Hiker Headlines: Forest Service to hire seasonal staff, Free Day, join us on trail

It’s March 12. The Forest Service has ended their seasonal staff hiring freeze, and will be hiring up to 2,000 staff this year! March 19, is Washington State Parks’ 113th birthday, and parking fees will be waived on state-managed lands. North Cascades National Park has announced emergency reconstruction plans for Company Creek Road after funding availability. And, join us on trail this summer! Here’s some news you may have missed while out on trail this week.

Join us on a volunteer vacation this year, where we'll carry the heavy stuff for you! Photo by Bob Zimmerman.

Forest Service ends seasonal staff hiring freeze: After a hiring freeze that began in the fall of 2024, the U.S. Forest Service is hiring up to 2,000 seasonal staff across the country this year, including at six national forests in Washington state. Thank you to the more than 1,200 WTA hikers who sent messages to their members of Congress in January, asking that the Forest Service be allowed to hire seasonal staff! Having trail staff and wilderness rangers this summer is particularly critical, after last year’s cuts to regular Forest Service staff.

Fee-free day: Next Thursday, March 19, is Washington State Parks’ 113th birthday, and parking fees will be waived on lands managed by Washington State Parks, the Washington Department of Natural Resources and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (in other words, trailheads where you would need a Discover Pass). To find hikes where you might need a Discover Pass, use the “parking pass” filter in our Hiking Guide. 

North Cascades flood reconstruction: North Cascades National Park has announced plans to partially rebuild Company Creek Road after learning the park would receive federal funding. The area was damaged by the bomb cyclone in December. The emergency project would build an elevated temporary road to restore limited access in the area. There is additional repair work on Stehekin Valley Road underway, as well as work planned on the Lakeshore Trail in spring. 

Outdoor recreation economy remains strong: The Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis has released 2024 data measuring the U.S. outdoor recreation economy. In 2024, outdoor recreation made up 2.4% of the nation’s GDP ($1.3 trillion gross), supporting over 5 million jobs. Though this has been the sector’s largest overall impact ever, this year also showed the slowest growth post-pandemic.

Join us on trail this summer! We still have openings on several volunteer vacations this summer (we'll carry the tools; you'll just need to carry your day pack and clothes!), as well as our teen spring break camp. We are also accepting applications for our youth LGBTQ+ volunteer vacation this July. We're excited to see you on trail! 

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