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!

Suiattle River Road Open House: September 15

Sep 09, 2011

The Forest Service is looking for public input about rebuilding the Suiattle River Road at an open house on the Darrington Ranger Station on Thursday, September 15.

WTA Meets with Rep. Herrera Beutler to Discuss Trail Funding

Aug 25, 2011

WTA and other user groups met last week with Representative Jaime Herrera Buetler (3rd district) to discuss trails funding.

Post Game Recap: Seattle Okanogan-Wenatchee and Colville Forest Planning Meeting

Aug 17, 2011

On Saturday, August 13, 70 people turned out in Seattle to gather information about the Okanogan-Wenatchee and Colville National Forests' efforts to rewrite their forest plans. WTA Advocacy Director learned some interesting things about how the agency plans to address wilderness and the backlog of trail maintenance projects.

The World Belongs To Those Who Show Up

Aug 09, 2011

The Okanogan-Wenatchee and Colville National Forests are holding a public meeting at the Seattle Mountaineers this Saturday, August 13, from 10:00 am-12:00 pm. The event will be followed by a community cookout, sponsored by The Mountaineers, The Sierra Club, WTA, Conservation Northwest and Washington Wilderness Coalition.

Okanogan-Wenatchee and Colville National Forests take the next step

Jul 18, 2011

The Okanogan-Wenatchee-Colville National Forests have recently released a Proposed Action - the first step in establishing a new Forest Plan that will govern activities for the next 15 years. This is the best time for hikers to be involved in the process.

Discover Pass Starts July 1

Jun 29, 2011

It's time to buy another pass for your glove compartment. Starting July 1, the Discover Pass will be required at all state parks, recreation areas and wildlife lands

New Trails in Wild Sky?

Jul 11, 2011

The newly-minted Wild Sky Wilderness has a trails plan for new hiking trails. It's open for public comment until October 1, 2011.

Paving the Middle Fork Snoqualmie Road?

Jun 27, 2011

A public open house on June 10th puts us one step closer to making the paving of the Middle Fork - Snoqualmie Road a reality.

WWRP receives $42 million

Jun 13, 2011

he Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program (WWRP) was allocated $42 million this legislative session.

NOVA Restored

Jun 08, 2011

Suiattle Road Repairs Halted

Jun 02, 2011

Federal agencies have decided to end their plans to repair the Suiattle River Road in the face of a lawsuit from two organizations that challenged the project. The road, which provides west side access to the Glacier peak Wilderness, has been washed out in places since massive flooding damaged the road in 2003 and 2006.

Lawsuit May Halt Repairs of Suiattle Road

May 09, 2011

Two organizations, the North Cascades Conservation Council and Pilchuck Audubon Society, represented by the Western Environmental Law Center, are suing to halt work on the Suiattle River Road repair project.

Discover Pass Victory

Apr 22, 2011

The Discover Pass has been enacted by the Washington state legislature, and now awaits only the signature of Governor Gregoire to be signed into law. What hikers did to ensure that state recreation lands stay open this year.

Senate Passes SB 5622!

Apr 20, 2011

The Washington State Senate has passed the Discover Pass bill, which would fund recreation for Washington State Parks, Washington Department of Natural Resources and Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife. It's now awaiting a House vote. Call today to urge your representatives to pass this legislation.

Road Closures on the MBS

Apr 13, 2011

There is a long list of summer road closures on the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. WTA explores what hikes will be off-limits in 2011.

Government Shutdown? The Impacts to Hikers

Apr 06, 2011

The threat of a federal government shutdown this Friday has us wondering: what will this means for hikers and trails on our public lands? Here are some answers.

Senate Hearing Next Step in Passages of State Lands Bill

Mar 31, 2011

On March 30, 2011 the Senate Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on SB 5622. The Committee seems interested in moving the bill forward, but that likely won't happen until a couple of amendments are considered.

Forest Rule Open House on Wednesday

Mar 21, 2011

Attend a forest rule open house on Wednesday, March 23, 2011 at Seattle's Sheraton Hotel to weigh in on NFMA regulation changes.

Boulder River trail might get longer

Mar 18, 2011

The Mount Baker - Snoqualmie National Forest proposes building a new parking lot at milepost 3.0 on the French Creek Road to replace the current parking area at milepost 3.7. They would place the remaining 0.7 miles of road into storage and use it as an extension of the Boulder River Trail until new trail mileage could be constructed from the new parking lot, adding 1.4 miles to the current trail.

Obama's Budget: Long on Acquisition, Short on Maintenance

Feb 24, 2011

President Obama's budget calls for full funding of the Land and Water Conservation Fund but proposes to slice $206 million from the Forest Service Capital Improvement budget.

Carbon River Road to become a trail

Feb 17, 2011

On February 11, Mount Rainier National Park announced its final decision to convert the Carbon River Road into a trail for hikers and bicyclists.

Hikers in Olympia Today, Lobbying to Keep State Lands Open

Feb 09, 2011

Nearly one hundred hikers are in the state capitol for Hiker Lobby Day, organized by Washington Trails Association. After a morning issue briefing and training session, hikers will spend the afternoon meeting with their state representatives and senators, urging their support for state recreation lands.

Multi-Agency User Fee Bill is Now Official

Feb 01, 2011

Proposed legislation would establish a recreation pass that would cover State Park, DNR and Department of Fish and Wildlife recreation lands. Users would be subject to $10/car day pass or a $30 annual pass.

Making Progress, Thanks to You

Jan 28, 2011

Olympia is listening! A new proposal being floated would establish a combined DNR-DFW-State Parks recreation pass that would be on a per car (not per person) basis.

The 2011 Legislative Session Commences!

Jan 10, 2011

This year, the legislature will be deliberating over some bills that impact hikers - from a $10/person/day fee for hikers on DNR lands to a bill that would merge natural resource agencies to a potential increase in funds from the NOVA program

Hikers Face Tough Legislative Session

Dec 30, 2010

Issues that WTA will grapple with during the 2011 Legislative Session: users fees for DNR and Fish and Wildlife Lands, funding for State Parks, agency consolidation.

Dosewallips River Road Washout FEIS released

Nov 18, 2010

The Olympic National Forest has released a final EIS on re-routing the Dosewallips River Road.

War of the Sno-Parks

Nov 17, 2010

Washington and Oregon tussle over a 30-year reciprocal agreement to honor Sno-Parks passes.

Hikers to See More User Fees

Nov 11, 2010

State land management agencies are proposing legislation to authorize steep user fees for recreationists on Department of Natural Resource lands, including one of the state's most popular trails, Mount Si. These lands need stable, sustainable sources of funding, and a reasonable user fee system is a good approach. Is $10 per person per day to hike Mount Si "reasonable?" What do you think?

Six State Parks Slated for Mothballing

Oct 07, 2010

To comply with mandated budget cuts, State Parks proposes mothballing six parks, including Squak Mountain, Federation Forest, Fort Ward, Peshastin Pinnacles, Tolmie, and Flaming Geyser.