Two volunteers and Save Our Canyons wrapped up the 2026 Wasatch Stewardship Program with a final garbage cleanup at Thayne's Canyon Trailhead in Millcreek Canyon on Tuesday, Oct. 27.

The small crew headed to the Boxelder day-use sites armed with bags and shovels. They ended up needing only the bags. The fire pits, a frequent trouble spot at canyon picnic areas, were in great shape and hardly full, Save Our Canyons reported on its blog.

The group still filled three garbage bags. A couple of sites had broken pumpkins and trash in the fire pits. Overall, the organization said the sites were in great shape heading into winter.

The Oct. 27 outing marked the final event of the 2026 stewardship season.

A season across three canyons

The Wasatch Stewardship Program (WSP) launched in 2018. Now in its eighth year, the program connects volunteers, students and community partners for hands-on cleanup and trail work across the Wasatch Mountains, according to the group's 2026 season summary.

This year's work spanned Little Cottonwood, Big Cottonwood and Millcreek Canyons. Volunteers removed garbage, cleaned fire pits and maintained trailheads, picnic areas and parking lots. Trail maintenance along Bowman Fork helped keep routes accessible.

Earlier in the season, a June 10 event drew 16 volunteers to the Bowman Fork Trail for brush-clearing and garbage cleanup at the winter gate parking lot, Porter Fork parking lot and Burch Hollow parking lot. A June 24 cleanup at the same Thayne's Canyon Trailhead turned up a hot fire pit that volunteers extinguished with stream water.

Save Our Canyons noted that full season metrics are still being compiled.

Funding and partnerships

The Central Wasatch Commission (CWC) helped fund the stewardship work. In June, the CWC approved funding for 12 short-term project grants, including Save Our Canyons' Wilderness Stewardship Project, which supports trail maintenance, invasive weed pulls and trash cleanup, according to a CWC announcement.

Emily Gray, chair of the CWC Short-Term Projects Committee and Holladay City councilor, said the funded projects "align with the commitment of the CWC and the broader community to preserving our beloved mountains."

Save Our Canyons also thanked the Wasatch Mountain Club and community donors for supporting the program.

Residents interested in joining stewardship efforts in 2027 can contact Sam at [email protected]. The organization said it plans to resume work in the spring.