Butterfly Trail Fire Recovery Work

We need some stalwart and tough volunteers to join us for an epic trail work adventure on the AZT’s wilderness bypass in the Santa Catalina Mountains. The Butterfly Trail was seriously impacted by the Bighorn Fire of 2020, and this year’s heavy monsoon rains have created overgrowth of vegetation and significant tread issues. This is the first of many events aimed at recovering these trails and restoring recreation to this damaged area.

This event is rated as strenuous. Volunteers will be hiking in 2 miles along the westernmost portion of the Butterfly Trail to the junction with the Crystal Spring trail before work begins. The hike in drops approximately 1000′, which means we’ll climb that on our way back to the cars at the end of the day. Work includes tread repair and re-benching, digging drains, heavy and light brushing.

This section of trail offers some of the most stunning views in the Catalina Range, with the expanse of the San Pedro River Valley and the Galiuro Mountains beyond seeming to go on forever. Restoring access to this stunning piece of trail will be a fun and rewarding experience!

Details for meeting location and logistics will be sent to registered participants. Lunches will be provided. This event is being hosted in partnership with the Coronado National Forest, Santa Catalina Ranger District.

The Santa Catalina Mountains are known to the Tohono O’odham as Babad Do’ag and has been home to Indigenous communities for time immemorial.

COVID Note:
The ATA will be continuing COVID protocols until such measures have been deemed unnecessary by the appropriate officials. The Summary document instructs volunteers to refrain from participation in any AZT actvity if they have symptoms of or believe they may have been recently exposed to COVID-19. Please monitor your own health regularly and let us know if any thing changes prior to or immediately after the event.