There’s nothing quite like the moment you summit a Colorado fourteener. The world opens up before you, your heart pounds in your chest, and the alpine air feels cleaner (and thinner) than any you’ve ever breathed. If you take a minute to look down, you’ll notice something less natural but no less important: an expertly built trail guiding your way. That ribbon of rock and soil is the product of human grit and deep environmental stewardship, and the people behind it deserve just as much recognition as the view from the top.
Every summer, crews from the nonprofit Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI) dig, build, and restore miles of trail. In 2023 alone, volunteers donated 1,186 days of work—equivalent to about three and a half years—hiked a combined 2.7 million vertical feet, and moved almost 2 million pounds of rock to support fragile alpine soil. Volunteers restore trails, build benches and river crossings, and do advocacy work on the mountain.
“Being out on those mountains makes one acutely aware of how important a well-constructed trail really is,” says Lindsey King, CFI’s deputy director. “Too many footfalls from hikers can damage the low-lying shrubs, grasses, mosses, and lichens—some of which are rare and/or endangered and only live in Colorado. Alpine plants are also a thousand times slower to regrow after being trampled.”
This work isn’t cheap. More than $1.5 million was spent on restoration efforts in 2023. But every dollar helps. Donors can fund specific projects or provide general support that allows CFI to respond where the need is greatest. You can also support its mission by volunteering for a project or simply practicing Leave No Trace ethics.
Next time you’re standing atop a peak, give a silent thanks—not just for the view, but for the volunteer-made trail that got you there.
