This spring, an impressive team of trail professionals and conservation volunteers spent eight days tackling much-needed trail maintenance deep within the Red Rock Secret Mountain Wilderness.
From March 25 through April 1, the North Zone Trail Crew, led by Nate Lott and joined by crew members Shila Simpson, Kat Johnson, Connor Neal, and Lyle Kruse, partnered with a seven-person American Conservation Experience (ACE) corps crew to complete a major maintenance hitch focused on some of the area’s most beloved backcountry trails.
The crews established a car camp near the Secret Canyon Trailhead, allowing them to maximize their time on the trail while maintaining access to water, hot meals, and essential camp supplies. By staying close to their work area, they were able to reduce time spent traveling along the Vultee OHV Route (Forest Service Road 152) and dedicate more hours to trail improvements.
Their primary objective was addressing deferred maintenance along Secret Canyon Trail, working from the David Miller Trail junction all the way to the trail’s remote terminus deep within the canyon. In addition to Secret Canyon Trail, crews also completed maintenance on portions of Bear Sign Trail and Dry Creek Trail.
The results of the eight-day effort were substantial:
- 9 miles of trail maintained
- 3.5 miles of trail corridor brushed and cleared
- 19 fallen trees removed from trails
- 10 drainage structures maintained or constructed
Much of the work involved clearing downed trees that blocked the trail, trimming vegetation encroaching into the corridor, restoring trail tread, and improving drainage features designed to reduce erosion and keep trails sustainable during storms.
One of the most specialized aspects of the project involved removing fallen trees within designated Wilderness areas. Because motorized equipment is prohibited in Wilderness, crews rely on traditional hand tools, including crosscut saws. Crew member Lyle Kruse spent considerable time applying this time-honored skill to safely remove trail obstructions.
Using a crosscut saw requires far more planning than simply cutting through a tree. Crew members carefully assess each fallen tree, developing a cut plan to anticipate how the wood will react as it is cut. Wedges are strategically inserted into the kerf—the gap created by the saw blade—to keep the cut open, reduce friction, and protect the saw from damage. Understanding how a tree is bound and how it may shift during cutting is essential for both safety and efficiency.
The crew’s teamwork extended beyond trail work. During the hitch, members chose to prepare meals together each evening, reducing individual workloads while creating delicious and economical dinners. Shared meals helped strengthen camaraderie and provided a welcome reward after long days of physically demanding work in the backcountry.
Thanks to the dedication of these trail professionals and ACE conservation crew members, visitors to Secret Canyon, Bear Sign, and Dry Creek trails can continue to enjoy safer, more accessible, and more sustainable trail experiences. Their work helps preserve these treasured wilderness routes while ensuring they remain open and enjoyable for years to come.