Ranger Patrol

Hike, educate, protect—be a trail ambassador for the National Forest

Ranger Patrol

FDRD’s Ranger Patrol Program is a great way to support your National Forest while enjoying time on the trails. As a volunteer patroller, you’ll serve as a friendly forest ambassador—greeting visitors, sharing Leave No Trace tips, observing trail conditions, and reporting back to the U.S. Forest Service.

With increased visitation across the Dillon Ranger District, patrollers play a key role in keeping our trails safe, welcoming, and sustainable. Volunteers commit to four (4) 4-hour hikes between June and September, scheduled at their convenience. After each hike, a short report is submitted to help inform land managers.

All new patrollers must attend a training and mentor hike before their first solo patrol. If you’re looking for a flexible, meaningful way to give back, this is the program for you!

Sign Up

Here are the links that you’ll need this season:

Patrol Calendar
Report Form
Additional Resources

Thank you for helping keep our forest safe and our trail users informed!

As a Ranger Patroller you will be responsible for the following:

  • Attending a mandatory training to ensure you’re up-to-date with all USFS protocols and regulations
  • Attending (1) mentor hike with a veteran Ranger to hone your approach

  • Acting as a liaison between the Forest Service, FDRD and the public

  • Checking in and out, before and after a hike, with a friend/partner to ensure your personal safety
  • Providing a friendly and helpful presence on our trail system
  • Educating trail users on proper etiquette based on the “Authority of the Resource”
  • Staying current with all USFS protocols and delivering that information in a calm, friendly manner
  • Keeping yourself, and others you encounter, safe in our forest
  • Having fun and interacting with other outdoor lovers!

2024 Ranger Patrol Accomplishments

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Ranger Patrollers
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Hikes
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Trail Users Contacted

FAQ’s

We’re very sorry to say that our four-legged friends must stay behind when we are in uniform representing FDRD and the USFS.

Yep! We ask that all volunteers are off the trails by 5pm but aside from that, you pick times convenient for you. When you sign up on the calendar ahead of time, you can dictate when and where you’ll be patrolling for that day. You’re volunteering for us–so we believe there should be flexibility here.

Once you’ve completed the mandatory training, you’ll be issued a uniform that will include a hiking shirt, nametag and FDRD hat. We may ask for a small donation to help us offset the costs to produce the hats/nametags

On these hikes, we are here to educate…NOT enforce rules. Our job is to remind and educate trail users of the protocols and why those protocols are in place. Sometimes, it’s better to make a note of something and report it to the USFS than to force confrontation in an uncomfortable or unsafe situation. Remember, your safety is the #1 goal!

Of course! We expect you to still adhere to the expectations of the program but bring friends and family members along. You may just impress them with your new-found knowledge!

Unfortunately, this is required. Due to the resources it takes to put this training on, we are only able to offer this once per season. Contact Doozie (info below) for getting linked up with a “mentor” who can teach you more about the program while hiking in the field. Hopefully, schedules will allow for next year’s training!

If you have any questions regarding this program, please get in touch with our Program Manager, Lizzie Morrison (970) 262-3449 or lizzie@fdrd.org.