A Presbyterian hiker ministry spreads radical hospitality in the Rocky Mountains
Community Presbyterian Church in Lake City, Colorado, demonstrates "trail magic" by mobilizing nearly 100 volunteers in a tiny town of 432 residents to serve around 1,000 seasonal hikers along the Continental Divide and Colorado Trails. Launched in 2021 by the Rev. Dr. Jason Santos, the church's Trail Hiker Center offers free home-cooked Sunday dinners, daily shuttle rides, foot spas, and volunteer-run laundry, creating a vibrant space of radical hospitality and community for weary thru-hikers.
This article was originally published in Faith & Leadership on September 1, 2026, and was written by Christie Matherne.