Hiker Headlines: Mountain Loop Highway and Mount Pilchuck Road reopen, fire at Chelan Lakeshore, WTA is hiring

It’s June 13. Next Wednesday, June 19, is Juneteenth, and parking fees will be waived in some areas. The Mountain Loop Highway and the road to Mount Pilchuck open this week! Wildfire season is here, and there is a partial closure on the Chelan Lakeshore Trail. A few other trails are temporarily closing for unrelated reasons. And WTA is hiring for a South Puget Sound trails coordinator! Here’s some news you may have missed while out on trail this week.

The road to Mount Pilchuck reopens after a long-term construction project on Friday! Photo by trip reporter gobozov.

Free day: In honor of Juneteenth, June 19, parking fees will be waived on lands managed by the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Forest Service, Washington State Parks, the Washington Department of Natural Resources and the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.

Reopening for the summer: Big news! With summer right around the corner, here are some reopenings to celebrate as you plan your next hike:

• The Mountain Loop Highway is now fully open. 
• The road to Mount Pilchuck is reopening on Friday, June 14, as the Forest Service completes a large improvement project funded by the Great American Outdoor Act.

Wildfire season has begun: Earlier this week, the Pioneer Fire on Lake Chelan caused an evacuation of Chelan and a closure between Prince Creek and Moore Point on the Chelan Lakeshore Trail. As we head into wildfire season, this week is Smoke Ready Week, and the Washington State Department of Health has shared tips on how to stay healthy as wildfires affect air quality. And, be aware of prescribed burns through some national forests, which may also result in smoky conditions. 

More trail closures: Here are a few other trail closures hikers should be aware of:

• The Pratt River Trail closure has been extended through June 21. Please respect the closure and avoid hiking on this trail.
• The Wildside Trail on Cougar Mountain in the Issaquah Alps will be closed from June 24 through July 11 for a puncheon replacement project.
• The Quinault Rainforest Nature Loop and the Quinault National Recreation Trail are temporarily closed to remove hazardous trees. 
• The Lookout Mountain Trail in the Methow area and the road to the trailhead will be closed daily from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. through the end of June.

Now hiring: WTA is hiring for a full-time South Puget Sound trails coordinator! This year-round hybrid position will support projects in the South Puget Sound/Tacoma area and is based at WTA’s Puyallup gear cache. This position's responsibilities include coordinating crew leaders in the field, organizing work parties, putting together the annual project schedule and leading work parties as needed. The priority application deadline is July 7.

BE IN THE KNOW

• Keep up to date with Trail News, our monthly email newsletter.
• Search our Hiking Guide to find your next adventure.
• Check trip reports for latest conditions on trails. And if you go for a hike, file your own trip report.
• Sign up for Families Go Hiking, our email newsletter for families with plenty of tips on keeping kids busy.
• Sign up for Trail Action Network to stay up to date on issues impacting trails and ways to get involved.