Parks Project X HER Trails Topanga State Park Trail Restoration Project

Earlier in February of 2023, members of the Parks Project team met up with Her Trails, Sierra Club regulars, and volunteers to do some trail restoration work on the Dead Horse Trail in Topanga State Park. 

The morning started around 8:10 am with a 3-mile run up the Backbone Trail with Her Trails. Due to the recent rainstorms, the winding, single track trail experienced a lot of wash out. The weather was chilly, but the run helped keep us warm and got us pumped for the restoration. Once the sun came up, the area warmed up nicely and turned golden. The lower section of the trail, called Dead Horse Trail, connects the valley to the saddle at Trippet Ranch and up to the Musch Trail (which goes up to the famous local day hike at Eagle Rock). 
 

26 people came out to support the event, along with Sierra Club’s 15 regulars for a total of 41 volunteers. This also included Halle Homel, an outdoor creator whom you can find on TikTok  @sunbirdsoul. Together, we were able to restore about a mile of trail that was in dire need of repairs—lots of filling holes, trimming back brush, resetting drainages, and fixing ruts. 

“If we take care of the trails, the trails will take care of us.” said Everly Eshelman, daughter of Parks Project's CEO Keith Eshelman. 
 

“This was our first time working on trail restoration but won’t be our last! I hope everyone can take an extra moment to appreciate when a trail they enjoy is well taken care of, because that represents someone’s hard work. It’s so important to give back to the wild spaces we play in, and this morning with Parks Project and Sierra Club allowed us to support members of our community who are making a difference!” Bec Wilcock, founder of HER Trails. 

Some volunteers hike this trail often, and they were so thrilled to do maintenance and give back to the park they recreate in. As a team, we were able to leave it better than we found it, keeping places like Topanga State Park beautiful and open for the public. At the end of the event, we clinked our beverages, cheering to a job well done. Before everyone parted ways, many made connections with others around the common grounds of wanting to support parks in a hands-on way. If you have a moment, check out HER Trails hiking programs in the 'Programs' tab on their site. They have a 21.1-mile trail program available from anywhere in the world that's designed to get you prepared for a half marathon starting in May. Thanks to everyone who took part in this event and for continuing to relay our message of leaving the parks better than we found them.