Volunteer News

The stories of our volunteers and trail maintenance around the state.

Stories about volunteers and trail maintenance.

You can also read WTA volunteer stories, meet our hardworking crew leaders, and see standout volunteers at the Rock Wall of Fame.

Four Terrific Maintenance Trips on the Olympic Peninsula

Aug 18, 2014

For many, the Olympic Peninsula can be a bit of a drive for a day work party. Make the most of your time spent here and lend a hand to trails by spending two or more days helping us build and maintain trails in the lush Olympic rainforest! Coming up in September, WTA has a weekend work party and several Backcountry Response Team (BCRT) trips that could use your help.

Four Trails That Need Your Help in August

Aug 06, 2014

This month WTA is working in several locations that need some special attention, and we'd love to have your help! Join us for a day full of safety, fun, and work, and make your mark on the trails you love.

Spend the Weekend with WTA

Jul 23, 2014

Gather some close friends or family and join WTA on an overnight trip! Volunteering on weekend work parties is a great way to give back to trails, have a fun camping experience and get to know other people who love being outdoors, all at the same time.

Camp Before a Work Party, Shorten Your Time to the Trailhead

Jun 26, 2014

As the snow melts, WTA's work parties move up into the mountains. This can add a bit of driving time the trailhead in the morning, making for an early start to the day in order to meet the crew at 8:30 a.m. Fortunately, for some of our summer locations, you are welcome to camp at the trailhead, either the evening before the work party, or stay and sleep after we've stashed the tools for the day. Whether you are an early-riser of a night owl you can still join a WTA work party, enjoy your beauty sleep and be on time.

Four Trails That Need Your Help in July

Jun 25, 2014

Monthly Trail Work Picks: We're working in several locations that need some special attention this month and we'd love to have your help! Join us for a day full of safety, fun, and work, and make your mark on the trails you love.

Five Trails That Need Your Help in June

Jun 04, 2014

Lend a Hand on National Trails Day

May 21, 2014

Mark your calendars; June 7th is National Trails Day! This year is the 22nd anniversary of this nationwide effort, when volunteers across America rally together to celebrate this single day reserved for trails everywhere.

Spring Onto a New Trail, Meet a New Crew Member

May 21, 2014

What a spring we've had! Our trail maintenance program has been hard at work opening trails, building bridges, and improving trails in new areas.

Larrabee's New Rock Trail: Grand Views, Loop Options

Apr 22, 2014

Join Larrabee State Park officials, Washington Trails Association and the Chuckanut Conservancy in celebrating the official opening of the Rock Trail. The new trail in the Chuckanuts connects the Overlook to Lost Lake and provides a great workout, gorgeous views and fascinating geology.

Help the Darrington Ranger District Prepare for Summer

Apr 08, 2014

The recent mudslide on Highway 530 has employees with the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest working round the clock. In addition to their full-time jobs with the forest, many of them are volunteering their spare time to help in recovery efforts for the community of Oso.

Backcountry Havens: 5 BCRTs that Need Your Help

Mar 11, 2014

Below are listed five 2014 BCRT locations that could use a few more enthusiastic crew members.

Slideshow: Bonding and Building Trails in a New Community

Mar 06, 2014

With help from WTA's gear lending library and mini-grants, a group of teens with the Coalition of Refugees from Burma gave back to Washington's trails and got to know each other better as they built a new section of trail on Cougar Mountain.

Ready-Made Vacations: 5 Backcountry Trails That Need Your Help

Feb 26, 2014

If you're looking for a rewarding, challenging and fun vacation this summer and you love camping, take a look at these five WTA volunteer vacations. These are week-long work parties that connect hikers with much-needed trail maintenance projects in beautiful locations throughout Washington.

Newest 'Orange Hats' Lend a Helping Hand on Trail

Feb 21, 2014

Meet the five new assistant crew leaders, or 'orange hats,' who you might meet on a volunteer work party this summer.

Spread the Word: Scholarships for Teens on Trail

Feb 03, 2014

Every teen should have the opportunity to experience the great outdoors, which is why WTA offers scholarships for teens 14-18 to participate in our Youth Volunteer Vacation trips, a week of camping and participation on a team-oriented trail crew.

Preview These Awesome Backcountry Trips Now!

Jan 24, 2014

Take a peek at our amazing locations for the 2014 season of backcountry trail work.

Hack your Volunteer Vacation

Jan 28, 2014

Make your volunteer vacation even cushier with these tips from seasoned volunteer Hal Pelton.

Santa, Elves Crash WTA Trail Work Parties

Dec 20, 2013

At WTA, we're serious about trails. Rain or shine, our dedicated trail crews worked hard on 190 trails statewide this year. That is some serious trail work, but that doesn't mean we always have to be serious on trail. Case in point: our annual Santa work parties, when things tend to get a little more fun and festive than usual.

Stay Warm On Winter Work Parties

Dec 10, 2015

From how to sign up to what to wear, get our tips on dressing for fun during our winter work parties.

Help Build a New Issaquah Trail System at Park Pointe

Oct 25, 2013

Join WTA to develop a trails system for the City of Issaquah on the Park Pointe property, located between the Issaquah High School and Tiger Mountain.

Teens Improve Trails Renamed for Jim Whittaker, Nawang Gombu

Oct 15, 2013

King County recently renamed two trails on Cougar Mountain in honor of Jim Whittaker and the late Nawang Gombu. Together, the newly named trails form a 3.2-mile loop. The very next day, WTA youth volunteer crews were working to improve the trails for hikers in years to come.

It's a Party! Celebrating WTA Volunteers

Oct 09, 2013

We couldn't do the trail maintenance that we're so well known for without volunteers like you! So we'd like to thank you in the sincerest way we know how -- with food! See when we're having a Volunteer Appreciation event near you.

Spaces Still Open on 20th Anniversary Work Parties

Sep 11, 2013

This Saturday is WTA's 20th anniversary of trail work, and we're celebrating all over the state. If you haven't had a chance to sign up yet, never fear - there are still spaces on these work parties and we would love to see you there!

Volunteer and Earn Your Northwest Forest Pass

Sep 11, 2013

Volunteers join WTA work parties for many reasons, but here's a great one that many people may be unaware of. When you attend two work parties on National Forest land, you earn an annual Northwest Forest Pass - you know, the $30 one that you need at most trailheads in the state!

Join the Party to Celebrate 20 Years of Trail Work!

Sep 04, 2013

Sept. 14 marks twenty years of WTA's work maintaining, creating, and preserving trails all over our beautiful state, and we want to celebrate with you! Join us at one of our anniversary trail work parties on Sept. 14 to mark this milestone in WTA's history. See you at the trailhead!

Get Away with WTA this Labor Day Weekend

Aug 20, 2013

Everyone loves three day weekends. That's the problem - everyone gets that extra day and suddenly the solitude and quiet you were so looking forward to is nowhere to be found. What to do? How to escape the crowds? Join us on a Backcountry Response Team trip in the beautiful, secluded, 14,000 acre Salmo-Priest Wilderness, the only wilderness in the northeast part of Washington.

Great Trails for Volunteering and Camping with WTA

Aug 14, 2013

Looking for a way to spend one of your last summer weekends? Gather some close friends or family and join WTA on an overnight trip! Volunteering on weekend work parties is a great way to give back to trails, have a fun camping experience and get to know other people who love being outdoors, all at the same time.

Fix Your Favorite Trail on National Public Lands Day

Sep 04, 2013

WTA volunteers give back to trails all year round, but National Public Lands Day is a national opportunity to come together with volunteers all across America and give back to trails! Join WTA on trail September 28, and help keep Washington's trails hikable and safe.

Share Your Trail Work Memories

Jul 09, 2013

Share your experiences of volunteering on trail with WTA to help us celebrate the 20th anniversary of our trail maintenance department!

Spend a Summer Weekend Barbecuing, Camping and Volunteering

Jul 02, 2013

Camp for free when you volunteer on a weekend work party on one of these four amazing trails with WTA this summer!