Thank you for making
Pack It Out 2025
(Utah's Annual Watershed Cleanup)
an enormous success!
What Is Pack It Out?
Each year, nonprofits and agencies across Utah join forces to host cleanup events — removing trash from public lands and restoring the health of our waterways. The final and most important partner in this effort is YOU! By helping collect garbage, you directly improve water quality and enhance life for all who call Utah home — wildlife and people alike. Your participation is also a vital part of the Utah Division of Water Quality’s Nonpoint Source Program, which relies on active citizen involvement to secure funding for water quality improvement projects statewide. Together, we can keep Utah’s lands and waters clean, healthy, and thriving.
How to Get Involved – Two Ways to Participate
1. Hosted Cleanup Events
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Find an event near you (see the list below).
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Come prepared! Wear sturdy shoes, bring work gloves if you have them, and dress for the weather.
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Join fellow stewards in removing trash from trails and waterways while enjoying great company and a shared purpose.
2. Informal Cleanups
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Choose your own spot: clean up with friends, family, or on your own in your neighborhood, around storm drains, in parks, along trails, or near waterways. (Always exercise caution.)
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Weigh your trash to track your impact.
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Dispose of it properly.
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Report your results using our submission form or by emailing waterquality@usu.edu.
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Feel great knowing your efforts create positive ripples across Utah!
Bonus Opportunity
Join a hosted event and do your own cleanup anytime during the month for an even bigger impact!
Saturday, September 27th, 10am - 12pm
Hosted by Color Country Anglers, Trout Unlimited Chapter #187
Meet by the Rock Building, mile marker 4 on Hwy 153
Join Color Country Anglers with a cleanup along the Beaver River. After working the first section of the river, they'll move downstream to collect trash along the river by Hanging Rock Recreation Area.
Thursday, September 4th, 9am-11am
Hosted by Chevron with the Jordan River Commission
Meet in the SandBar parking lot next to the trail at 680 South Redwood in North Salt Lake
Join Chevron Refinery employees for a trail cleanup along the Chevron Mile section of the Jordan River Trail. We will pick up debris and garbage and help beautify the area.
Trash Cleanup at Bountiful Ponds
Saturday, September 13th, 9am-11am
Hosted by USU Water Quality Extension and the USU Botanical Center
Meet at 1275 W 1600 N, Woods Cross, UT 84087
We'll have bags, gloves, trash grabbers, & muffins! Feel free to bring your favorite
gloves/cleanup tools.
Thursday, September 11th, 6pm to 7:30pm
Hosted by USU Extension, Grand County
Meet at Lions Park Parking
Questions: 435-797-1485
Westwater Canyon River Clean-up
Friday, September 19th – Sunday, September 21st
Hosted by Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance's Stewardship Program
Registration Link: http://action.suwa.org/site/Survey?ACTION_REQUIRED=URI_ACTION_USER_REQUESTS&SURVEY_ID=7005
More Information: https://suwa.org/events/westwater-canyon-river-clean-up-for-national-public-lands-day/
Hosted by Utah's Hogle Zoo
Saturday, September 6th 10am - 2pm
Meeting location TBD and will be communicated to those who register
Registration Link: https://www.hoglezoo.org/jordan-river-events/
We will float a short portion of the river in canoes using trash grabbers and nets to clean up as we go. This is a fun and often times quite messy way to enjoy the river and help the wildlife that rely on it. Attendance is limited by the number of canoes that we can provide. It is very important to do one registration per group member for this event. If you do not do a registration for each individual in your group, we cannot guarantee a spot on a boat. If you have your own boat that you would like to bring, please contact Conservation Action Coordinator, Tori Bird at tbird@hoglezoo.org. Previous paddling experience is strongly recommended. Location is TBD based on need and will be communicated out the week of the event.
Canyon Rim is Community River Cleanup
Saturday, September 13th
Hosted by Canyon Rim is Community
Meet at Millcreek Jordan River Trailhead, Millcreek
Event Details: https://jordanrivercommission.gov/event/2025-canyon-rim-is-community-river-cleanup/
International Coastal Cleanup Event
Saturday, September 13th, 2025: 9am - 12pm
Hosted by Friends of Great Salt Lake
Meet at Great Salt Lake State Park
Registration Link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/international-coastal-cleanup-2025-tickets-1312261392149
Please wear clothes you can get dirty, shoes appropriate for mud and sand, and pack a water bottle and sun protection. Gloves and trash bags will be provided, but feel free to bring any of your own supplies.
Big Cottonwood Canyon River Garbage Cleanup
Saturday, September 20th, 2025: 9am - 12pm, lunch + prizes from 12pm - 1pm
Hosted by Fish for Garbage
Meet at Big Cottonwood Canyon Park & Ride
Registration Link: https://www.fishforgarbage.org/event-registration/p/bigcottonwood24
Volunteers will be supplied with garbage bags, gloves, and water filling stations. To help reduce waste, please bring your own water bottle.
SLCSD Cleanup Event
Volunteers will be supplied with garbage bags and gloves.
Tracy Aviary Nature Center Pia Okwai Cleanup
Thursday, September 25th, 2025: 10am - 12pm
Hosted by Travy Aviary
Meet at 589 E 1300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84105
Volunteers will be supplied with garbage bags and gloves.
Saturday, September 6th, 2025: 9am - 12pm, lunch + prizes from 12pm - 1pm
Hosted by Fish for Garbage and FishWest Fly Shop
Meet at FishWest Fly Shop – 138 West 280 South, Kamas UT, 84036
Registration Link: https://www.fishforgarbage.org/event-registration/p/weberriver2024-fk3x5
Volunteers will be supplied with garbage bags, gloves, and water filling stations. To help reduce waste, please bring your own water bottle.
Park City Day of Service: Swaner Preserve Trash Cleanup
Saturday, September 13th, 2025: 9:30 - 11 am and 10:30 am - noon
Hosted by Swaner Preserve and EcoCenter
Meet at 1258 Center Dr, Park City, UT 84098
Registration link: https://swanerecocenter.volunteermatters.org/project-catalog/193
Volunteers will be supplied gloves, bags, trash grabbers, and a location of where to head for trash cleanup.
Serve Park City's /11 National Day of Service and Remembrance
Saturday, September 13th, 2025: 9am - 12 pm
Hosted by Serve Park City
Meet at 1354 Park Avenue, Park City, Utah, 84060
Find details for volunteering at https://www.justserve.org/ServeParkCity
Volunteers will be supplied gloves, bags, trash grabbers, and a location of where to head for trash cleanup.
Thursday, September 11 at 6pm - 8pm
Hosted by Saratoga Springs City
Meet at the pavilion at Inlet Park, 6800 N. Saratoga Road
Registration Link: https://www.justserve.org/projects/c07fdeaa-1958-4086-8eba-a9b8b9d36b35/9/11-day-of-service-%7C-river-trail-cleanup?shiftId=4e90fa7a-3e26-4cd2-b559-dce67b86cc37
Good shoes, long pants and work gloves are recommended for each location. Garbage bags will be provided. There will be a volunteer coordinator in a neon vest at each location to help you get started. Bug repellant is recommended.
Grow the Flow Utah Lake Cleanup
Saturday, Sept. 13: 9 am - 11 am
Hosted by Join Grow the Flow, Tidey Ocean, and Lehi City for a National Day of Service
Meet at Northlake Park, 500 West 2000 South, Lehi, Utah, United States, 84043
Event Details: https://www.justserve.org/projects/2e857c60-4e53-44f2-b95f-0a3641de9141
Bring gloves and a trash picker if you have them. There will be a raffle at 11 am!
Grow the Flow Utah Lake Cleanup
Saturday, Sept. 13: 9 am - 11 am
Hosted by Join Grow the Flow, Tidey Ocean, and LDS Earth Stewardship on International Coastal Cleanup Day
Meet at Utah Lake State Park Visitors Center(4400 W. Center St., Provo).
Event Details: https://www.justserve.org/projects/2e857c60-4e53-44f2-b95f-0a3641de9141
Bring work gloves and closed-toe shoes. Garbage bags will be provided. Volunteers get free admission to Utah Lake State Park
Collecting Trash and Data
Yes—data! Don’t worry, it’s quick and simple.
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Weigh or estimate your trash collection.
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Use a bathroom scale: weigh yourself holding the trash bags, then subtract your body weight.
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Use a luggage scale to weigh tied bags. For cleanups with 15 or more people, email waterquality@usu.edu—with some notice, we can provide a luggage scale for your event. (Estimates with a brief description are ok if you can't weigh your haul.)
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Submit your results.
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Report the total weight of trash removed & volunteer hours using the statewide tally form!
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Thank you! Your participation demonstrates the value of clean waterways to funders and state agencies—ensuring ongoing support for water quality projects across Utah. Each pound and hour strengthens the case for cleaner, healthier waterways.
Trash Disposal
Proper disposal ensures your hard work has a lasting, positive impact on Utah’s lands and waterways.
Two Ways to Dispose of Trash:
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At Home - Place trash in your household garbage can (sorting & recycling when appropriate).
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At a Local Disposal Facility - Locate a nearby garbage or waste disposal site & call ahead to confirm they accept the type/amount of trash you plan to bring.
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Safety Considerations
Your safety comes first—please keep these tips in mind:
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Dress for the outdoors by wearing sunscreen, layers, and sturdy shoes. Please bring water and hand sanitizer.
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Protect your hands with gloves and by using grabbers/shovels for picking up debris. (Some partner events will have supplies—see host descriptions.)
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Wash thoroughly after the event.
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Avoid dangerous items such as broken glass, rusty metal, needles, medications, or anything potentially hazardous.
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Stay aware when working near roads or waterways. Watch for poisonous plants, fishing line/hooks, animal holes, barbed wire, and tripping hazards.
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Respect wildlife and property. Do not disturb plants, animals, or throw away belongings—including items that belong to unhoused individuals.
Share Your Results & Inspire Others
Help showcase our collective impact and encourage others to join!
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Take photos or videos during your cleanup. Share them with us using the submission form,
or by emailing them (with permission to share) to waterquality@usu.edu. -
Post on social media using #PackItOutUtah and #PackItOutUtah2025 so we can track statewide activity.
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Tag us: @usuwaterqualityextension (Facebook) and @utahwaterwatch (Instagram).
Fun post ideas:
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Before-and-after photos of your cleanup site.
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A selfie or action shot during the event.
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A short video explaining why clean waters matter to you. (Tag us in IG Reels or share on TikTok!)
Sincere Thanks to the Pack It Out Partners!
This event is made possible by the incredible support of partner organizations across Utah. If your group would like to join us in protecting our lands and waterways, we’d love to hear from you—let’s make a difference together!