SALAMANCA, N.Y. — Allegany State Park is currently accepting applications for volunteer trail stewards to help maintain its trail system and improve the trail user experience within the park. The park has nearly 250 miles of hiking and multi-use trails, as well as trails specifically designated for snowmobiling, snowshoeing, horseback riding, bicycling, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing.
Park officials said the volunteer trail stewards will work in teams under the direction of the trails coordinator to maintain and improve the vast trails system. All selected volunteers will be expected to attend a minimum of 20 hours of training, and participate in annual trail events such as National Trails Day, I Love My Park Day, and National Public Lands Day.
All required training will be provided at no cost to the selected volunteers. Training will include certification in CPR and First Aid; and cover trail construction and maintenance techniques, chainsaw and hand tool operation, use of other tools and communication equipment, educating trail users on trail stewardship and backcountry etiquette, and park rules and regulations.
Park officials said the goal is to develop a long term Volunteer Trail Steward Corps devoted to sustainable trail maintenance and patron use.
Interested candidates should contact the Allegany State Park regional trails coordinator, Patrick Dove, at patrick.dove@parks.ny.gov for an application, or call the park at (716) 354-9101 to request an application.
