The Indian Peaks Wilderness Alliance (IPWA) Wilderness Reading Group is hosting our first year-end gathering with a book exchange and potluck! All are welcome (but please RSVP HERE)!This group is open to all (IPWA and the public). The upcoming event is Thursday December 3rd, 6pm - 8pm.

The IPWA Winter Patrol Program starts in mid-November and ends in early June. This is an exciting opportunity for our Summer Wilderness Volunteers who want to enjoy the wilderness and patrol in the late fall, winter, and spring months. For more information visit the Winter Patrol Program page. To see current trail conditions, please visit the Public Trail Conditions page!

Its the annual Boulder Book Store gift-wrapping fundraiser! For each online and in-store purchase that is wrapped, the IPWA receives a $1 donation. Our volunteers have signed up for shifts to wrap gifts so drop by the store or shop online and request gift wrapping to support us! The shifts IPWA will be wrapping are as follows:

• Monday,   December 14th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm

• Thursday, December 17th from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm

• Saturday,  December 19th from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm

• Sunday,    December 20th from 12:00 pm to 6:00 pm

• Tuesday,   December 22nd from  3:00 pm to 6:00 pm

• Wednesday, December 23rd from  12:00 pm to 6:00 pm

• Thursday,  December 24th from  11:00 pm to 5:00 pm

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The Boulder Bookstore is a fantastic local independent bookstore with a large selection of books and gifts! Visit them online at https://www.boulderbookstore.net/ or call 303-447-2074. They are located at  1107 Pearl Street, Boulder, CO 80302.

You're invited to participate in the IPWA Reading Group and join us for a meet-up in Boulder, Colorado! This month's selection is to be determined (TBD). This group is open to all (IPWA and the public). See our blog posts about previous reading selections. The upcoming meet-up will be on a Thursday in mid-late January, 2026, 3:30 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.  

We offer two types of volunteer opportunities:

1. IPWA Wilderness Volunteers commit to completing annual training, are outfitted with a uniform, and commit to completing a minimum of “four service activities” per calendar year.

2. If you do not have time to volunteer for a full season/year, you may join us for one or more volunteer trail projects this summer!​​​

To learn more, visit our Wilderness Volunteer Program page. To learn more about other ways to help, visit the Volunteer Opportunities page. ​

Funding opportunity for students: IPWA is accepting applications for the 2026 Paddon/Gellhorn Wilderness Research Grants—four $2,000 awards supporting undergraduate and graduate research in Colorado’s alpine, subalpine, and montane systems (field, lab, analytical, or GIS-based work).

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Applications must be submitted by March 31, 2027, and award announcements will be made by mid-April. Visit the Research Grants page for details and application instructions. 

Returning volunteers and new volunteers who have been accepted into the program through the application and interview process, pencil in the first Saturday in June for the in-person training day (mandatory for new volunteers). To learn more, visit our Volunteer Opportunities page. 

IPWA Wilderness Volunteers are eligible to go on summer patrols as long as they have completed all annual paperwork and training requirements. Training will be held on Saturday, June 7th. The IPWA Summer Patrol season typically starts the first Sunday in June, and ends September 30th. To see current trail conditions, please visit the Public Trail Conditions page!

The IPWA holds an Annual Photo Contest to showcase the beauty of the Indian Peaks and James Peak Wilderness Areas. This contest is open to IPWA supporters and volunteers. Each individual may submit a maximum of 2 scenic photos (no people or dogs may be in the photos). The contest opens September 1st and closes September 30th, 2027. Visit the Photo Contest page for more information. 

The IPWA Summer Patrol season typically starts the first Sunday in June, with the last day for patrols on October 31st. To see current trail conditions, please visit the Public Trail Conditions page!