Underfunded roads are putting trails out of reach, but WTA is working to change that

We need more than trails to get us outside. With the exception of local trails that are walkable from home, we need roads to get us to trailheads. For Washington to have a statewide network of trails to serve everyone who wants to get outside — from barrier-free trails and family-friendly hikes to multi-day backpacking trips — we need roads to get us there. 

• Hikers need public transit, too!
• WTA promotes existing public transportation to trailheads, advocates to expand transit options and asks land managers to think creatively about transportation to public lands.

We have work to do. Maintenance funding is dwindling at the same time roads are at risk of increased erosion and landslides due to more severe storms and more frequent wildfires. As more roads are damaged and there’s no money to repair them, we are losing our ability to reach parts of Washington’s amazing outdoors. 

But, if everyone who enjoys the outdoors speaks up, we can get the funding that our landscapes — and the roads that get us there — need.   

Underfunding creates unsafe, or even undrivable, roads

As you head out for summer hikes that have been under snow since last summer, you may be thinking about roads, especially if you are navigating ruts, potholes and paint-scratching overgrowth. You are not alone. In WTA’s 2024 survey on forest road conditions, 92.6% of hikers surveyed reported that road conditions were either a factor, or a main consideration, in determining where they hike.

The U.S. Forest Services manages more miles of road than are in the U.S. highway system. For decades, national forests and their network of forest roads have been underfunded. Without enough funding for maintenance, road conditions worsen, potholes multiply and ruts deepen. Over time, that leaves roads unsafe and even unpassable. In some cases, when roads fail catastrophically during a flood, that failure could have been avoided if there had been funding for preventative maintenance.

Over time, lack of maintenance leads to roads that are unsafe and even unpassable. Photo by WTA staff 

In 2026, the backlog of deferred maintenance for forest roads nationally is nearing $6 billion. It’s the largest category of needed maintenance for infrastructure in our national forests.   

This problem is about more than a bumpy ride or a scratched car. Forest road funding is about safety and access:

• Without funding to maintain roads, people lose access to our public lands.
• Everyone should be able to experience their national forests, whether or not they have the resources for a high-clearance vehicle that can navigate challenging road conditions.
• Safety concerns, like getting in an accident or becoming stranded, prevent people from visiting beloved outdoor places.
• Road conditions can deter people from getting outside, especially those who are new to hiking, recreating alone or traveling with kids or elderly family members.

Statewide impact to outdoor access, public health and the economy

It’s hard to see the statewide impact of underfunded roads, which led WTA to create a report, Eroding Access to Our Public Lands, that helps us talk with hikers like you and legislators who make budget decisions about the importance of funding roads that get us to trailheads.

When roads are properly funded, people are able to get outside for our mental and physical health — and those outdoor trips boost Washington state’s economy. Each year, getting outside saves $390 million in healthcare costs for people in Washington. People recreating outdoors contributes $25.2 billion every year to our state’s economy, supporting jobs and small towns. 

Severe storms hit already struggling roads

This past winter’s severe storms did exceptional damage to communities and infrastructure, including roads that get us outside. One impact: the Suiattle River Road washed out. Until the road is repaired, it will be difficult to access large portions of Glacier Peak Wilderness and many outstanding trails. 

• 10 roads essential to Washington hiking
• WTA heard from you, from your trip reports and the 1,271 hikers that participated in a public survey on road conditions. With your observations and what we learned from our trail maintenance staff and partners at five national forests, we identified 10 roads that are essential to hiking in Washington.  

In some cases, roads damaged this winter were already struggling. In our 2025 roads report, WTA highlighted maintenance issues for Hart’s Pass Road in the North Cascades and the Middle Fork/Dingford Road near Snoqualmie Pass. This winter, they took extra damage. Hart’s Pass Road washed out at the Monument Creek trailhead. The Forest Service hopes to repair it this summer so people can once again reach the northern terminus of the Pacific Crest Trail. 

The Middle Fork/Dingford Road is still technically drivable, but it’s a stretch even with a high clearance vehicle. Even before this winter, WTA staff reported that road conditions limit their ability to recruit volunteers for backcountry trail work at this location. See for yourself in this video:

What WTA is doing

Roads ultimately determine our ability to reach our public lands, and WTA is leading the charge on funding for forest roads. 

• WTA consistently advocates for increased funding for national forests and their roads during the annual federal budget process. We want to see $100 million in annual appropriations for the U.S. Forest Service to maintain and improve roads.
• We support the Legacy Roads and Trails Program and advocate for it to receive at least $30 million per year. This program fixes roads and trails so they are ready for the future while improving the health of nearby waterways.  
• We champion the Legacy Restoration Fund, a historic investment in our nation’s outdoor infrastructure, including roads. For years, the Legacy Restoration Fund was making on-the-ground improvements to our national public lands — until it lapsed in 2025. But there is strong bipartisan support to renew this funding. 
• In March, WTA’s policy and planning manager Michael DeCramer traveled to Washington, D.C. His trip included co-hosting a bipartisan congressional briefing with Congresswoman Emily Randall (WA) and Congressman Kevin Kiley (CA) that highlighted the need for more federal maintenance funding for the Forest Service, including its under-resourced road system.
• WTA staff are talking with members of Congress about Emergency Relief for Federally Owned Roads funding and how we can potentially use it to increase the resilience of our forest roads, rather than simply repairing roads that repeatedly wash out. 

As someone who loves the outdoors, your voice matters.

• Speak up with us: Join the more than 1,200 people who have signed WTA’s petition to better fund forest roads. Add your name and we'll share petition signatures with members of Congress. 
• Write a trip report: The next time you go hiking, write a trip report and include road conditions. This information helps fellow hikers know what to expect, and it helps land managers make decisions about where attention and resources are needed.
• Sign up for WTA's action alerts: Add your voice to the chorus of hikers speaking up for public lands funding. By working together, we can make forest roads safe and accessible, so they are ready for your next hike and for future generations to experience the outdoors.

By working together, we can make forest roads safe and accessible, so they are ready for your next hike and for future generations to experience the outdoors.