Project: Spruce Knob Project Day
Location: West Virginia
Description: On September 11, 2025, 30 volunteers along with staff from the United States Forest Service (USFS), Tread Lightly! and Mountain State Overland arrived at Spruce Knob Campground in Monongahela National Forest for a workday to remediate and repair campgrounds.
Together they installed a 40 foot long retaining wall for a parking lot bathroom to keep the gravel in place on a downward slope. Volunteers also painted a secondary, weathered bathroom across from the dam. In addition, the campsite needed a 16’ pathway built from 6 x 6 retaining wall lumber to keep a new gravel walkway in place.
Volunteers cleaned over 250 pounds of trash and trimmed overgrown brush along the hiking trail around Spruce Knob Lake. In addition, new walkway bumpers were installed using 2 x 6 boards to allow water and debris to drain off of the trail. Multiple loads of gravel were dropped and spread to make the trail safe and secure for hikers. Finally, multiple bear-proof trashcans were secured via concrete anchor bolts.
Thank you to the partners who made this possible:
“ECOA would like to thank all the volunteers who helped out with the project this year. Additionally, we’d like to thank Lowell from Tread Lightly! for coming up again and being on site for this year’s project. We’d also like to thank the US Forest Service staff from Monongahela National Forest for setting up all the necessary tools, equipment, and supplies needed for the volunteers. Lastly, thanks to Jason from Mountain State Overland and his team for not only organizing the project with the USFS but helping foster a growing relationship between the community of overland adventure travel enthusiasts and the Monongahela National Forest. Every year the group gets bigger, better, and leaves an ever-indelible impression on our fragile public lands.”- Dean Shirley, East Coast Overland Adventures
“On September 11th, 2025, under the guidance of Lowell Eckart, 30 Tread Lightly! volunteers worked with United States Forest Service (USFS) to make major improvements to the Spruce Knob Lake Recreation site located on the Monongahela National Forest and within the first designated National Recreation Area within the USFS (Spruce Knob and Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area established in1965). The work involved brushing and clearing the one-mile Spruce Knob Lake Trail, constructing 80 ft. of ADA accessible walkway using 6”x6” timbers and gravel, painted a pit toilet, removed 100 ft. of failing retaining wall, and also help stabilize an existing board walk by installing retainers. The high quality and arduous work performed by the 30 Tread Lightly volunteers would have taken the USFS up to two weeks with a four-person crew to accomplish with existing staff. The work accomplished improved the aesthetics of Spruce Knob Lake as well as the visitor experience and recreation access for users of the Monongahela National Forest.
In addition, it was a delight to work with Lowell and the Tread Lightly volunteers. Everyone was very enthusiastic, very professional, had great attitudes, and gave an exceptional effort! The USFS is very excited to work with Tread Lightly in 2026 and beyond!” – Jonathan Wheeler, North Zone Recreation Staff Officer, Monongahela National Forest
“Thank you to Mountain State Overland for organizing the third annual Monongahela NF remediation project day. With over 30 volunteers, USFS staff Tread Lightly! and MSO staff knocked out work in one morning that would have taken the forest team a couple of weeks. Add beautiful weather for camping, great food, campfires and comradery, it was a weekend that was hard to beat. Thanks to all the new, and repeat, volunteers who help Tread Lightly! Protect the Adventure and Protect the Fun.”- Lowell Eckart, Southeast Program Manager, Tread Lightly!
Want to get involved in your own Tread Lightly! project? Find upcoming activities, events and grant opportunities at treadlightly.org.
The post Tread Lightly! Impact Report: Spruce Knob Project Day appeared first on Tread Lightly!.
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Location: West Virginia
Description: On September 11, 2025, 30 volunteers along with staff from the United States Forest Service (USFS), Tread Lightly! and Mountain State Overland arrived at Spruce Knob Campground in Monongahela National Forest for a workday to remediate and repair campgrounds.
Together they installed a 40 foot long retaining wall for a parking lot bathroom to keep the gravel in place on a downward slope. Volunteers also painted a secondary, weathered bathroom across from the dam. In addition, the campsite needed a 16’ pathway built from 6 x 6 retaining wall lumber to keep a new gravel walkway in place.
Volunteers cleaned over 250 pounds of trash and trimmed overgrown brush along the hiking trail around Spruce Knob Lake. In addition, new walkway bumpers were installed using 2 x 6 boards to allow water and debris to drain off of the trail. Multiple loads of gravel were dropped and spread to make the trail safe and secure for hikers. Finally, multiple bear-proof trashcans were secured via concrete anchor bolts.
Thank you to the partners who made this possible:
“ECOA would like to thank all the volunteers who helped out with the project this year. Additionally, we’d like to thank Lowell from Tread Lightly! for coming up again and being on site for this year’s project. We’d also like to thank the US Forest Service staff from Monongahela National Forest for setting up all the necessary tools, equipment, and supplies needed for the volunteers. Lastly, thanks to Jason from Mountain State Overland and his team for not only organizing the project with the USFS but helping foster a growing relationship between the community of overland adventure travel enthusiasts and the Monongahela National Forest. Every year the group gets bigger, better, and leaves an ever-indelible impression on our fragile public lands.”- Dean Shirley, East Coast Overland Adventures
“On September 11th, 2025, under the guidance of Lowell Eckart, 30 Tread Lightly! volunteers worked with United States Forest Service (USFS) to make major improvements to the Spruce Knob Lake Recreation site located on the Monongahela National Forest and within the first designated National Recreation Area within the USFS (Spruce Knob and Seneca Rocks National Recreation Area established in1965). The work involved brushing and clearing the one-mile Spruce Knob Lake Trail, constructing 80 ft. of ADA accessible walkway using 6”x6” timbers and gravel, painted a pit toilet, removed 100 ft. of failing retaining wall, and also help stabilize an existing board walk by installing retainers. The high quality and arduous work performed by the 30 Tread Lightly volunteers would have taken the USFS up to two weeks with a four-person crew to accomplish with existing staff. The work accomplished improved the aesthetics of Spruce Knob Lake as well as the visitor experience and recreation access for users of the Monongahela National Forest.
In addition, it was a delight to work with Lowell and the Tread Lightly volunteers. Everyone was very enthusiastic, very professional, had great attitudes, and gave an exceptional effort! The USFS is very excited to work with Tread Lightly in 2026 and beyond!” – Jonathan Wheeler, North Zone Recreation Staff Officer, Monongahela National Forest
“Thank you to Mountain State Overland for organizing the third annual Monongahela NF remediation project day. With over 30 volunteers, USFS staff Tread Lightly! and MSO staff knocked out work in one morning that would have taken the forest team a couple of weeks. Add beautiful weather for camping, great food, campfires and comradery, it was a weekend that was hard to beat. Thanks to all the new, and repeat, volunteers who help Tread Lightly! Protect the Adventure and Protect the Fun.”- Lowell Eckart, Southeast Program Manager, Tread Lightly!
Want to get involved in your own Tread Lightly! project? Find upcoming activities, events and grant opportunities at treadlightly.org.
The post Tread Lightly! Impact Report: Spruce Knob Project Day appeared first on Tread Lightly!.
Continue reading...