Hiker Headlines: More fire closures, photo contest opening soon, fee-free day

It’s Aug. 6. WTA’s annual Northwest Exposure Photo Contest is opening soon! We’re also hiring for a full-time multiday trip program coordinator. This Sunday is Smokey Bear’s birthday and a fee-free day on state-managed lands. And it’s been a fire-heavy week, with more closures across the state. Here’s some news you may have missed while out on trail this week.

This Sunday is Smokey Bear's birthday! Discover Passes will not be needed on state-managed lands. Photo by Donna Walsh.

Photo contest opening: Northwest Exposure is WTA's annual photo contest that celebrates outdoor photography and the community of hikers that explore Washington's trails, and it opens on Aug. 10! Winners earn prizes and will be featured in WTA's annual calendar. All photos entered have the chance to be featured in Washington Trails magazine, on WTA's website and social media, and at our 2027 concert in partnership with the Northwest Symphony Orchestra. The contest closes Oct. 12. 

Now hiring: WTA is hiring for a multiday trip program coordinator! This full-time, year-round position is responsible for planning and developing multiday trail maintenance volunteer opportunities statewide, as well as supervising 2–3 temporary seasonal crew leaders. The position is hybrid, annually averaging 80% in office, 20% in the field, with a base of operations at WTA’s downtown Seattle office. The priority application deadline is Aug. 23.

Fee-free day: This Sunday, Aug. 9, is Smokey Bear’s birthday! It’s a great day to read up on fire safety, and is also a fee-free day on state-managed lands; a Discover Pass will not be required on Washington State Parks, Washington Department of Natural Resources and Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife lands.

More fire closures: It’s been another week of heavy fire activity in Washington:

• The High Lava Fire is currently burning near the Trapper Creek Wilderness and has closed the West Crater Trail and trailhead, Soda Peaks trailhead and many Forest Service roads. 
• The Little Giant Fire has an updated, expanded closure in the Wenatchee River and Entiat ranger districts, as well as several new closures in the Chelan Ranger District. Twenty-Five Mile Creek State Park is also closed. 
• The Sinlahekin Fire has closed several trails, trailheads and campgrounds in the Tonasket Ranger District near the Pacific Northwest trail. This includes the Fourteen Mile, Middle Fork, Windy Peak and Chewuch trailheads. 
• The Autumn Lane Fire has closed the Waikiki Springs Nature Preserve. 
• The Old Trails and Autumn Lane fires have closed Riverside State Park and the Centennial Trail within Riverside State Park. 
• The Swauk Creek Fire near Cle Elum may cause delays on Highway 97 over Blewett Pass (but the highway is fully open in both directions). 

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