The VWA partners with the US Forest Service to organize, train and outfit Volunteer Wilderness Rangers. These dedicated volunteers hike the trails, clean up trash and impart Leave No Trace principles to backcountry visitors. Patrols are focused on the most heavily-used trails and camps (such as the camps along the Pine Ridge Trail), especially over holiday weekends.
With the Big Sur backcountry so close to large population centers, there is a gap between high visitor use and the public contact that needs to happen in the forest. Many visitors don’t understand how their behavior in the wilderness affects fire safety, water quality and resource protection.
To learn more about the program and the process to become a Volunteer Wilderness Ranger, please contact the VWA at or call (831) 423-3191.
Click here to download the Volunteer Wilderness Ranger Requirements and Duties PDF
VWR Program Leadership
