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!

How Looming Sequestration Would Impact National Parks

Feb 20, 2013

The country's latest fiscal stand-off, known widely as "sequestration," is set to commence on March 1, locking in five percent across-the-board budget cuts. Leaked documents from the National Park Service provide context to the issue by demonstrating the broad and adverse impacts that these cuts would cause, including $1.6 million from Washington's three national parks.

Possible Logging Adjacent To Cougar Mountain

Feb 07, 2013

More than 200 forested acres adjacent to Cougar Mountain and the Cougar/Squak Corridor may be logged if the King County Department of Natural Resources does not succeed in acquiring the property.

Olympic National Park Wants Your Feedback

Feb 05, 2013

Alpine Lakes Wilderness Expansion Bill Reintroduced

Jan 24, 2013

Senator Murray and Congressman Reichert have joined with co-sponsors Senator Cantwell and Congresswoman DelBene to reintroduce legislation aimed at protecting 20,000 acres adjacent to the Alpine Lakes Wilderness and designating both the Middle Fork Snoqualmie and Pratt Rivers as Wild and Scenic. This important legislation has cleared every legislative hurdle other than Senate passage.

2013 State Legislative Session Kicks Off

Jan 16, 2013

The 2013 state legislative session opened in Olympia Monday, and WTA is already working on advocating for issues that are important to hikers, including funding to keep Washington State Parks open, safe and maintained.

Senators Murray and Cantwell Introduce Green Mountain Lookout Legislation

Dec 19, 2012

On December 14, Washington Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell introduced legislation in the U.S. Senate that would protect the Green Mountain Lookout in the Glacier Peak Wilderness.

Exploratory Drilling Approved On Goat Mountain

Dec 06, 2012

This week, the Gifford Pinchot National Forest gave the go-ahead for a Canadian mining company to begin exploratory drilling on Goat Mountain, a setback in the ongoing fight to protect Goat Mountain Trail (#217) and Mount St. Helens Monument from mining threats.

Discover Pass Now Has "Choose Your Date" Option

Dec 03, 2012

The Discover Pass just got more flexible. When you order a Discover Pass online, you can now specify the day you want it to start within the next year. This added "choose your date" option is the result of legislation that Washington Trails Association and hiker advocates helped pass earlier this year.

Protect Public Lands, Preserve Washington's Economy

Dec 10, 2012

A new report from Headwaters Economics focuses on the critical role that the West's public lands base plays in supporting Washington's economy. The report provides new evidence that outdoor recreation opportunities play an important role in job growth. In short, Washington's incredible recreation opportunities make it a great place to live and work.

Suiattle Road 'No Impact' Finding a Big Impact on Hikers

Nov 29, 2012

Repairs to the Suiattle River Road may finally become a reality after a new finding from the Federal Highways Administration Western Federal Lands Division. WTA and hikers have been advocating for repairs to the Suiattle River Road since flooding and landslides closed it in 2003.

Recreation in Washington: Three Ways to Have a Say

Nov 13, 2012

Raise your voice in three ways to have a say in the future of Washington's recreation planning. Weigh in on how visitors value the Olympic Peninsula, on the future of Mount St. Helens and on broader issues of recreation in Washington state, like the commercialization of parks.

Governor Gregoire Supports Trail Funding

Aug 28, 2012

In a major victory for Washington trails this month, Governor Gregoire determined that Washington would use important Recreational Trails Program (RTP) funds focused where they belong: on trails.

Take Action to Stop Goat Mountain Mine

Jul 25, 2012

The threat of exploratory drilling has returned to Goat Mountain, just north of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. Add your voice to help protect one of SW Washington’s cherished recreation areas by sending a letter or email.

Congress Preserves Trail Funding in Transportation Package

Jun 29, 2012

The epic federal transportation package that just passed the U.S. Senate and will be taken up by the U.S. House Friday contains the Recreation Trails Program (RTP), a small program that helps fund Washington Trails Association's volunteer trail maintenance program. RTP inclusion had been in question as recently as last week.

Trail Funding in Jeopardy - Act Now!

Jun 21, 2012

The Recreational Trails Program (RTP) is in danger in DC. The House and Senate Transportation Budget Conference Committee is close to reaching a compromise that may remove this critical trail funding program from the transportation bill. RTP delivers nearly $2 million to Washington State each year and WTA receives $175,000 annually from RTP - nearly 20% of our Trail Maintenance Program budget. Call your U.S. Representative and Senators today and ask them reject any transportation budget reauthorization that does not include dedicated funding for the Recreational Trails Program.

New Wilderness on The Olympic Peninsula?

Jun 22, 2012

Yesterday, Congressman Norm Dicks (D-WA) and Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced new legislation that sets out to permanently protect more than 126,500 acres of Olympic National Forest wilderness and 19 rivers and their major tributaries (464 river miles in all) as Wild and Scenic Rivers.

New Plans For Denny Creek And Franklin Falls Trails

Jun 12, 2012

The Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest is planning changes to two of the most popular trails in this corridor - Franklin Falls and Denny Creek - with expanded parking and improved trail amenities.

New Developments For The Green Mountain Lookout

Jun 08, 2012

There are new developments in the controversy over the Green Mountain Lookout, as a powerful line-up of voices express support for leaving the structure in place.

Open House for Accessible Trails

May 08, 2012

To better inform people with disabilities about what to expect of a trail in Oregon and in SW Washington, a committee called Access Recreation is in the process of developing guidelines so that land managers can provide useful information to users with disabilities to better decide if a particular trail or a portion of that is suitable for them.

Last Chance To Comment On Suiattle Repairs!

Apr 19, 2012

If you haven't commented on the Suiattle River Road Repair Environmental Assessment (EA), now is the time! The closing date for comments is tomorrow, and if you care about this area you should make sure your voice is heard.

Discover Pass: Now Transferable

Mar 30, 2012

Today, Governor Gregoire signed HB 2373, which makes the Discover Pass transferable between two vehicles. An emergency clause in the legislation makes it take effect immediately and makes it retroactive. It also creates a new $50 universally transferable pass.

Federal Judge Orders Removal Of Green Mountain Lookout

Mar 29, 2012

On March 27, Federal District Judge John Coughenor ordered that the recently restored Green Mountain Lookout be removed.

Suiattle Road Environmental Assessment Released

Mar 20, 2012

Landslides in 2003 and 2006 have closed 11 miles of the Suiattle River Road (FR 26) to hikers and campers wishing to access the Glacier Peak Wilderness. Now more than 8 years after the road was damaged, an Environmental Assessment has been published, kicking off a 30-day public comment period.

WTA in the Other Washington

Mar 05, 2012

WTA Executive Director Karen Daubert and board member Jeff Chapman visited Washington's congressional delegation in Washington, DC last week, stressing the importance of the Recreation Trails Program and park and forest funding.

Senate Passes Discover Pass Transferability Bill

Mar 06, 2012

Today, the state Senate passed a striking amendment that made changes to the House-passed Discover Pass legislation - inching the transferability bill closer to final passage.

Discover Pass Bill Passes House

Feb 28, 2012

The Discover Pass bill that would allow for transferability between two vehicles, HB 2372, has passed the state House of Representatives.

Repairs to Index-Galena Road Delayed

Feb 28, 2012

Repairs to Snohomish County's Index-Galena Road have been put on hold while the county and Federal Highway Administration perform a full Environmental Assessment on the remainder of the the project.

WTA Meeting Elected Officials in Washington, DC this Week

Feb 27, 2012

WTA's Executive Director, Karen Daubert, and board member, Jeff Chapman are in Washington, DC meeting with our state's elected officials this week advocating on behalf of the Recreation Trails Program, which helps fund critical trail maintenance projects in Washington and other states.

Act Now To Help Protect Trails!

Feb 15, 2012

The Recreation Trails Program (RTP) - the grant program in the federal transportation funding bill that provides essential support for trail maintenance all over Washington state - is in jeopardy and we need you to call your senators to support an amendment that would restore RTP to the Senate bill (MAP-21).

DNR Starts Planning For Snoqualmie Corridor

Feb 13, 2012

The Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has kicked off its recreation planning process for the Snoqualmie Corridor. A 12-member planning committee will help inform the decision-making process and is currently taking applications.