The White Mountain National Forest Trailhead and Backcountry Steward Programs are looking for volunteers!

The White Mountain National Forest (WMNF) is a recreation destination for hikers around the world. With over 1,200 miles of trails, the WMNF sees over 5 million visitors a year, and numbers are on the rise! This increased visitation has also brought an uptick in the number of search and rescue (SAR) incidents as more unprepared hikers hit the trail. The WMNF hosts two programs which seek to prevent SAR incidents and protect the fragile backcountry environment, the Trailhead and Backcountry Steward Programs.  

Trailhead Steward volunteers staff 5 of the busiest trailheads in the White Mountain region giving important safety information to hikers through quick interactions before hikers hit the trail. Backcountry Steward Volunteers hike White Mountain trails giving fellow hikers important safety and leave no trace information as well as conducting light trailside cleanup. 

Please join us for our annual steward training session at Plymouth State University, Hyde Hall, Room 220 on April 4th. Check in will be from 7:30 - 8:30 am, and the training will be from 8:30 am - 4:00 pm. The training will provide an overview of both programs, outline roles and responsibilities and provide general instruction to participants. The morning session will focus on the Trailhead Steward Program while the afternoon is dedicated to the Backcountry Steward portion. Both sessions include testimonials from veteran volunteers on our impact as well as engaging question and answer discussions. While this training is required in order to volunteer, attendance at training does not equate a commitment to become a volunteer for the season.