Stories & News

Get the latest news, how-to advice, and feature articles about the trail community, the current hiking season and issues impacting trails you love.

Get local news, how-to advice, and feature articles about our trail community, the current hiking season in Washington and issues impacting trails you love.

Learn more about: WTA member magazine | Signpost blog

Chasing the Ice Age Floods

A guide to hiking and exploring some of Washington’s most fascinating geology. By David Hale and Kelsey Vaughn

Hiker Headlines: Free day; traffic delays and temporary road closures

Mar 06, 2025

March 9 is Billy Frank Jr.’s birthday, and parking fees will be waived on state-managed lands. And some road closures and traffic delays may affect your hike.

How WTA builds trails for climate resiliency

WTA does work each year to build trails that hold up to the challenges of climate change. Here's what we keep in mind when we do.

How WTA is building trails for a changing world

Washington needs resilient trail systems — WTA is helping to build a trail system that can stand up to the test of climate change. | By Andrea Waite

Nosotros En Naturaleza is building community on trail

Mar 05, 2025

Nosotros en Naturaleza, a partner of WTA's Outdoor Leadership Training program, is helping young adults in the Latinx community connect to each other and to the outdoors.

Volunteer profile: Meet new ACL Cour Billadeau

Mar 04, 2025

Why Cour Billadeau — one of WTA's newest assistant crew leaders — joined WTA's trail maintenance leadership team.

Volunteers chip away at early season trail projects

Mar 03, 2025

WTA crews made progress on several early-season projects in the first couple months of the year.

Armchair Adventures: A perfect day for a second try

Feb 28, 2025

When Alden Ryno headed for a winter summit of Tomyhoi Peak in the North Cascades, it was his second attempt. He wrote a trip report detailing how it all went.

Hiker Headlines: Wind damage, North Cascades permits, WTA's op-ed on Forest Service and Parks firings

Feb 27, 2025

The early access lottery for North Cascades backcountry permits opens on March 3 — and other early access lotteries are closing soon. Big winds hit Washington earlier this week, so be careful of fallen trees and debris when hitting the trails this weekend! And read WTA’s op-ed in the Seattle Times on the recent federal staffing cuts.

WTA visits D.C. to urge rehiring of Forest and Park service staff

Feb 25, 2025

This week, WTA’s policy and planning manager Michael DeCramer is in Washington, D.C. Along with partners, one of the key issues Michael will be discussing is the recent firing of thousands of U.S. Forest Service and National Park Service employees. Michael will be speaking to our state’s delegation and bringing the message of thousands of hikers who have asked for those firings to be reversed.

10 easy ways to care for trails (and the outdoors)

Feb 20, 2025

Trails give us so much — here are 10 easy ways to give back.

Hiker Headlines: Email Congress for public lands; last call for #lovelocaltrails; register for backcountry volunteer trips

Feb 20, 2025

A reduction in Forest Service and National Park Service staff is putting our public lands and hikers at risk — take a few minutes to email your members of Congress. Registration for WTA's backcountry trips opens Saturday Feb. 22, at 10 a.m.! Don’t forget to enter our #lovelocaltrails giveaway by the end of the month. Fort Worden Historical State Park will start requiring Discover Passes. And we’ve got some warm, wet weather on the way.

What firing Forest Service, National Parks staff means for public lands, trails, communities

Feb 19, 2025

Last week, thousands of hard-working Forest Service and National Park staff, including hundreds in Washington and Oregon, were fired by the current administration. The impact to public lands, recreation and communities across the state are immediate and far-reaching. Learn what's at stake and join WTA in calling for Congress to reverse the decision.

Hiker Headlines: WTA backcountry trips, Enchantments permit lottery, sign up for Hiker Rally Day

Feb 13, 2025

The Enchantments permit advanced lottery opens Feb. 15 at 7 a.m. Join WTA and the Northwest Symphony for live music and beautiful photos. We need your help to vote for a renewal of the King County Parks Levy. Join us for in Olympia on March 18 to advocate for trails and public lands! And registration for WTA’s backcountry trips is starting soon.

Introducing WTA’s 2025 Emerging Leaders Program cohort

Feb 13, 2025

We’ve spent January welcoming our 2025 Emerging Leaders Program cohort to WTA, and we’re excited to introduce them!

Volunteers restore accessible trail in the Columbia River Gorge

Feb 12, 2025

How many elephants worth of gravel does it take to refinish a trail?

Sharing the weight and sharing the love: 14 things to share with your partner on trail

Romantic partner? Platonic hiking companion? We won’t define your relationship — that’s up to you. But whoever you’re hiking with, here are a few lovable nuggets to consider for your next outing. By Joseph Gonzalez

How the Forest Service staffing crisis will affect your hike – and what you can do

Feb 10, 2025

Right now, a budget crisis and staffing cuts at the Forest Service are threatening our ability to reach hikes in our state's national forests. So, we need your help. Your donation will help us maintain trails that the Forest Service cannot reach this summer, keeping these places open for you and other hikers.

Hiker Headlines: #LoveLocalTrails giveaway, Mount Rainier early access lottery opening soon, now hiring

Feb 06, 2025

Our annual #LoveLocalTrails giveaway is underway! WTA is hiring for a member engagement manager. The early access lottery for Mount Rainier wilderness camping permits is opening on Feb. 10. And the snow this week has caused some closures — and, of course, be ready for snow when you’re heading out on trail!

What's the Tee? The scoop on WTA's backcountry shirts

Feb 05, 2025

WTA's backcountry t-shirts are a favorite with our volunteers. Get a peek behind the scenes with graphic designer Jenica Nordstrom and preview this year's design.

Trip Report Roundup: Backpacking beaches, snowshoeing St. Helens, urban epics and quiet forest strolls

Feb 04, 2025

From stunning winter wonderlands to blowdown-spotting on forest roads, we love reading all about your adventures on trail, and it's been really exciting to see some new names and faces showing up in our trip reports. Enjoy the views, adventures, updates and tips in trip reports from brand-new trip reporters these last couple of weeks.

Hiker Headlines: PCT Canada entry program discontinued, lowland snow this weekend

Jan 30, 2025

The Canada Border Services Agency has discontinued the Canada Pacific Crest Trail Entry Permit program. There’s lowland snow in the forecast across the state this weekend! Olympic National Forest firewood permits are now available by mail. And Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest has a prescribed burn planned next week.

Hiker Headlines: Hair ice and freezing temps, Rainier wilderness permit fees, Nisqually State Park closure

Jan 23, 2025

Mount Rainier National Park has changed the prices for wilderness permits. Nisqually State Park is closed for construction starting next week through the fall. There’s a new way to look at how funds are being used through the Climate Commitment Act. And the cold temperatures we’ve been seeing will stick around for awhile.

How Kaf Adventures is helping climbers reach new heights and give back to trails

Jan 22, 2025

WTA and Kaf Adventures have been partnering since 2017 to help give back to trails and further skills in the outdoors.

Why I hike through cities

Jan 21, 2025

Most urban centers in Washington provide ample green space and pedestrian infrastructure to support refreshing strolls, invigorating day hikes or epic feats of endurance. Incorporate urban walks into your ventures outside this year.

A tight state budget means it’s time to show up for trails — here’s how

Jan 16, 2025

This week kicks off the 2025 Washington state legislative session. The state budget is tighter than we've seen in years, and we know legislators will be making cuts. Tell your representatives that the physical and mental health benefits of getting outside should not be on the chopping block this, or any, year. Join WTA and other hikers in Olympia on March 18, 2025, for our Hiker Rally Day.

Hiker Headlines: Fee-free day, road closure, a big win in Congress

Jan 16, 2025

Monday is Martin Luther King Jr. Day and parking fees are waived in some areas. Share your thoughts to help Washington State Parks develop a park on Miller Peninsula. In a big win, Congress just passed the EXPLORE Act! A road near the Quinault River is closed. Olympic National Forest has expanded their office hours. And Washington has sent firefighting aid to California.

How to pick a pair of snowshoes

Snowshoes open up a whole new world in winter — here’s what to consider if you're looking for a pair. By Sandra Saathoff.

Hiker Headlines: Tiger Mountain, Squak Mountain trail closures; WTA winter workshops

Jan 09, 2025

Some trails in the Issaquah Alps are closed due to storm damage. Join WTA for some upcoming events, including a free winter hiking workshop and a snowshoe workshop! And, the Washington Department of Natural Resources has released its statewide recreation plan for the next 10 years.

Share a story: Finding yourself on a summit journey

Jan 08, 2025

From time to time, we like to share memorable moments from our community. Here’s one of those stories from Rizka Budiati-Szkutnik (@rizkapb on Instagram).