Advocacy in the Blog

Current issues affecting trails and hikers.

The latest news and wins on issues impacting hikers and public lands. Stay in the loop by signing up for Trail Action Network today!

What firing Forest Service, National Parks staff means for public lands, trails, communities

Feb 19, 2025

Last week, thousands of hard-working Forest Service and National Park staff, including hundreds in Washington and Oregon, were fired by the current administration. The impact to public lands, recreation and communities across the state are immediate and far-reaching. Learn what's at stake and join WTA in calling for Congress to reverse the decision.

Hiker Headlines: WTA backcountry trips, Enchantments permit lottery, sign up for Hiker Rally Day

Feb 13, 2025

The Enchantments permit advanced lottery opens Feb. 15 at 7 a.m. Join WTA and the Northwest Symphony for live music and beautiful photos. We need your help to vote for a renewal of the King County Parks Levy. Join us for in Olympia on March 18 to advocate for trails and public lands! And registration for WTA’s backcountry trips is starting soon.

10 easy ways to care for trails (and the outdoors)

Feb 20, 2025

Trails give us so much — here are 10 easy ways to give back.

How the Forest Service staffing crisis will affect your hike – and what you can do

Feb 10, 2025

Right now, a budget crisis and staffing cuts at the Forest Service are threatening our ability to reach hikes in our state's national forests. So, we need your help. Your donation will help us maintain trails that the Forest Service cannot reach this summer, keeping these places open for you and other hikers.

A tight state budget means it’s time to show up for trails — here’s how

Jan 16, 2025

This week kicks off the 2025 Washington state legislative session. The state budget is tighter than we've seen in years, and we know legislators will be making cuts. Tell your representatives that the physical and mental health benefits of getting outside should not be on the chopping block this, or any, year. Join WTA and other hikers in Olympia on March 18, 2025, for our Hiker Rally Day.

Hiker Headlines: Hiker Rally Day; ski area openings, state park closures

Dec 19, 2024

Happy winter solstice! Some exciting 2025 hiker events have been announced, including Hiker Rally Day on March 18. Several state parks are closed until further notice due to storm damage, but — good news — all of the ski resorts along the Washington Cascade crest have opened for the winter.

Take action: Forest Service cuts to seasonal staffing will hurt trails and recreational access

Nov 12, 2024

A budget crisis at the U.S. Forest Service will reduce its ability to maintain trails, clean restrooms, collect trash and steward public lands. Learn what is happening and how you can help.

Shape the next 10 years for Oyster Dome, Mount Si, Gothic Basin, Yacolt Burn and more

Nov 08, 2024

Washington Department of Natural Resources recently released its first-ever statewide plan to guide recreation and public access, including hiking, over the next 10 years and across 5.6 million acres. Give your feedback before November 21.

$1.9 billion for public lands is at risk: your voice is needed

Oct 22, 2024

The Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) created the Legacy Restoration Fund, which provides up to $1.9 billion annually to protect public lands and improve opportunities for the public to access them. With funding set to run out in 2025, we are gathering the support of people like you who love the outdoors to help us push to renew GAOA’s Legacy Restoration Fund.

Hiker Headlines: Sunrise Road closed for winter, Forest Service hiring freeze, once-in-a-lifetime comet show

Oct 10, 2024

Be aware of some closures, including Sunrise Road, which is closed for the winter. The U.S. Forest Service announced significant cuts to its workforce — including not hiring seasonal staff next year — due to a budget crisis. And this Saturday, a comet will be visible in the night sky.

Join Us in Voting ''No" on I-2117 and Protect Climate Progress

Oct 02, 2024

Climate change is threatening healthy forests, clean air and open trails, and therefore our ability to get outdoors. That’s why WTA is asking hikers to vote “No” on Initiative 2117 (I-2117) to defend our state’s climate progress.

Mount Rainier wants to know: How did timed entry impact your visit?

Aug 27, 2024

Mount Rainier National Park is wrapping up a pilot summer season of their timed entry reservation system for the popular Paradise and Sunrise corridors of the park. Park leadership wants your feedback on how the reservation system impacted your visit or plans to visit.

Hiker Headlines: Mount Rainier fire ban, thunderous forecast, share your take on forest roads

Aug 15, 2024

We’re halfway through Hike-a-Thon — there’s still time to join in on the fun! Wildfire season continues across the Pacific Northwest. Thunder is in the forecast this weekend. Lake Sammamish State Park is piloting a program that offers the public use of a multi-terrain accessibility chair. And WTA wants to hear how forest road conditions have affected your hikes.

Hiker Headlines: Perseid meteor shower peaks, Mount Adams and Pasayten area fire closures

Aug 08, 2024

The Perseid meteor shower peaks this weekend! Wildfire growth across the state and construction projects are impacting trails. Hunting season is here. Washington State Parks is updating its campsite fees next year. And do your part to help secure $150 million in trail funding! Here’s some news you may have missed while out on trail this week.

Hiker Headlines: Hike-a-Thon begins, free day, new Trailhead Direct stop, Washington cities rank high in hikers

Aug 01, 2024

Hike-a-Thon starts today! This Sunday is Great American Outdoors Day, which celebrates the Great American Outdoors Act, and parking fees will be waived on some federal lands. Be aware of a new campfire ban — as well as some incoming smoke — and a couple of upcoming road closures. Some fun news though: Trailhead Direct has added a new stop and a couple of Washington cities ranked high in adult hikers compared to metropolitan areas across the country.

Great American Outdoors Act improves popular trails (roads, bathrooms and more)

Aug 01, 2024

For four years, the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA) — a federal bill that became law on August 4, 2020 — has been funding major improvements to some of our state’s most popular trails. But it's about to expire.

New plan to rebuild Eightmile Dam and how it affects hikers

Jul 10, 2024

Just a few weeks ago, the state released its Final Environmental Impact Statement with a preferred plan for reconstructing Eightmile Dam in the Enchantments permit area of the Alpine Lakes Wilderness. The chosen option will increase the footprint of the dam and also give water managers the ability to change the water level in the lake by more than before.

Three proud moments in WTA’s work for wilderness areas

Jul 03, 2024

July 3, 2024 was the 40th anniversary of the Washington State Wilderness Act, which created 18 wilderness areas — and expanded 3 wilderness areas — in our state. WTA has been working in, and for, wilderness areas for decades.

Olympic National Park seeks hiker feedback on new overnight permit limits for Enchanted Valley

Jun 07, 2024

This summer, for the first time, Olympic National Park will have a limit on overnight camping in the Enchanted Valley. This is a pilot project and park staff want to hear from hikers about this new quota system and how it impacts your outdoor experience.

No Child Left Inside gets more kids outdoors than ever

May 28, 2024

WTA and our partners — Youth Experiential Training Institute, The Wilderness Society and others — succeeded in securing No Child Left Inside's highest level of funding to date from the state legislature. This investment of $7 million for grants from 2023-2025 is now funding 92 programs around the state, supporting tens of thousands of Washington’s youth in getting outdoors.

Hiker Headlines: Trailhead Direct is back, it's backcountry overnight permit season, Mount St. Helens trail closures

May 16, 2024

Trailhead Direct is starting back up again for the hiking season — and bringing back some routes! The backcountry overnight permit seasons for North Cascades National Park and the Enchantments are starting. And there are some funding wins to celebrate this week.

5 ways to connect with WTA this spring

Apr 18, 2024

Check out these tips and tricks to connect with trails this spring. By Nicole Masih-Théberge

Washington’s best-kept secret for funding the outdoors just got better

Mar 18, 2024

You may have never heard of Washington state’s Recreation Conservation Office (RCO), but for the past 60 years it has been protecting and improving our state’s outdoors. To help ecosystems and communities thrive, RCO invests in projects that protect lands and develop parks and trails. This spring, RCO is taking a new equity-focused approach to their grantmaking, so this best-kept secret just keeps getting better.

Hiker Headlines: Free day, Trails and Ales, legislative wins, warm weekend weather

Mar 14, 2024

Next Tuesday, March 19, is Washington State Parks’ birthday and parking fees will be waived in some areas. Put Trails and Ales with WTA and the annual Washington Coastal Cleanup on your calendars. We’re excited for some wins from the 2024 state legislative session, and we’re also excited that spring is here!

Wins for trails: Legislature funds forest conservation and work with tribes

Mar 12, 2024

Each year, WTA works with hikers like you, partner organizations and lawmakers during the state legislative session to get trails and public lands the funding they need. The 2024 state legislative session ended on March 7 with good news for trails and public lands. Nearly every priority that WTA was supporting ended up funded in the final state budget.

Hikers helped win funding that’s fixing Washington state’s longest trail

Feb 28, 2024

Two years ago, hikers like you helped secure a huge win for public lands in Washington state: $15 million of annual funding to tackle the recreation maintenance backlog on our state lands. Ever since, that funding has been improving trails, roads, bathrooms, campgrounds and more. We like to celebrate those wins, including recent work on the Palouse to Cascades Trail.

WTA visits Washington, D.C., to ask for the funding trails and hikers need

Feb 20, 2024

WTA is advocating for Congress to pass the Transit to Trails Act, which would create a federal grant program to fund more public transportation to trailheads. More than 1,640 people have signed a WTA petition to express their support for this bill. Michael Decramer, WTA’s policy and planning manager, traveled to Washington, D.C., last week to deliver those petition signatures and to participate in the 27th annual Hike the Hill.

8 ways hikers are benefitting from critical federal funding

Feb 07, 2024

WTA was thrilled in 2020 when we rallied our hiking community and joined with partners to help pass the Great American Outdoors Act (GAOA). Here’s some of the work that the GAOA has supported in Washington state, from 2021 through 2023, to help support millions of outdoor experiences.

What you need to know to visit Mount Rainier National Park this summer

Jan 24, 2024

Mount Rainier National Park recently announced that reservations will be required for entrance to the park for those driving through the Nisqually, Stevens Canyon and White River entrances during the spring and summer of 2024.

Thank you land managers, for making 2023 a great year

Jan 03, 2024

2023 was the 30th anniversary of our trail maintenance program, and we got a lot of work done, thanks to our rich partnerships with dozens of land managers across the state. We are so grateful for the support provided by our agency partners. Here are some highlights from 2023!