Proud to be the most vibrant
volunteer organization in Summit County, Colorado
Your Donation to FDRD will make a difference!
Friends of the Dillon Ranger District (FDRD) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that, with the help of volunteers, ensures that our National Forest is not negatively impacted by its immense popularity.
With more than 60 volunteer projects on our National Forest each year, FDRD volunteers contribute thousands of hours maintaining and improving trails, planting trees, pulling invasive weeds, educating visitors, and much more. FDRD is one of the most active, locally-based outdoor stewardship organizations in the country and by volunteering with FDRD or supporting us with a financial contribution, you benefit the National Forest that makes Summit County a world-class destination.
FDRD Team Best of Summit
Meet the Friends of the Dillon Ranger District Team
The FDRD Board
FDRD Mission
Friends of the Dillon Ranger District (FDRD)’s Mission is to partner with the White River National Forest’s Dillon Ranger District in Summit County to provide opportunities for the community to play a more active role in the sustainable management of the local forest and to enhance the experiences of all who recreate here by:
- Conducting high quality projects to build and maintain trails, plant new trees, promote watershed restoration and perform other services to sustain the Dillon Ranger District
- Developing and maintaining collaborative partnerships between the Forest Service and a diverse group of local organizations, stakeholders, individuals and users of the National Forest land
- Creating excellent educational programs for our visitors, residents and youth to promote, protect and preserve our National Forest
History of FDRD
Friends of the Dillon Ranger District (FDRD) began in 2005 as a group of local community members who wanted to collaborate with the US Forest Service, Dillon Ranger District (DRD), to play a more active role in the sustainable management of our local National Forest. At the time, Ken Waugh was the District Recreation Staff Officer for the DRD. He also recognized the need for the Forest Service to make some “friends” and the inception of FDRD became his mission. In the past 15 years, the organization has grown to a four-person, full time, year-round staff, with two summer seasonals and over 1,000 dedicated volunteers. Our programs have grown steadily in response to a high level of demand for organized, effective outdoor stewardship projects, as well as the growing popularity of recreation in Summit County. FDRD was recognized as the US Forest Service’s National “Volunteer Program of the Year” in 2010 and won 2nd Place in the Summit Daily News’ Best of Summit competition for Best Nonprofit in 2019.
Here is a list of the awards received by FDRD –
- Caring for the Land Stewardship Award
- Summit Foundation Outstanding Community Organization Award
- Continental Divide Trail Alliance Partner of the Year
- Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado Partner Organization of the Year
- USDA Forest Service Sponsored Group of the Year Award
- The SHIFT Youth Stewardship Award
- Best of Summit County Award
Summer 2021 Accomplishments
Shop to Support FDRD
Buy a map at the Dillon Ranger District and support FDRD!
Location: 680 Blue River Parkway, Silverthorne, CO 80498
Phone: (970) 468-5400
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm (closed 12:30pm – 1:00pm for lunch)
Items for Sale
- Maps
- Hiking Guides
- Naturalist Pocket Guides
- OHV Guides
- Local History Books
- Children’s Books
- Animal Puppets
- FDRD t-shirts
- FDRD hats
- FDRD pint glasses
Educational Resources
Recreation Opportunity Guides (ROG) – a printed, one page guide for each individual trail in the Dillon Ranger District, complete with directions to the trailhead, trail highlights, topographic map and elevation profile
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- ROGs can also be found on the Trails & Hiking page
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- Local tourism brochures & magazines
- Local wildlife displays
- Knowledgeable front desk staff
Seasonal Permits for sale by the Dillon Ranger District (these do not benefit FDRD)
- OHV/Snowmobile permits
- Firewood cutting permits
- Christmas tree cutting permits
- Special Use Permits
Our Goals & Accomplishments
Our organization’s goals include:
- Improving trail conditions on the National Forest in Summit County by engaging a diverse range of community members and other stakeholders in outdoor stewardship projects.
- Providing a consistent volunteer outreach and monitoring presence on the National Forest in Summit County by engaging individual volunteers as part of FDRD’s Ranger Patrol program.
- Providing a continuum of service learning opportunities for youth ages 6-18. Increased engagement of local, and visiting, youth remains a primary goal for FDRD in the years to come.
- Improving natural resource conditions by engaging partners and community volunteers in a variety of volunteer service projects including ecological restoration and trail maintenance.
- Seeking business and organization “field partners” to not only participate in field projects but also to help recruit additional sub-population of volunteers.
- Educating the public about issues facing the National Forest, by providing and facilitating educational presentations, outreach opportunities, and interpretive hikes throughout the year.