoors. But most of all we get to see the smiles on their faces as they buck a log for the first time and take home a cutoff souvenir.
Information concerning the event location and parking will be provided as it becomes available.
Difficulty:
Group Size: Five
Cost: Free!
Please email Mike Timmer at m.timmer@nmvfo.org to let him know when you can attend then sign up for this event with the button below.
The closing date for signups is May 6th at 5:00 pm
Please read our Volunteer Guidelines before signing up for this project.
On the signup form please leave the "Number of Volunteers" at 1. If you would like to sign up additional volunteers please submit multiple signups.

Upper Trigo Trail (Mountainair RD)
2026-05-15 17:00 - 2026-05-16 17:00
Description: We will camp Friday night at New Canyon Campground and hike up New Canyon Trail (which should be clear) and work down the west side of Manzano Crest on Trigo Trail. This will be a hike of 6 to 8 miles round trip with over 2000 feet of elevation gain so we will rate this as difficult. The work will be lopping back overgrowth and sawing downed trees.
We will provide meals on Friday evening and Saturday morning. You will need to bring food and water for the work day on Saturday. The campground has pit toilets but no other amenities – there is no water. You could join us Saturday morning if you don’t want to camp but it is about 1.5 hours from Tramway to the campground, and the work day starts at 8AM. The campground is 5.0 miles on Capilla Peak Road from Manzano, NM. Detailed directions will be sent to volunteers.
For Saturday, bring your daypack, water, sunscreen, lunch, and snacks to sustain you throughout the day, and rain gear (just in case). Please make sure you have long pants and sturdy but comfortable boots/shoes. Long sleeves are also highly recommended. Tools will be provided. Hard hats will be mandatory and provided, but feel free to bring your own if you have one. Please also bring eye protection (sunglasses or safety glasses) and work gloves if you have them. Loaner protective equipment will also be available. As always, dogs are not allowed on projects.
Difficulty: 6-8 miles round trip, 2000 feet elevation gain
Please read our Volunteer Guidelines before signing up for this project.
On the signup form please leave the "Number of Volunteers" at 1. If you would like to sign up additional volunteers please submit multiple signups.

South Crest Trail Backpack (Sandia RD)
2026-05-16 08:00 - 2026-05-17 17:00
Description: The Crest Trail is a popular route for long hikes, with amazing views. The more remote sections have been overgrown with brush, and need to be cleared, before they are lost. In order to access this particular remote section, we will do an overnight backpack trip. We’ll hike up the Cienega Trail – 2 miles and 1,900’ elevation climb, and camp a bit south of the junction, on the Crest. This is a rare opportunity to see both sunset and sunrise from the Crest, a 9,400’ vantage point! Water, and possibly tools, will be packed in by Back Country Horsemen.
Please bring: Volunteers will need to bring their own camping gear and food. They will also need long pants, long-sleeve shirts, safety glasses (sunglasses), and gloves. Hard hats will be provided, and will need to be carried up.
Trail runners: There is also an opportunity for trail runners to participate. They could run up to the Crest in the morning, work, then run back down. If you are interested in doing this, let the trip leader know, and details will be worked out.
Location: Backpackers will meet at Cienaga Picnic Area at 8AM to start hiking up.
Difficulty: with 1,900′ elevation climb, and high elevation.
Group size – 15 campers and more trail runners, so 25 overall.
Closing date for sign-ups is May 13. More details will be sent to participants.
Please read our Volunteer Guidelines before signing up for this project.
On the signup form please leave the "Number of Volunteers" at 1. If you would like to sign up additional volunteers please submit multiple signups.

Bluewater Canyon (BLM Rio Puerco)
2026-06-06 08:00 - 17:00
Description: Bluewater Canyon [Google Map] is in a pretty canyon below the Bluewater dam just west of Grants. It has been designated as an Area of Critical Environmental Concern by the BLM. We will improve an existing trail by cutting back overgrowth and making other improvements as necessary. This is a flat trail and less that 3 miles round trip so we will rate this as an easy project, however there will be several stream crossings that might require wading if the stream is high.
We will offer camping for Friday night in the large flat parking area – campers would be OK here, but campers will need to provide their own food for dinner and breakfast. We will work from 8:00 to 5:00 on Saturday. You could come for the day without camping. There are no facilities so you will need to bring all your own water and food for the work days.
Participants should wear sturdy boots or work shoes (no sandals), long pants, hat, eye protection, gloves, and bring gear for rain. Pets are not allowed on projects.
Difficulty:
Group size: up to 20
Please read our Volunteer Guidelines before signing up for this project.
On the signup form please leave the "Number of Volunteers" at 1. If you would like to sign up additional volunteers please submit multiple signups.

Adopt-a-Trail (Carson NF)
2026-06-12 17:00 - 2026-06-14 14:00
Description: Come join us for our returning project on NMVFO’s adopted trail, Middle Fork 24 on the Camino Real Ranger District. We will begin work at 9AM Saturday morning from our group campsite, but you are welcome to join us anytime Friday after 2PM for camping and dinner at a local restaurant in Peñasco. Our adopted section takes us roughly two miles south along the Rio Santa Barbara from the campground. We’ll remove downed trees, brush back encroaching vegetation and focus significantly on improving drainage and address erosion issues along the trail. Tools and hard hats will be provided.

Friday: Meet for dinner at a local restaurant, then camp at the campground.
Meals Provided: Saturday & Sunday breakfast, Saturday dinner.
Saturday: Work on the Trail, clearing blowdowns, brushing back vegetation, and improving drainage.
Sunday: Work on the Middle Fork 24 Trail before wrapping up.

Required gear: sturdy boots, work gloves, long sleeves, long pants, eye protection (sunglasses okay). Please also bring a day pack, snacks, trail lunch, sunblock, rain gear, and plenty of water for each work day. We’ll plan for a long day on Saturday, ending at around 4:00. On Sunday we’ll plan to be heading out by 2PM.
For camping, feel free to bring a cooler for beverages (adult or other). A camp chair is also a good idea. Nights could be chilly and rain is possible, so come prepared!
The Santa Barbara Campground has pit toilets. It’s a nice campground, and our adopted section of trail is very pleasant, in sight of the Rio Santa Barbara for most of its length. Hope to see you there!
Difficulty:
Group Size: up to 15. Please sign up by June 5.
Please read our Volunteer Guidelines before signing up for this project.
On the signup form please leave the "Number of Volunteers" at 1. If you would like to sign up additional volunteers please submit multiple signups.

Quarai Wall Stabilization (Salinas Pueblo Missions NM)
2026-06-18 08:30 - 16:00
Description: Join NMVFO and the Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument Staff at Quarai on Thursday, June 18, 2026. The National Monument is a complex of three pueblo and Spanish mission sites located near Mountainair, NM. The sites encompass the archaeological remains of prehistoric Native American settlements, historic remains of a pueblos that were abandoned in the 1670s, the ruins of 17th-century Spanish mission compounds, and 19th-century Spanish ranching artifacts. For this project, we will work alongside the park’s Preservation Crew, who will be stabilizing 17th-c. Convento Walls and 19th-c. Resettlement Structures at Quarai. Volunteers will learn how preservation work is carried out at the park and work alongside the park’s Facilities Division and Preservation Crew to re-point mortar on historic walls.
We will meet in the Quarai Visitor Center parking lot a little before 8:30 AM to sign in, review the planned work, and conduct a safety briefing. Volunteers must wear sturdy boots (preferred) or shoes (no sandals), long pants, eye protection, and work gloves. Long sleeve shirts are preferred. Bring a hat, sun protection, and other apparel appropriate for the predicted weather. Also bring a day pack with water, snacks, lunch, and other necessities. We plan to finish work by 4:00 pm.
Directions: From Albuquerque, drive east on I-40, exit at Tijeras (Exit 175). Proceed south on Hwy 337 (old South 14) through Chilili. At the intersection with Hwy 55, turn west and proceed on Hwy 55 through Tajique, Torreon and Manzano. Approximately 5 miles south of Manzano, just as you enter the village of Punta de Agua, turn west on County Rd B076 and proceed to the Quarai overflow parking lot (North of the Visitor Center). The estimated driving time from the Big I is approximately 1.5 hours, so plan accordingly. Please be there a little before 8:30 AM. If coming from the South (Socorro, etc.) contact the Project Leader for directions as needed.
To sign up: Click on the button below and fill out the contact information. If the project is full, you can email the project leader to be put on a wait list.
Difficulty:
Please read our Volunteer Guidelines before signing up for this project.
On the signup form please leave the "Number of Volunteers" at 1. If you would like to sign up additional volunteers please submit multiple signups.

Mesa Prieta Petroglyph 2
2026-06-27 08:30 - 16:30
Description: Join the Mesa Prieta Petroglyph Project (MPPP) and Wildlands Stewardship LLC for a hands-on erosion control project at the Archaeological Conservancy‘s Wells Preserve near Lyden, NM on Saturday, June 27. Mesa Prieta is home to one of the largest concentrations of petroglyphs in the Southwest, with thousands of images carved into basalt boulders by Indigenous, Spanish, and Anglo peoples over many centuries. Several of these irreplaceable boulders are now threatened by active erosion, and this project will directly address that risk.
Volunteers will work under the direction of Jeremiah Martin of Wildlands Stewardship LLC, an erosion control and restoration specialist with over a decade of experience, and Jerod Roberts, Project Archaeologist for MPPP, to construct rock dams and walls using native stone, redistribute gravels to regrade drainage channels, treat an actively eroding area, and plant native grasses to stabilize soils. Petroglyph-bearing boulders are located throughout the project area, so volunteers will receive a thorough orientation before work begins and will be guided carefully around cultural features at all times.
We will meet at the Wells Preserve near Lyden, NM at 8:30AM for sign-in, a work overview, and safety briefing. Detailed directions will be provided after signup. Volunteers must wear sturdy closed-toe shoes or hiking boots and work gloves. Bring layers for cool mornings and hot afternoons, a hat, sun protection, plenty of water, and a sack lunch. Snacks and additional beverages will be provided.
Difficulty:
Group size: Up to 20
For More Information: If this is your first NMVFO project, you can find more information about difficulty ratings and what to expect at https://nmvfo.org/volunteer/volunteer-faq or email the project leader.
Please read our Volunteer Guidelines before signing up for this project.
On the signup form please leave the "Number of Volunteers" at 1. If you would like to sign up additional volunteers please submit multiple signups.

Dome Trail #151
2026-07-16 17:00 - 2026-07-19 14:00
Description: Join NMVFO on a car-camping project to clear downed trees on the Rio Quemado Trail #153 and the Dome Trail #151 in the Pecos Wilderness of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF). We’ll be using one- and two-person crosscuts saws to buck (cut) the downed trees to allow passage for hikers and horses.
We will camp at the Borrego Mesa Campground. Breakfasts will be provided by NMVFO cooks on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday morning and dinners on Friday and Saturday evenings.
While the project starts at 5:00 pm on Thursday, July 16th, you are welcome to join us Friday morning or evening or Saturday morning before 8:00 am. Please let the Project Leader (Mike Timmer at m.timmer@nmvfo.org) know when you plan to arrive and depart so he will know how many tools to bring and the cooks will know how much food to prepare.
All tools will be provided. The Forest Service requires that you wear boots, long pants, long sleeves, work gloves, hard hats (will be provided), and eye protection (sunglasses okay) while working. Please bring a day pack to carry your lunch, snacks, sunblock, and rain gear (if rain is expected), and water.
Reminder: Pets are not allowed on NMVFO projects.
Please sign up below. The closing date for signups is July 13th at 5:00 pm
Difficulty:
Group size: Up to 15
Meet at: Meet at: Borrego Mesa Campground – Coordinates 35.97777, -105.77271
How to find us: Look for the green NMVFO signs starting at Forest Road 306 southwest of Cordova, New Mexico.
For more information: If this is your first NMVFO project, you can find more information about difficulty ratings and what to expect at https://nmvfo.org/volunteer/volunteer-faq or email the project leader.
Please read our Volunteer Guidelines before signing up for this project.
On the signup form please leave the "Number of Volunteers" at 1. If you would like to sign up additional volunteers please submit multiple signups.

CDT Canjilon (Carson NF)
2026-08-06 17:00 - 2026-08-09 13:00
Description: We partner with the Continental Divide Trail Coalition for a project at Canjilon Lake Trailhead in the Carson National Forest. We expect to do logout with crosscut saws and handsaws, and some treadwork as needed.
If you cannot arrive Thursday night, be there by Friday 8AM, ready to work.
This is a car camp project, and breakfasts and dinners will be provided. Bring your own lunches and snacks.
Please bring a daypack to carry your lunch, snacks, sunblock, rain gear, and a full-day’s supply of water. Volunteers must wear sturdy boots, long pants, long sleeve shirts, eye protection (sunglasses ok), and work gloves. All tools will be provided. All dinners and breakfasts will be provided by our friends at the CDTC, but bring your own lunches. Bring the normal camping gear you would need for a car camp, and a camp chair is a good idea. There may not be a water faucet at base camp, so bring your own supply. Base camp amenities include a vault toilet.
See the CDTC project description here.
You can sign up below until Tuesday July 28, 2026.
Difficulty:
Please read our Volunteer Guidelines before signing up for this project.
On the signup form please leave the "Number of Volunteers" at 1. If you would like to sign up additional volunteers please submit multiple signups.

Dome Trail #151 Backpack
2026-08-20 09:00 - 2026-08-23 16:00
Description: Join NMVFO on a four-day backpacking project to clear downed trees on the Dome Trail #151 in the Pecos Wilderness of the Santa Fe National Forest (SFNF). The Dome Trail hasn’t been cleared for many years. Backcountry Horsemen of America will pack in our tools and water. The location of our basecamp will be provided after the trail is scouted in July.
While the project starts on Thursday, August 20th, you are welcome to join us on Friday or Saturday and spend as much time working with us as you can. Just let Mike Timmer know your schedule.
All tools will be provided. We will be using one- and two-person crosscut saws, pruning saws, and axes. USFS rules require all volunteers to wear ankle-high boots, long pants, long sleeves, hard hats (provided), work gloves, and eye protection (sunglasses okay) while working. Please bring a daypack to carry your lunch, snacks, sunblock, rain gear, and a full day’s supply of water.
Reminder: Pets are not allowed on NMVFO projects.
Please sign up below. The closing date for signups is August 17th at 5:00 pm
Difficulty:
Group size: Up to 15
Meet at: Meet at: Rio Quemado trailhead at coordinates 35.97214, -105.74862
How to find us: Look for the green NMVFO signs starting at Forest Road 306 southwest of Cordova, New Mexico.
For more information: If this is your first NMVFO project, you can find more information about difficulty ratings and what to expect at https://nmvfo.org/volunteer/volunteer-faq or email the project leader.
Please read our Volunteer Guidelines before signing up for this project.
On the signup form please leave the "Number of Volunteers" at 1. If you would like to sign up additional volunteers please submit multiple signups.

Juan Tomas (ABQ Open Space)
2026-08-22 08:30 - 14:00
Description: Albuquerque’s Open Space Division maintains five areas on the east side of the Sandia and Manzanita Mountains. The largest of these is the Juan Tomas Open Space, which encompasses 1,290 acres of primarily pinon-juniper and ponderosa forest growing at elevations up to 7,760 feet. Join us as we continue building a new trail to eventually replace an old eroded route under the guidance of Jim Sattler of the Open Space Division. The work area will be about a mile hike across level terrain from the parking lot. An Open Space crew will have already marked the new trail corridor with pin flags and chain-sawed any large trees. Using pick mattocks, McLeods, Pulaskis, loppers, hand saws, and shovels, we will clear out smaller vegetation and excavate a smooth well-drained tread for hikers, mountain bikes, and occasional horses. We may also build some rock retaining walls if needed.
Preparations: Wear long pants, sturdy boots or work shoes (no soft shoes or sandals), sun glasses, or other eye protection. We’ll be working in only partial shade, so wear a hat and put on some sunscreen. Bring work or gardening gloves if you have them; otherwise, loaners will be available. Also bring a day pack with plenty of water or other drinks, snacks or light lunch, and a rain jacket or poncho (especially if the monsoon season will be active).
Directions: From Albuquerque, take the Tijeras exit (#175) from I-40 and drive south on Highway 337 for 9 miles (bypassing Juan Tomas Road, which leads to a village). Turn east (left) on Oak Flat Road and continue about 2 miles to a dirt parking area with a pipe gate on the left side of the road. Please try to arrive no later than 8:30 AM. There will be two rosters to sign: one for the Open Space Division and other for NMVFO.
Difficulty:
Group Size: 25. If the project is full, please email the project leader to be put on a wait list.
Cost: Free!
Please read our Volunteer Guidelines before signing up for this project.
On the signup form please leave the "Number of Volunteers" at 1. If you would like to sign up additional volunteers please submit multiple signups.
