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Save hikes, research hiking guide entries and leave a trip report with WTA's free online resources. Photo by Jason Wain

How to Map Out Your Labor Day Weekend with WTA's Hiking Guide

Research, design and document your plans for Labor Day Weekend with WTA's Hiking Guide resources. The best part? It's all free! By Joseph Gonzalez

Labor Day’s meaning has changed quite a bit since its inception in the late 1800s. Sure, it still serves to recognize the American labor movement, but these days the trail community sees it as the bookend of hiking season. While some of Washington’s best hiking is enjoyed from mid-September to late-October, Labor Day weekend serves as the last long weekend with predictably decent weather many hikers will enjoy until next spring. It’s also closely aligned with the first day of school. With that knowledge comes a sense of urgency to close-out summer with a bang and maximize Labor Day plans to their fullest.

So, where to go? With so many choices across the state, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Keep in mind that the most popular spots to hike or camp will be crowded. Other factors, like permits, passes, campground reservations and wildfires make planning even more complicated. Fortunately, you can get inspired, build an itinerary and record your journey to share with others by wielding WTA’s free online resources.

Step 1: Join the community and build a My Backpack account

A graphic of a hiker looking at their phone.
Use My Backpack to find future hikes easier, get personalized recommendations and more... by the way, did we mention it's 100% free?

WTA’s hiking resources are free and made possible by a community of hikers — just like you! When you create a My Backpack account, you can save hikes for later and write trip reports upon returning from your outings. Download WTA’s Trailblazer mobile app to carry the power of our hiking guide in your pocket. You can access your saved hikes on the go — even without service — to help navigate your hike once you’re on the trail.

WTA tip: When you have a My Backpack account, you can interact with other hikers’ trip reports by making comments and rating them as helpful. 

Step 2: Research trip reports

A hiker walks along sand dunes.
Use trip reports to read beta on less visited regions of Washington, like Juniper Dunes Wilderness. Photo from WTA archives.

A filter on WTA's trip report feature showing dates hiked.
Look at previous years' trip reports over Labor Day to get an idea for where people hike that time of year.

Next, you can explore the WTA trip report archives to get an idea of where other folks have gone for Labor Day weekend in the past. Use the filter on the left to search trip reports by date. Try setting your filter for a Labor Day weekend in the past. Next, fine-tune additional filters to align with what you want your trip to look like. Filters include region, length, elevation gain, accessibility, type of hike (day hike, backpacking trip, etc.) and highlights like waterfalls or berries.

If you find a few trip reports that feel relevant, read each one and its comments section. Did they come across any unforeseen challenges? Did they ultimately recommend the route and itinerary they followed? How busy was the trail, and was traffic an issue? If you can’t find the info you’re looking for, drop a comment on the trip report. Chances are you’ll get a response from the original poster.

You now have a list of trails that meet your criteria. Not thrilled with the options? Revisit the filter and push back your dates to a previous year’s Labor Day Weekend to get more varied results. 

Step 3: Use the Hiking Guide to create your Labor Day itinerary

Explore the hikes you’ve collected a bit deeper by looking up each trail in the hiking guide. Check out each option’s hiking guide page, then take a look at your party’s needs and characteristics to see if your weekend aspirations are feasible. Here are some questions to consider:

  • What do you need in order to successfully pull off your plans? 
  • Are specific permits required for your trip? 
  • Is there a campground you hope to visit, and does it take reservations, or is it first-come, first-serve? 
  • Do you have the gear required for a safe, smooth trip?
  • Do you feel confident in your ability to tackle the trail you’ve selected?  
  • What does transportation look like from your home to your destination, and do you expect to experience long-weekend traffic along main corridors?
  • How’s the air quality? You can check by using the AQI layer on our Hike Finder map.

If you are unsure about any of the above, consider adjusting your plans, brushing up on your Trail Smarts and double checking your passes and permits. If you still have specific questions left unanswered, consider calling the land manager or ranger station directly to learn more.

Save the hikes you like by tapping the “Save hikes to My Backpack” button on the hiking guide entry. You can access a full list of your saved hikes and compare them side-by-side on your My Backpack dashboard.

Comparing your hikes should narrow things down even further. Whether it’s a camp-out, day hike or an overnight backpacking trip, pick the itinerary that’s the best fit for you and make it a reality. It’s also a good idea to save one or two back-up plans in the same region to your My Backpack account in case things change. Never forget Leave No Trace (LNT) principle one: Plan Ahead and Prepare.

Step 4: Get outside this Labor Day weekend

A hiker holds a bunch of berries in their cupped hands.
Stretch your legs on Labor Day weekend and enjoy the fruits of your labor — a fun, safe trip! Photo by Joseph Gonzalez

Your backpack’s packed and your boots are tied tight…looks like it’s time to hike this hike. Set off on your grand weekend and have fun! If you’ve built out a comprehensive itinerary, you should still be able to get outside and enjoy the unofficial end of the summer hiking season even if things don’t go 100% according to plan. Be patient of other visitors, take plenty of photos, follow LNT principles and have fun!

Step 5: Post a trip report and pay it forward!

Now you’re back home after a most excellent weekend adventure. De-rigging from your trip should always be a top priority (don’t forget to air out your tent and sleeping bag). Once you’ve showered, changed, and plopped down on your couch with a cold refreshment, leave a trip report about your experience. After all, it was previous trip reports and hiking guide entries written by volunteers and hikers just like you that helped make your trip come to fruition. Information around road and trail conditions, trailhead bathrooms and fun photos assist others to get outside safely and help WTA and land managers take care of trails. 

As if your hike wasn’t rewarding enough, you can now also pop into your My Backpack account and revisit your saved hikes. Did you visit one on your list? If so, tick the “hiked” box for each hike for that satisfying sense of accomplishment.

Experience is the best teacher, but the collective wisdom of the hiking community in Washington is a close second. Why work harder when you can learn from others? Between our hiking guide, trip reports and Trail Smarts, you have everything you need to cap off your summer with a bang this Labor Day.

We can’t wait to read your trip reports from Labor Day. Let us know where you’re going in the comments!