Trail Crews Remove 17,000 Trees in Record Season
Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation reports record trail maintenance across more than 536 miles of Idaho wilderness in 2026.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Hiking
The Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation recorded a record-breaking trail maintenance season in 2026, with crews working through more than 80 hitches. Crews removed more than 17,000 trees impacting trail usage, and 94% were cut with traditional tools like handsaws.
Why it matters
Maintained trails keep backcountry routes open and safe for hikers, anglers and packers across Idaho's wilderness areas. The season's volunteer and youth participation also expands the local base of people trained in wilderness stewardship.
The foundation's figures cover 80+ crew hitches, 190,000 feet of brush work, 825 maintained drains and 39 new drains added against erosion. The report does not specify the total trail mileage in the wilderness system, so the share of trails maintained cannot be calculated.
The players
Selway Bitterroot Frank Church Foundation (SBFC)
A nonprofit organization that supports stewardship and trail maintenance across the Selway-Bitterroot and Frank Church-River of No Return wilderness areas in Idaho and Montana.
The details
Crews cleared brush from nearly 190,000 feet of trail to improve access and visibility, maintained 825 existing drains and installed 39 new ones to prevent erosion. Crews also removed 150 pounds of trash, and 58 teens took part in the SBFC Youth Wilderness Program, which offers free trips covering leadership and backcountry skills.
Timeline
2026: Record-breaking trail maintenance season completed by SBFC crews.
Seasonal Patterns
Trail maintenance in the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness, the largest contiguous wilderness area in the lower 48 states, depends on short summer work windows set by snowmelt and access constraints. This season's record tally extends that long-running upkeep cycle.
Maintained drains and cleared brush make trails safer and easier to follow for hikers heading into Idaho's wilderness this season. Trail users planning backcountry trips can expect cleared routes across the treated mileage.
The takeaway
Volunteer trail work is a practical way to support backcountry access, and the 2026 season shows how much upkeep a wilderness network requires each year. Hikers can help by packing out trash and staying on maintained routes.
Further reading
For more on trail routes and backcountry planning, see Hiking in Idaho.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KPAX News.
