Help build a new hiking trail! Pace Trail Project

This is an exciting project to be a part of! Volunteers are helping to expand the park’s existing 4.5-mile trail network by connecting the park to the adjacent Pace property, which is currently inaccessible to the public. This includes creating a brand-new 0.5-mile access trail and a 2-mile figure-eight loop through the unique sandhill ecosystem of Quail Hollow Ranch and the Pace Family Wilderness. We'll also be focusing on removing invasive French Broom to support native habitats. You’ll get training, work alongside passionate people, and contribute to something future hikers will enjoy for generations to come!

There is a mandatory training video which you need to watch before volunteering and here is the link: Training Video. This takes 16 minutes to watch and is required for all participants who work/volunteer out in this sensitive habitat.

The hike to the Pace Family Wilderness is considered a moderate hike with two challenging downhill sections. Here are the upcoming dates:

• Saturdays: October 11th, October 25th, November 8th, November 22nd, December 6th, December 20th, January 1st, January 31st
• Mondays: October 6th, October 13th, October 20th, October 27th, November 3rd, November 10th, November 17th, December 1st, December 8th, December 15th, December 22nd, December 29th, January 5th, January 12th, January 19th, January 26th

To RSVP for any of these dates, please sign up here.

On each listed date, our park host will meet you in the parking lot at Quail Hollow Ranch County Park at 9:00am. Once you're all checked in, we’ll caravan up to the trail head. Everyone is back to their cars by 1:00pm, with the exception of 10/25 and 11/22, when the dates extend until 3pm. The Santa Cruz Mountain Trail Stewardship will be joining our volunteer crew on both those dates to provide further on-site training and fun!

The hike to the Pace Family Wilderness is considered a moderate hike with two challenging downhill sections. From the top of Quail Hollow Road, it takes the average hiker about 45 minutes to get to the area where we will be working. The first part of the hike up the Sunset trail is a steady climb. From the top of the Sunset trail, we take an access trail to the Pace Family Wilderness, this access trail varies from exposed Ridgetop to short steep downhills. One of the short steep downhills is extreme and the footing is loose, but it is less than 100 yards long. Once on the Pace Family Wilderness property, the terrain is rolling Oak Woodland and beautiful. Currently there are no established trails, but staff and volunteers have made some paths. This hike into the Pace Family Wilderness has been successfully navigated by our staff and volunteers of varying ages and abilities many times in preparation for the volunteer days. Please be aware there is poison oak and ticks!

It's recommended to have hiking boots/shoes, long pants, long sleeves, a walking stick for the downhill sections, water, snacks, gloves, hat, and Technu, if you have it. We will have some available as well! Tools will be provided⛏

Volunteers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult.