Become a Friend!

Friends of the Santa Catalina Trails (FSCT) is a volunteer-driven organization. We can only take care of the 250 miles of trails in the Santa Catalina Mountains if lots of people volunteer to do their part.

There are six ways you can become a Friend of the Santa Catalina Trails:

1. Report trail conditions to us

2. Photograph trails for us

3. Do trail work with us

4. Adopt a trail

5. Donate to our cause

6. Spread the word!

1. Report trail conditions

Are you an avid hiker? Consider reporting to us the conditions of the trails you hike. We need your help so that we can report the current condition of all the trails on our “Trails” webpage. Click here for a checklist of how and what to report.

If you always hike the same trail, tell us which trail you have “adopted” and -- after your first report -- report any changes.

2. Photograph trails

FSCT needs high-quality photographs for our Trails webpages, to give people who want to explore a trail a sense of what it is like. We need photographs of the views from the trail, hikers, cyclists, equestrians, and rock climbers on or near the trail, birds and other wildlife seen from the trail, wildflowers, rock formations, waterfalls, fall colors, petroglyphs, crashed airplanes, and whatever else you see that may be of interest.

Send your photographs to Tori at catalinas.trails@gmail.com and let her know if you want to be credited for them.

3. Do trail work

Imagine an outdoor gym in the fresh mountain air, where you can stay fit while meeting new friends and serving the common good. That’s what volunteer trail work is all about.

NOTE: Until further notice, we will only do trail work on County easements for National Forest trails, or in County parks, or under the partnership agreement of a different group, such as Outslope Trail Solutions or the Arizona Trail Association.

On a typical volunteer work day, you might hike a mile or two (think cardio) to a worksite and then spend several hours lopping encroaching vegetation and throwing it off the trail (think sets of squats and building up your arm and back muscles).

Or you might help remove rocks from the tread (more arm and back work, plus strategic thinking – which you won’t get in a gym). After a big rock is excavated, you might help roll it off the trail (think leg press).

During the lunch break, you visit with new friends while letting the magic of wilderness soak in. Instead of looking out a window at an urban scene while riding a stationary bike, you are surrounded by nature.

After lunch, you might leave the group and dash home, or you might stay and saw a log that fell across the trail.

4. Adopt a trail

Most hikers in the Santa Catalinas have a favorite trail or two. Which is yours? Is it in good shape? If not, would you consider adopting it – or a section of it? Adoption would entail cutting back vegetation that encroaches on the trail, throwing or raking off loose rocks, and reporting down trees or other problems that you can’t handle by yourself.

It is quite rewarding to take care of a trail you love. You make it more beautiful. You make it safer for yourself and others to use. You get to know its every tree, its hills and dales, its flowers, and its wildlife. You see how it changes with the seasons. And you get lots of appreciation from others who love that trail.

If you would like to explore the possibility of adopting part of a trail, please indicate that on our Volunteer sign-up form. The experienced volunteers at Friends of the Santa Catalina Trails will give you training and tips so that you can feel confident that you are bringing your beloved trail up to Forest Service standards and keeping it there.

However you participate, you can make a difference and help care for our public lands!