This September, Backroads sponsored and participated in Yosemite FaceLift for the first time, joining more than 1,000 volunteers dedicated to caring for one of America’s most beloved national parks.
Some places become part of your story. For me, Yosemite National Park is one of them. Since moving to the Bay Area, I’ve returned year after year for its granite cliffs, winding trails and quiet moments in the Valley. Three years ago, my husband proposed to me on Four Mile Trail. It was also the destination of our first camping trip with our puppy. Every time I visit, another layer is added to my connection with the park.
I’m far from the only person at Backroads who feels that way. For some colleagues, Yosemite is where family traditions began. For others, it’s a place tied to climbing, camping or friendships that have lasted decades. Michelle Fennel, CRM Specialist in our Marketing Department, got both engaged and married in the park, and later baptized her children there. When you gather a group of people who love active travel, Yosemite has a way of showing up in their stories.
It has long been part of the Backroads story, too. For nearly 50 years, guests have joined us to hike among giant sequoias, explore scenic trails and learn about the park’s natural and cultural history. Many leave inspired by the scale of the landscape and the people who help care for it. That appreciation is what drew us to Yosemite FaceLift.
Joining Yosemite FaceLift
Founded in 2004 by the Yosemite Climbing Association, Yosemite FaceLift has grown into one of the largest volunteer stewardship events in the National Park System. Each September, volunteers from around the world—including climbers, youth groups, local residents, hikers and partner organizations—gather in Yosemite to support projects that help keep the park healthy and welcoming for future visitors.
This year, Backroads participated for the first time as both a sponsor and volunteer group through our Give Back program, which allows Field Staff to nominate projects for paid volunteer hours and community donations. Since the event takes place during our September peak season, all Field Staff were off leading or supporting our guests on trips, so 13 Berkeley Office Staff raised their hands to volunteer. Our team spent the weekend camping in Yosemite, joining more than 1,000 volunteers in hands-on conservation and cleanup efforts throughout the park. We packed our tents, laced up our hiking boots and headed for the Valley.
Stewardship in Action
It’s easy to appreciate Yosemite from a trail or viewpoint. Spending time behind the scenes, contributing to the work that helps care for the park, brings a new perspective to that appreciation.
Our group trickled into Upper Pines Campground on Thursday evening, gathering for pizza in Curry Village before settling into camp. The next morning, we woke to sunlight creeping across the granite walls of the Valley, sat down to share breakfast and headed to Yosemite Village, the hub of FaceLift activities.
The atmosphere felt like part volunteer event, part community gathering. Booths from outdoor brands, nonprofits and park partners lined the plaza. After checking in and learning about the importance of leaving cultural and natural artifacts where they’re found, we got to work picking up trash from around the Mirror Lake area.
On Saturday, we joined National Park Service staff for projects ranging from native seed collection to guided cleanup efforts along the Mist Trail. We also learned how much progress FaceLift has helped achieve. In its early years, volunteers removed astonishing amounts of trash from the park. Today, volunteers have far less trash to collect, a sign that years of stewardship, education and community effort have made a difference.
As an event sponsor, Backroads hosted a booth in the FaceLift activity hub. Connecting with people interested in learning about Backroads, whether as future guests or future Field Staff, was a highlight of the event.
The service projects were rewarding, but some of my favorite moments happened back at camp. Around the fire, over shared meals and plenty of s’mores, teammates swapped stories and reflected on what Backroads and public lands have meant to them over the years.
More Than a Visit
One thing that became clear during FaceLift is that Yosemite’s magic isn’t guaranteed. The trails, meadows and iconic viewpoints that inspire millions of visitors each year exist because people care for them, from park staff and nonprofit partners to volunteers who dedicate their time to preserving this extraordinary place.
That perspective has always shaped how we think about travel at Backroads. Our Yosemite trips are about more than checking a national park off a list or collecting a passport stamp. They’re an opportunity to experience the park more deeply, alongside Trip Leaders who know its trails, history and hidden corners firsthand.
Over nearly five decades, we’ve watched guests arrive excited to see Yosemite’s famous landmarks and leave with something more lasting: a deeper appreciation for the wildlife, ecosystems and communities that make this place unique. Whether it’s hiking beneath towering sequoias, learning about the park’s cultural history or simply watching evening light wash across El Capitan, Yosemite has a way of changing how you see the natural world.
Participating in FaceLift reminded us that meaningful travel comes with a sense of connection and responsibility. The more time we spend in places like Yosemite, the more we understand what it takes to protect them for future generations.
We’re grateful for the opportunity to give something back to a place that has given so much to so many of us. And we’re excited to continue sharing Yosemite with guests, helping them experience not only its iconic landscapes, but also the community of people working every day to care for them.
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