JAUNTS : These Are the Days to Take the Trails and Make Them Better : Volunteers will help repair hiking routes in an annual event. Heavy rains mean the work is badly needed this year.

If you like to camp and don’t mind swinging a shovel, state park officials and the Santa Monica Mountains Trails Council have a deal for you.

If you help build and repair trails in Point Mugu State Park next weekend, they’ll reward you with free camping under the sycamore and oak trees, and they’ll treat you to a barbecue.

It’s all part of California Trail Days, a statewide work effort April 29 and 30 to recruit volunteers to spiff up the trails throughout the state’s parkland.

This is the 14th annual Santa Monica Mountains Trail Days and Linda Palmer, a volunteer with the Trails Council, has sweated and camped through every one.

“People get hooked on it--they come back every year,” said Palmer, who is organizing volunteers for this year’s work weekend. “It’s so beautiful out there, they just forget about the world’s problems.”

About 60 people are expected to camp out at this year’s site: the Danielson Ranch in the heart of Point Mugu State Park. But close to 100 are expected to work on the trails next weekend.

The volunteers will be adding another segment to the new Coyote Trail, which hooks into the Sycamore Canyon Trail, the main route stretching from the ocean to Newbury Park.

They’ll also be repairing the Sycamore Canyon, Backbone, Sage and Hidden Pond trails. All were heavily trounced during the winter rains.

“The trails really need it this year,” said Palmer, who goes out twice a month with volunteer trail crews.

Volunteers don’t need to bring equipment for the trail work--it will be provided--but they should bring gloves, sturdy shoes, water, long pants, long-sleeved shirt, hat, insect repellent and lunch.

“They don’t have to feel like they’re going to work themselves to death,” Palmer said.

Volunteers can work for the day, or camp out Friday and Saturday nights and work through the weekend. Those spending Saturday night will get a free barbecue served up by Western Bar-B-Que Service. Also, the Wilderness Institute will lead a night hike and provide an astronomy program with telescopes.

Cars are prohibited in the park, but volunteers may drive in and out at designated times from the Rancho Sierra Vista / Satwiwa entrance in Newbury Park: 4, 6 and 8 p.m. April 28; 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. April 29, and 8:30 a.m. April 30. Departure times are 4 and 9:30 p.m. April 29 and 9 a.m., 3:30 and 4:30 p.m. April 30.

Workers who plan to camp Friday or Saturday nights should register with the Trails Council by calling (818) 222-4531.

*

Because of trail damage from the rains, other outdoor groups are scrambling for volunteers during both Earth Day on Saturday and California Trail Days the following weekend.

The Conejo Valley Recreation and Park District has scheduled an Earth Day cleanup at Wildwood Park from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. Workers will concentrate on debris in Wildwood Creek caused by the recent rains.

Volunteers should go to the park entrance at Big Sky Drive and Avenida de los Arboles. The gate will be open, allowing them to drive to a parking lot. They should bring water and lunch, and wear gloves and boots. Equipment will be provided. For information, call 496-2463.

*

Rancho Simi Trail Blazers will recognize California Trail Days by extending the Hummingbird Trail eastward so that it will eventually connect to the Rocky Peak Trail.

Members and other volunteers will meet at 8 a.m. April 29 and 30 on Kuehner Drive just north of the Simi Valley Freeway. They’ll work until 2 p.m. each day.

Workers should bring gloves, water and such tools as shovels and rakes. Lunch will be provided. For information, call the Rancho Simi Recreation and Park District, 584-4400.