Signpost Blog

"This little newsletter has been an experiment so far, testing a hunch I've had that such a means of communication among walkers is needed." — Signpost magazine, 1966.

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Hiker Headlines: Gold Creek Pond summer closure, early fire season, free day

Jun 11, 2025

Saturday is National Get Outdoors Day, and parking will be free at national forests. Wildfire season is here, and Mount Rainier National Park and Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest now have fire bans. A landslide on Albion Hill Road is making the road difficult to navigate. Gold Creek Pond is closed for the summer. And it was hot last weekend — folks really got outside!

Post 84 helps hundreds of high schoolers get outside every year

Jun 11, 2025

Post 84, a partner with WTA’s Outdoor Leadership Training program since 2018, helps teenaged campers from the Puget Sound area get outside by offering more than a dozen camping trips a year. WTA's gear library makes it possible for even more teens to attend the trips.

Hiker Headlines: Icicle Creek, Stehekin areas closed; Rainier reservations; free weekend

Jun 05, 2025

The Icicle Creek area near Leavenworth and the Stehekin area in North Cascades National Park are closed for an active law enforcement operation. This is a fee-free weekend on state lands! A batch of Mount Rainier timed-entry reservations will be released this Friday, June 6. A couple of fun events are this Saturday: a talk on Spokane hikes and a celebration of a new trail segment opening.

Scan and Pay: Digital payment option added at many national forest trailheads, campgrounds

Jun 04, 2025

This summer, hikers visiting trails on U.S. Forest Service land will see a new way to pay for day use passes at trailheads that require them. Using a feature called Scan and Pay in the recreation.gov app, hikers will be able to scan a QR code and pay for a day pass right at the trailhead.

WTA helps defend national parks in Congress

May 27, 2025

Last week, Washington state senator Patty Murray defended our national parks during a Senate hearing. Sen. Murray consulted with WTA and other outdoor recreation partners to highlight how National Park Service cuts impact businesses, outdoor access and public safety for communities across Washington state.

Hiker Headlines: Tiger Mountain trailhead closure, Second Creek Fire, trail grand opening

May 27, 2025

Join WTA and Everett Parks and Facilities for the Loganberry Lane Trail’s grand opening at Kasch Park next week! Be aware of closures of Tiger Mountain Summit Trailhead, Silver Star Road and Boston Basin. And, the Second Creek Fire is currently burning in the Leavenworth area — see where it is using the wildfire layer on WTA’s Hike Finder Map, now live for the season.

Hiker Headlines: Discover Pass cost increase; Chinook, Cayuse passes reopening; St. Helens, Smokey Bear license plates

May 22, 2025

The cost of an annual Discover Pass will increase to $45 in October. Cayuse and Chinook passes are opening for the season this week! WTA is hiring for two new positions. And, the governor signed the new budget — as well as bills that authorize two new license plates that hikers might be excited about.

Community through carpooling: Tips to make the most of the ride

May 20, 2025

Looking for a way to make the drive to the trailhead more fun as the days get longer? We chatted with our partners at Western Washington Honda Dealers about how carpooling can help conserve resources — and how it can be a fun way to build community before your boots even hit the trail.

From The Dalles to Portland or Vancouver, take the bus to the trailhead this spring

May 16, 2025

There's more transit available in the Columbia River Gorge than the Dog Mountain Shuttle. A variety of interconnected bus lines offer hikers the chance to visit more than 20 trailheads in the Gorge. Can you hit them all, car-free?

Hiker Headlines: Trailhead Direct, new light rail station connects to trails, print North Cascades permits at home

May 15, 2025

Trailhead Direct is back for 2025! King County Parks has opened two new connector trails at one of the new Sound Transit Light Rail stations. North Cascades National Park is allowing most advance backcountry permits to be obtained through email this season. And the U.S. Forest Service will be offering a Scan and Pay option at many of its recreation sites.

Dust, sweat and big smiles: WTA's backcountry trips are delivering clear trails to hikers

May 14, 2025

Despite the uncertainty around Forest Service funding this year, WTA has managed to run several backcountry crews already. There is some juicy work out there.

WTA's Emerging Leaders Program celebrates a successful fifth season

May 09, 2025

"Overall, the past 5 years of the program show a huge testament to investing in early professionals, and there is so much to teach about the outdoors: trail work, backpacking, snowshoeing and more."

Hiker Headlines: Mount Rainier timed entry reservations, Upper Hoh Road reopens, Hike the State

May 08, 2025

Mount Rainier National Park will require timed entry reservations for the Sunrise area this summer season. Join WTA for Hike the State on May 21 — it's free and online. The Trump Administration revoked nearly $400 million in grants to AmeriCorps programs nationwide, threatening nonprofits and conservation corps programs. The county sheriff is reminding people to park properly on Olalla Canyon and Nahahum Canyon roads. And Upper Hoh Road has been repaired and is reopening!

Hikers speak up and help protect state funding for trails

May 01, 2025

The Washington State Legislature adjourned on April 27 after an incredibly difficult session. With the state facing a budget shortfall similar to the Great Recession, budget writers had to look for reductions across the board. Our state now has a budget for the next 2 years (2025-2027), and it includes essential funding for our outdoor places.

Hiker Headlines: GiveBIG, WTA is hiring, Mount Pilchuck delays, PCT bridge work

May 01, 2025

Next week is GiveBIG — we’re asking for your support! WTA is currently hiring for three positions. And we have info on some areas you might expect delays on the way to the trailhead as well as some bridge work on the PCT this summer.

Roads & Rainier: What a bridge closure, construction and timed-entry permits mean for hikers, backpackers and campers this summer

Apr 30, 2025

A bridge closure, road work, timed-entry permits and short staffing in Mount Rainier National Park mean hikers will need to pack plenty of patience and flexibility this summer.

WTA and partners celebrate opening of Glendale Forest

Apr 30, 2025

Over the weekend, WTA, King County Parks, Earth Corps and members of the community celebrated the opening of Glendale Forest. The 5-acre parcel of land was acquired by King County in 2020 to create trail accessibility for the historically underserved neighborhood.

Hiker Headlines: Highway 20 is open; Heather Lake, High Rock closures; Chuckanut Drive rockslide

Apr 24, 2025

Highway 20 — North Cascades Highway — has reopened for the 2025 season! Heather Lake, Lake 22 and High Rock trails have upcoming closures and Chuckanut Drive is closed due to a rockslide.

Seeing the forest for the trees: A Midwestern transplant reminds me of the splendor of Washington’s old growth

Apr 23, 2025

I grew up in the Pacific Northwest. My partner is from rural Iowa. His excitement about our old-growth trees reminds me how lucky we are to have them.

Trip report round up: Spreading joy through trip reports

Apr 21, 2025

Beyond valuable intel on trail conditions, your trip reports spread the joy and kindness you experience when you hike in Washington. So we're highlighting recent trip reports that brought their own unique joy to our days.

Hiker Headlines: Bridge closed to Mowich Lake and Carbon River roads, Mountain Loop Highway partial reopening

Apr 17, 2025

The Fairfax Bridge near Carbonado, just outside of Mount Rainier National Park, is closed, blocking access to Mowich Lake Road and Carbon River Road. The Mountain Loop Highway has reopened between Deer Creek and Barlow Pass! And some fun hiker events and fee-free days are coming up.