The Yosemite Climbing Association and the National Park Service are bringing back Yosemite Facelift, a five-day run of park cleanup projects from September 23-27, 2026.
Volunteers can join for as little as an hour or stay for the full event, helping remove litter, protect park habitat, restore trails, and care for Yosemite‘s most heavily visited areas.
Rush Creek Lodge, Firefall Ranch, and Evergreen Lodge have sweetened the deal with their “Trade Trash for Spa Treatments” initiative, where hotel guests who volunteer can receive complimentary day spa use, including a Magnesium Foot Soak.
Here’s a closer look.
A cleanup with real Yosemite impact
Yosemite Facelift began in 2004 as a climber-led effort, and has since grown into the park’s largest annual cleanup. According to the Yosemite Climbing Association, volunteers have removed more than 1 million pounds of trash since the event began. Last year, the event drew more than 1,600 volunteers, including first-time park visitors, students, local residents, hikers, and families.
Daytime work runs from 8am to 4pm. In the evenings, participants can join gear drawings, check out sponsor booths, watch films and guest speakers, and check out more park programs.
Volunteers should register through the Yosemite Climbing Association and complete the National Park Service Volunteer Agreement.
If you want to get in on the spa deal, you’ll need to book your stay at Rush Creek Lodge, Firefall Ranch, or Evergreen Lodge. They offer the free spa day pass for those who volunteer at Yosemite Facelift from Sept. 23-27, or for those who join the smaller, local “Groveland Facelift” effort on Sept. 12.
Yosemite Facelift 2026 at a glance
📅 Dates: September 23–27, 2026
📍 Location: Yosemite National Park
🧹 Volunteer hours: Registration and cleanup activities run daily from 8 a.m.–4 p.m.
🛁 Spa perk: Eligible guests staying at Rush Creek Lodge, Evergreen Lodge, or Firefall Ranch can trade their Facelift volunteer work for complimentary spa day use.
🌐 Registration: YosemiteClimbing.org/Facelift
