Trail work

How to get involved!

COTA maintains over 600 miles of singletrack across Central Oregon, in addition to multiple new trails on the way. The more we ride, the more we have to keep up with maintenance, and the more hands we need to do so. Enjoy throwing a little dirt around with a bunch of great people? There's plenty of opportunities to join in at a work event. The bulk of COTA’s work is done through the hands of our volunteers, with over 12,000 hours of work completed in 2022.

Trail work is strenuous work, BUT no experience is needed! Our crew leaders will bring all the tools and teach you the skills you need to complete the various tasks to maintain our trails. Our work events usually run about 2 to 4 hours. Our main trail work season is dependent on moisture. We are typically able to do trail work late-April through June and then again in September through October.

What To Wear:

Sturdy/close toed shoes, Long pants, Clothes that you don't mind getting dirty (Warm clothes/layers)

What To Bring:

Work gloves, Eye protection (sunglasses or clear lenses), Sunscreen/chapstick, Water, Lunch/Snacks, Backpack to carry your things

COTA will provide:

All tools, Hard hats

Check out our trail work events and chapter meetings on our Meet UP calendar.

Meet up

Stay in the know! Sign up for our monthly newsletter to hear about whats going on.

Newsletter

Looking for other ways to get involved or have questions, please reach out. We will get back to you!

Email us

Trail Work Opportunities

Training Outlines

A variety of skills are needed to keep the trails in tip top shape! You don't need any experience to start, and we always welcome new trail lovers to the crew! Below is a list of different crew positions, some of which require training.

Trail hand

Time requirement: Flexible, at least 4 hours/ year
Commitment level: Preferably ongoing; 1 year minimum

Trail Hand volunteers are the heart and soul of the COTA trails program and without them we could
not accomplish the great trail maintenance work we do nor the new trail builds we accomplish
every year.

Job Responsibilities:

May work on all types of projects under direct supervision of a Crew Leader.
Prerequisites: None.
Training Requirements: None.

crew lead

Time requirement: 8 hours/month minimum
Commitment level: 2 years
Positions available: 30

Job Responsibilities:

Lead Trail LOVE work events.
Participate/lead at least 4 regularly-scheduled work events (e.g., via meetup).
Understanding Trail Management Objectives.
Lead routine maintenance (hand logout, brushing, and drain clearing).
Lead work building new drains and associated rolling grade dips.
Manage volunteers.
May lead specialized work after consultation with the Trails Program Manager or Senior Crew Leader. Such work may include tread work, rock work, trail realignment, trail design, machine work, jump building and repair, wooden technical feature inspection and repair, etc.
Log all volunteer hours.

Job Qualifications:

Complete COTA training program (or receive exemption).
1-2 years of prior trail work experience.
Basic trail knowledge in all aspects of trail maintenance, hand building new trails, finish work behind machines on machine built new trail construction, and managing people with positive attitude and appreciation of volunteer work.
Must be current COTA member.

Senior crew Leader

Time requirement: 12 hours/month minimum
Commitment level: 3 years
Positions available: 10

Job Responsibilities:

Lead Trail LOVE work events.
Participate/lead at least 6 regularly-scheduled work events (e.g., via meetup).
Identify, prioritize, and lead all types of work that are within their skillset (hand logout, brushing, drain clearing, etc.).
Understanding Trail Management Objectives.
Support training of Crew Leaders.
Work in planning efforts to support Trails Program Manager.
Mentor Crew Leaders and help them advance their skills.
Exercise appropriate judgment to maintain trail character.
Recommend Crew Leaders for advancement when appropriate.
Only Senior Crew Leader that may build wooden technical features.
Log all volunteer hours.

Job Qualifications:

Demonstrates a level of knowledge, experience, and judgment sufficient to identify, prioritize, and carry out all manner of trail projects.
Not expected to know how to do everything, but to have appropriate judgment to know what they should and shouldn’t tackle.
Complete COTA training program (or receive exemption): 2-3 years of prior trail work experience.
Familiarity with small power equipment like the Cannycom and plate compactors.
Pass very rigorous test from Trails Program Manager.
Must be current COTA member.

Swamper

Time requirement: At least 4 hours per logout session, 3 sessions per season
Commitment level: 1 year commitment
Positions available: Open

Job Description:

This is the path to becoming a sawyer. Swampers help to clean up debris as Sawyer cuts trees. You’ll work closely with the Sawyer to help watch as they make cuts and manage trail users entering the work area for their safety. Potential sawyers must swamp 3 or 4 times prior to taking sawyer certification.

Job Responsibilities:

Participate in a minimum of 3 logout work events per season.

Job Qualifications:

None needed to swamp.
Previous chainsaw knowledge is beneficial but not necessary.

Sawyer

Time requirement: At least 4 hours per logout session, 3 sessions per season
Commitment level: 2 year commitment
Positions available: 40

Job Responsibilities:

Participate in a minimum of 3 logout work events per season.
Follow all guidelines from training and FS check out/in system.
Work within your certification level.
Always work with a swamper.
Log all volunteer hours.

Job Qualifications:

Potential sawyers must swamp 3 or 4 times prior to taking sawyer certification.
40 hours of prior chainsaw use is what the USFS asks for prior to the certification course.
Sawyers must be current with 1st Aid and CPR certifications.
Successful completion of 16 hour USFS Chainsaw Certification Course with recert every 3 years.
Must be current COTA member.

Machine operator

Time requirement: At least 24 hours a year
Commitment level: 2 year minimum
Positions available: 20

Job Responsibilities:

Understand and execute the trail building/maintenance needs.
Participate in a minimum of 3 machine work sessions per season.
Follow machine and vehicle check out system.
Follow all guidelines from training and FS check out/in system.
Work within your certification level.
Always work with a 2nd crew member.
Log all volunteer hours.

Job Qualifications:

Successful completion of COTA’s machine operator training.
Minimum of 16 hours of supervised operation before consideration for unsupervised machine use.
2-3 years of trail experience using hand tools and well versed in all aspects of trail maintenance and new trail construction.
Prior machine experience and use will be considered.
Must be current COTA member.

Winter snow-bike trail groomer

Time requirement: At least 24 hours a year
Commitment level: Ongoing; 2 year minimum
Positions available: 10

Job Description:

Trail Groomers are responsible for machine grooming our winter snow bike trails at Wanoga (and possible future locations).

Job Responsibilities:

Sweep / Shovel CONEX box every time you groom keeping the inside as free of snow as possible.
Clear snowmobile and grooming implement of snow after grooming including the track.
Refuel and add 2 cycle oil as needed after grooming.
Report any issues with equipment when logging hours.
Brush trail/ trim branches as necessary.
Add trail confirmation markers as necessary and trim trees as necessary to make them visible.
Wear proper PPE.
Work with Winter Snowbike Trail Program Manager on grooming schedule.
Log all volunteer hours.

Job Qualifications:

Some prior snowmobile experience is a good thing, but past experience with ATVs for work will be sufficient with proper training.
A love for cold weather and often working after dark are also important.
Must have a minimum 8 hrs training before they can groom without the supervision of the Winter Snowbike Trail Program Manager.
Must be current COTA member.

Flow/jump specialist

Time requirement: At least 8 hours/month
Commitment level: 2 year commitment
Positions available: 15

Goals:
Management of bike parks:

Sisters Bike Park 242
Prineville
Phils Jump area
The Lair

Flow Trails:

Tylers
Lower Whoops
Tiddlywinks
Royal Flush
Trestles
Strong Whiskey

Job Responsibilities:

Participate/lead at least 4 regularly-scheduled work events annually (e.g., via meetup).
Understanding Trail Management Objectives.
Assess maintenance and alignment needs.
Lead routine maintenance of jump features and berms.
Manage volunteers.
Log all volunteer hours.

Job Qualifications:

Complete COTA training program (or receive exemption).
1-2 years of prior trail work experience.
Jump riding experience.
1-2 years experience building and shaping jumps.
Familiarity with small power equipment like the Cannycom and plate compactors.
Must be current COTA member.

COTA offers numerous trainings each year to our dedicated members and volunteers. One of the best ways to climb the COTA ladder is to participate in these training programs.

Crew Leader training

Introduction:
Evening presentation of COTA and overview of topics

COTA history
What does it mean to be a crew leader-volunteer
Expectations, logging volunteer hours, volunteer rewards program, COTA membership, COTA representation, conversations with users while on trail
Overview of leading a crew
- Planning, logistics, communication, action
Trail characteristics-styles-skill levels-soil-climate-users-land managers
Sustainable trails overview – management of user, water, environment
Safety – physical and environmental
Tools – what works, how do we use them, what we have in inventory
Maintenance (Brushing, drainage, grade reversal, Guide structures, Tread work)
- Seasonal timing, what work gets done when
Overview of advanced trail maintenance
- Jumps, berms, drops, rock features, machine use
Next steps and wrap up

Trail Maintenance Techniques (6 - 8 hours, in field)

Review material from Introduction
Quality over quantity – consistency
- What is your role as Lead Volunteer/Crew Leader
  - Safety talk – signage of trail work
  - How to lead
- Review Tools – check out/year-end inventory
- Goals of trails/flow/riding experience (how are work effects this)
  - Trail characteristics-styles-skill levels
- Trail eyes
  - How to view problems and create a solution – ask for help
  - Start with the basic (Take workshops to learn more)
- Brushing/limbing – Line of sight
- Drainage – flat terrain, steep slope, inside turns, side slope – raise grade
  - Question every drain
  - Things evolve, just because it was there – doesn’t mean it works
- Tread work
  - What does completed trail look like (No duff curbs/borrow pits)
- Guide structures, anchors, gateways
- Grade reversals (grade dips, bumps)
- Wrap up, logging work party hours
  - Next steps (2nd trail workday and workshops)

Volunteer/Trail Crew Lead Day (4 - 8 hours, in field)

Lead crew while being shadowed by instructor
Review all topics
Connect with mentor Senior Crew Leader

First aid/CPR training

COTA in partnership with Oregon Trails Coalition and Clackamas Community College has offered a two-part hybrid First aid and CPR course. This training usually happens in the beginning to Mid-April. Part 1 is 4-12 hours of self-directed online learning. Part 2 is a in-person and outside training to complete the 6 hours of skills verification and includes CPR and AED.

Machine Training

COTA offers machine trail building training in the beginning of May. This is a 2 day field training. 2-3 years of trail experience using hand tools and well versed in all aspects of trail maintenance and new trail construction prior to training.

Sawyer certification & recerts

Initial Certification:
COTA offers the Forest Service initial chainsaw certification in Mid-April every year. This is a 2 day training with an evening session and a full field day with evaluation.

Potential sawyers must swamp 3 or 4 times prior to taking sawyer certification. 40 hours of prior chainsaw use is what the USFS asks for prior to the certification course. Sawyers must be current with 1st Aid and CPR certifications. Successful completion of 16 hour USFS Chainsaw Certification Course with recert every 3 years. Must be current COTA member.

Recertification:
Sawyer recertification is a one day training with evaluation. This training is offered in Mid-April every year.

Crosscut Certification:
This certification is for training on crosscut and hand saw use. More information on this training coming soon.

WOrkshops and continuing education

More details coming soon on dates and offering for 2023

Flow Workshop:
Advanced Trail Maintenance Techniques (1 Day, in field)